Three-decade vision realised at Gaelscoil Éois

Three decades of community effort were celebrated at the official opening of Gaelscoil Éois’s new building on Roslea Road, Clones, on Friday, October 23, when Taoiseach Micheál Martin officiated the opening of the new school which has been operational since last year.

The pupils showcased their musical and poetic talents in the brightly decorated school hall, where a custom mural provided a striking backdrop

MC and board of management chairperson Brendan O Dufaigh traced the school’s journey from above Lipton’s shop in 1995, via an old schoolhouse on the town’s outskirts, to its present site in 2012.

The eight-classroom building opened in 2025, costing upwards of €8M, with enrolment now at 130.

“It takes a lot of work, and you receive a lot of criticism along the way. But you know in your heart and soul that you are contributing to education," Mr O Dufaigh said.

Finding a permanent home brought its own challenges. “We looked at 22 sites around the town and concluded that this was the best one,” he recalled. The school now has five mainstream teachers, two learning support teachers and two Special Needs Assistants.

Mr O Dufaigh described the Gaelscoil movement as community-led.

“We are here now. We have reached our goal,” Mr O Dufaigh said, thanking parents for choosing Irish-medium education.

He also highlighted the absence of an Irish-medium secondary school in Cavan, contrasting this with provision at Coláiste Oireall in Monaghan.

Principal Laura Nic Grianna praised the investment in the future of Irish-medium education in Clones: “The true heart of Gaelscoil Éois has always been its children, its staff, its families and its commitment to education through the Irish language.

“It gives us great pride to see our pupils hopping, skipping and running into school every day - well, most days anyway!” she said.

Addressing the children, the principal hoped they would fill their new classrooms with curiosity, their corridors with laughter, and their school with kindness, friendship and wonderful memories.

She also spoke of passing Irish from one generation to the next: “Irish is more than just a subject on a timetable,” she said. “Having grown up in the Donegal Gaeltacht, I have experienced it as a living language, a connection to our history and heritage, and a gift we pass from one generation to the next.”

Both speakers thanked the school community, successive boards, the Department of Education, Cavan Monaghan ETB, contractor Broomfield Construction, Oppermann Architects, structural engineers Downes, electrical engineers Semple & McKillop and surveyors McGahon.

Ms Nic Grianna concluded with the school’s slogan: "Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad" [Praise the young, and they will flourish].

The Taoiseach also addressed pupils directly: “You will find later on in life, no matter where you go, that your greatest friends will be the friends you made in school.”

He encouraged them to use their talents: “Be confident in your own abilities... You have every reason to believe in yourselves as young people.”

The former teacher added: “You learn a lot more than just Irish when you study Irish. You learn about your culture, your community, your people, your heritage, and it's very rich and enjoyable,” he concluded.

The rest of his address was delivered exclusively through Irish. His Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister Niamh Smyth spoke at the event too, congratulating all involved, she lauded Brendan O Dufaigh as probably being Monaghan’s foremost promoter of the Irish language.