20 September 2019
‘Immediate and satisfactory resolution needed to secure Irish-medium provision for students of Coláiste Lú’
Parents and students of ‘Save Coláiste Lú’ campaign take to the streets of Dundalk this weekend to celebrate Irish language and culture
Students from Coláiste Lú and their parents will be taking this weekend to demand full school provision through Irish. Currently, only 2 subjects are available in Louth College through Irish. This means that the pupils attend the majority of classes in the school through the medium of English.
On the 21st of September, from midday, the ‘Save Coláiste Lú’ campaign will take to the streets of Dundalk, gathering at Market Square, Dundalk, and celebrating the Irish language and culture. Guest speakers and musicians will celebrate the heritage of the Irish language and culture in Dundalk and Leinster, in conjunction with Conradh na Gaeilge.
Dr Niall Comer, President, Chonradh na Gaeilge said: ‘Irish medium schools provide excellent education opportunities to their students ensuring children gain fluency in both Irish and English, develop increased self-esteem, and have a greater sense of identity and culture through the Irish medium educational experience. Conradh na Gaeilge stands firmly with the parents and pupils of Colaiste Lú in their campaign to access fully immersive Irish medium education. We are calling on the Minister for Education and Skills, LMETB and the school to take urgent steps to meet the immediate demand for Irish Medium Education in County Louth without delay. The students in Cólaiste Lú must have access to an education through Irish and we hope an immediate and resolute solution can be agreed for those pupils and families who have been affected by this. Huge credit must go to the parents, students and the wider community who, in making their stand for Irish medium education, are also celebrating our language and culture in the centre of Dundalk and they should be commended.’
Aideen McCormick, parent of students at Coláiste Lú: ‘It is disappointing for us all, as parents and students of Coláiste Lú, that we must take to the streets to ensure our educational and language rights are recognised and respected. All we ask for is the Irish-medium provision that was promised to us when we first signed up to send our children to an Irish-language secondary school. We are calling on the Minister for Education and on the other local and regional educational authorities to ensure that both an immediate and a satisfactory solution is provided. Any resolution must ensure the facilitation of full Irish-medium education in Coláiste Lú, as a matter of urgency.”
The protest for ‘Sábháil Coláiste Lú’ 'will take place on Saturday, 20 September, at 12pm, in Market Square, Dundalk, and everyone is welcome to attend.
