To mark Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Parents Association will host a table quiz in the Tramore GAA centre at 7pm on Wednesday, 16 March 2011.

Teams will consist of two adults and two children and will cost €10 per team. Prizes will be sponsored by the Parents Association.

Gaelscoil Philib Barún will hold an Art Exhibition at the school from 1st – 14th May 2011 which will feature work by past & present pupils, teachers and parents. If any budding artists would like to have their work included in the exhibition, including paintings and sculptures, please contact Muinteor Ben.

The exhibition dates also include the First Holy Communion Day, which is 14 May 2011.

Additional details will follow closer to the date of the exhibition itself.

Gaelscoil Philib Barún is currently accepting applications this month, February, for enrolment in Junior Infants September 2011. If your child has been pre-enrolled you will have received a letter reminding you to submit an application for enrolment as set out in the enrolment policy. The full text of the policy can be viewed here.

All applications received this month will be decided upon based on the criteria set out in the policy. Gaelscoil Philib Barún will make every effort to facilitate those who wish to avail of all-Irish medium education. Enrolment forms can be downloaded here and posted to the school.

In preparation for the upcoming General Election, we have created a special page on our website:

• http://www.pilibbarun.com/campaign/election2011
  

The aim of this new page is to provide information to parents and friends of the school which may help them to articulate the spirit of our campaign to the canvassing politicians on their doorstep, in a way that they are both comfortable with, and happy to stand over.

Please take a moment to read the information there and provide any feedback you feel appropriate below.

Gaelscoil Philib Barun has issued the following Press Release in advance of the 2011 General Election:

• Tramore needs your support for a better Educational Infrastructure

Please support the spirit of the issues raised in this article, and look out for it in your local newspaper in the coming days.

The news about the progression of the Gaelscoil’s building project was covered in the local media by WLR FM News and by Ian Noctor’s afternoon news show. Radio na Gaeltachta interviewed Daithí along with Gabriel Ó Cathasaigh, Principal Gaelscoil UíRiordán, Cork, who similarly saw progression of their 24 classroom building project to the tendering stage after a wait of 28 years.

Gaelscoil Philib Barún also got brief mention in the Irish Times today in the Home News In Short section.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD has announced that a design team will be appointed to draw up comprehensive plans for a new Gaelscoil at Crobally Upper, Tramore. We are delighted with the news and we hope that our new school will serve all those who wish to avail of education through the medium of Irish in Tramore. We have waited for many years in temporary accommodation and do not think that our campaign is over. We will continue to demand that the project be progressed as quickly as possible through all stages. We are very grateful to parents and our local supporters who have helped to raise awareness about our school’s accommodation deficit.

The official press release under which this announcement was made can be viewed here and Gaelscoil Philib Barún’s revised status is reflected on Page 3 of the document entitled, “School Building Programme 2011 – Brief Formulation” (which is the first document listed at the bottom of the press release page).

You may now pre-enrol your child in Gaelscoil Philib Barún by returning a special form to the school office. We will then remind you to complete another application form the February before your child is due to start in Junior Infants. Filling this pre-enrolment form is an expression of interest in enrolment and does not guarantee a place in Gaelscoil Philib Barún.

Further details are available here.

An article by Ciarán Murphy on the school’s 25 years in temporary accommodation was published in the Irish Times on Thursday, 30 December 2010, and was accompanied by a spectacular photo. This image was the brainchild of Ciara O’Brien and other Parents Association members, and was taken in June 2009. Our thanks to Alan Murphy, James Mernin and the photographer in the crane John Mernin. The full article can be viewed here.

An article in a December edition of the Waterford News & Star reported that yet another two Waterford schools are being provided with permanent school buildings, and will be leaving their prefabs behind them. The schools themselves (Gaelscoil na nDeise and Educate Together) had been promised their permanent buildings some time ago but were awaiting funding for a library to accompany the new schools. This funding was granted recently and so the construction of the two new 16 classroom schools can now proceed.

Whilst we wish both schools every success in their new homes, you do have to wonder once more about the rationale behind the decision to award their funding when Gaelscoil Philib Barún is entering it’s 26th year without such a luxury, or even an explanation.

On a curious note though, the article does conclude with a comment from Brendan Kenneally T.D. (Fianna Fáil) who said that:

“He hopes that funding will be made available for Gaelscoil Philib Barún in the near future”

We fully expect Mr. Kenneally to stand over this comment as the General Election approaches and we will certainly be pursuing him for an explanation as to the context of such a comment.

You can view the full article here.