Past Pupil Profiles

Aislinn Ní Chiaráin - past pupil

Primary Education: Bunscoil An Iúir
Secondary Education: Meánscoil Feirste
University Education: University of Ulster Coleraine - Irish Language & Literacy;
National University of Ireland, Galway - Applied Communications.

I am currently working with a company called Zoogon. It is a television media group based in Belfast and is the Northern Irish branch of the Emmy Award Winning Telegael Media Group. There, I am involved in voiceovers for TG4 cartoons such as Doodlebops, Tadhaigín an tEitleán agus Coisíní Franny. We are also involved in an RTÉ programme on Frank O'Farrell, the Manchester United manager from the 1970's.

Bunscoil an Iúir started me on my path through Irish Medium Education. The teachers encouraged me to be the person that I am today. Bunscoil an Iúir gave me the opportunity to learn Irish fluently from an early age and I think that is a great advantage to have. I have many happy memories of my time spent in Bunscoil an Iúir and had a very enjoyable experience there.

Bunscolaíocht: Bunscoil An Iúir
Meánscolaíocht: Meánscoil Feirste
Ollscoil: Ollscoil Uladh Cúil Raithin-Teanga agus litríocht na Gaeilge; Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge-Ard dioploma i gCumarsáid Fheidhmeach

Faoi láthair tá mé ag obair i gcomhlacht d'arbh ainm Zoogon. Is comhlacht léiriúcháin teilifíse í Zoogon atá lonnaithe i mBéal Feirste agus atá mar chuid de Ghrúpa Media Telegael. Bíonn ath-ghuthu á dhéanamh againn ar cartún do TG4. Ina measc tá Doodlebops, Tadhaigín an tEitleán agus Coisíní Franny. Chomh maith leis sin tá muid ag obair ar clár faisnéise do RTE a baineann le Frank O Farrell, bainisteoir Manchain Aontaithe sna 70í.

Chuir Bunscoil an Iúir tús le mo chuid oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Spreag na múinteoirí an Ghaeilgóir atá ionam. Thug an scoil an seans dom a bheith líofa sa Ghaeilge agus mé ag toiseacht ar an Mheánscoil. I mo bharúil féin is buntáiste iontach é sin. Bhain mé an-sult as an t-am a chaith mé ar an scoil agus d'fhág mé leis a lán cuimhní iontach.

Memories of Bunscoil an Iúir
By Avril O'Hare
Pupil of Bunscoil an Iúir 1989 - 1996

I received my Nursery Education in Naíscoil an Iúir and progressed onto Bunscoil an Iúir. I really enjoyed my time at both the Naíscoil and the Bunscoil.

I first went to Naíscoil at the age of 3. Nora was my teacher there. I began to learn Irish there. There are still teachers in the Bunscoil now that taught me when I was there such as Maria and Siobhán but there was also a few others as well. I really loved the language and the attention the whole staff gave to me. I really felt an overwhelming feeling of safety while I attended the school. I could have spoken to Múinteoir Maria about anything. I'm very proud of having learned the Irish language so proud in fact that I wanted my son to learn it also. He is now 7 and in Rang 4 (Primary 4) and is the envy of a few of his friends as he can speak 2 languages.

I left the Bunscoil at the age of 11. We went to the Gaeltacht that summer. It was brilliant. I was so pleased the school arranged it for us. We went on lots of educational and fun trips with the school. I continued my education in St.Paul's, Bessbrook and did my GCSE Irish in first year which was a big achievement for me at that time. I went on to work in Retail after school and helped out in Naíscoil Chamlocha and Naíscoil an Iúir which were both great experiences. I am currently working in an Indian restaurant and even the staff are quite impressed when they realise I have the Irish language.

When I look back on my childhood some of my happiest times were spent in Bunscoil an Iúir and now I'm so pleased that my son has the chance to experience the fun that I had at primary school.

Name: Niamh Moore

Schools:
Primary Education: Bunscoil an Iúir: 1996-2003
Secondary Education: St Catherine's College, Armagh 2003-2010

University Education: Queen's University, Belfast: 2010-

As a former pupil in Bunscoil an Iúir, it was a natural decision for me to attend Saint Catherine's College, not only because I had the opportunity to continue to be taught through the medium of Irish but because I have a great interest in the Irish language.

As a pupil of Saint Catherine's, I feel I gained and achieved many things. In Year 10, I sat my G.C.S.E Irish exam. Considering that Primary 7 pupils sit the exam now, it is not a great achievement. At the same time, I was studying for my Key Stage Three exams. In the Irish exam, I attained the highest level possible and was one of the twelve pupils in northern Ireland who attained this grade. After my G.C.S.E Irish exam, in Year 12, I sat my G.C.S.E Gaeilge exam in which I was placed second in Northern Irleand for the highest mark.

As well as exams, in the school itself, I was given many different roles. In Lower Sixth, I acted as a 'Peer Tutor', something that gave me the opportunity to work personally with pupils who were having difficulties with a particular subject. Also, I was a 'Befriender', a role which allowed me to help first year pupils with common difficulties first year pupils experience. I was also selected as Head Girl of the school, a role that I throughly enjoyed but, I cannot deny that at the same time, it was also challenging.

At the moment, I am beginning my course in French and Irish and Celtic Studies in Queen's University, Belfast as in the future, I would like to be either a teacher or a translator.

Ainm: Niamh Ní Mhóra

Scoileanna: Bunscoil an Iúir- 1996-2003
Coláiste Chaitríona, Ard Mhacha- 2003-2010

Ollscoil: Ollscoil na Banríona- 2010

Mar iar-scoláire den Bhunscoil, rogha nádurtha domsa é freastal ar Choláiste Chaitríona, ní amháin go raibh an deis agam leanstan ar aghaidh leis an fhoghlaim trí mhéan na Gaeilge, ach fosta, mar gheall go raibh spéis as cuimse agam sa teanga.

Agus mé mar scolaire de chuid Coláiste Chaitríona, ceapaim gur bhain mé cuid mhaith amach. I mBliain a Deich, suigh mé mo scrúdú G.C.S.E Irish. Ní mór an éacht é anios nuair a smaoinimid go suíonn na scolairí an scrúdú i Rang a Seacht faoi láthair. Ag an am céanna, bhí mé ag foghlaim do mo chuid scruduithe Eochairchéim a Trí. Sa scrúdú Ghaeilge, bhain mé an léibhéil is airde amach agus a bhí mé mar cheann de na dhá duine dhéag ar fad ar a raibh an grád seo bainte amach acu. I ndiaidh dom an scrúdú G.C.S.E Irish a dhéanamh i mBliain a Deich, i mBliain a Dó Dhéag, bhí sé socruithe dom an scrúdú G.C.S.E Gaeilge a suigh, scrúdú inar tháinig mé sa dara háit don marc is airde i dTuaisceart na hÉireann.

Chomh maith leis na scrúduithe, sa scoil é fein, tugtar roinnt mhaith roil éagsula dom. I mBunrang a Sé, bhí mé mar 'Peer Tutor', a thug an senas dom bheith ag obair go pearsanta agus ag cuidiú le scoláire a mbíonn deacrachtaí acu ag foghlaim ábhar éagsula. Chomh maith le sin, bhí mé mar 'Befriender', duine a mbíonn ag cuidiú le rang ón chéad bhliain leis na deacrachtaí coitianta a mbíonn ag scolairí i mBliain a hOcht. Ar a bharr sin, ceapadh mar cheann de Príomh-Chailíní na scoile mé, ról a bhain mé idir sult agus tairbhe as, ach ní féidir liom a sheanadh gur ról dushlanach a bhí ann ag an am céanna.

Faoi láthair, tá mé ag cuir tús le cúrsa sa Fraincis agus an Ghaeilge i nOllscoil na Banríona i mBéal Feirste mar sa todhchaí tá sé ar intinn agam bheith i mo mhúinteoir nó i m'aistritheoir.