30/05/2022
‘There’s a real Gaelic vibe about the place’: why Synge Street school has switched to Irish.
The inner-city Dublin school is one of the first to change from English to Gaeilge – and it could provide a model for others.
Five years ago, Synge Street primary school in Dublin 8 came up with a unique plan to boost student numbers. The south inner city was no longer awash with young families, and most of those who remained wanted a mixed school starting at junior infants. Synge Street at that point catered only to boys from second to sixth class — a traditional set-up that had fallen out of vogue.
It had been educating male students since 1864, but the former jewel in the crown of the Christian Brothers’ stable of schools was struggling to fill classrooms. The board of management saw that much of the local demand had shifted to Irish-medium education. Gaelscoileanna in the wider area had long waiting lists so the school put a proposal to the Department of Education: an all-Irish co-ed stream that would run alongside the boys’ classes.Synge Street got the green light, making it one of the first English-speaking schools to change to Irish-medium teaching. The new sruth lán Ghaeilge was launched in September 2017 with 14 junior infants, and more classes have been added every year. Some 54 students are enrolled up to rang a trí, or third class, with about another 20 expected to join in the next academic year.
Five years ago, Synge Street primary school in Dublin 8 came up with a unique plan to boost student numbers. The south inner city was no longer awash with young families, and most of those who remained wanted a mixed school starting at junior infants. Synge Street at that point catered only to boys....