On Thursday 26th February, Year 11 and Year 13 Irish students, accompanied with Miss Mc Coy and Mr Mooney, embarked on a 4-day trip to the Gaeltacht in Rann na Feirste, Co. Dhún na nGall. The trip was ran in collaboration with 3 other schools, Sacred Heart Grammar School, St Louis Grammar Kilkeel and Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town, with 150 pupils in total.

The students departed from school on a Thursday afternoon, excited for what lay ahead. For many of the students, this was their first experience of the Gaeltacht and they thoroughly embraced the language and culture over the four days. The students were divided into houses, where they lived with Irish-speaking families for the duration of their stay.

On Friday, a group of Year 11 students, accompanied by Mr Mooney, took part in an outdoor activity centre in Letterkenny, with many team-building activities including a ‘mud run’. This was an excellent chance for the girls and boys to make new friends with the students of other schools, as they were divided into teams. After an extremely competitive, and messy morning (apologies to the parents for the washing!), the pupils returned to the Gaeltacht.

On Friday afternoon, Miss Mc Coy accompanied her Year 13 class to the Ráidió na Gaeltachta studios where they spoke live on air about their trip, the high level of Irish speakers in St Paul’s and their interests outside of school, with the famous Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí. They were a credit to St Paul’s. Maith sibh!

Friday evening involved a quiz followed by the game ‘Bomaite le Baint’( Minute to Win It) which involved various tasks., such as eating a raw onion and lemon. Our Year 11 student John Mc Kernan made it to the final before narrowly losing out to a student from Abbey Vocational School. A great night was had by all and the pupils returned home about 11.30pm tired and sore after an action-packed day.

On Saturday morning, the Year 13 pupils travelled to Letterkenny and the Year 11 pupils attended class taught by local native Irish speakers. This was ideal preparation for the students for their forthcoming GCSE Controlled Assessment. According to the students, we left the best for last as the pupils enjoyed a disco until the early hours. We departed the Gaeltacht on Sunday morning and Miss Mc Coy and Mr Mooney noted the high level of Irish being spoken by our students on the way home.

The trip, Blas na Gaeltachta ( A Taste of the Gaeltacht ), proved to be a resounding success with both the students and teachers enjoying a great weekend. Ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a ghabáil leis na daltaí agus múinteoirí ó Scoil an Chroí- Ró Naofa, Scoil Ghramadaí Naomh Lughaidh Cill Chaoil agus Gairmscoil na Mainistreach. Rachaidh muid ar ais arís an bhliain seo chugainn go cinnte!