New Build Announced for Gaelscoil Uí Néill, Coalisland

06th Jun, 2024

New Build Announced for Gaelscoil Uí Néill, Coalisland

Pictured: Impression of Gaelscoil Uí Néill’s new build

The Department of Education announced more good news for the Irish-medium education (IME) sector this week with the announcement that work was to begin on a new school building for Gaelscoil Uí Néill in Coalisland. Following the recent news that Scoil an Droichid in Belfast has been given the go-ahead to progress their new build, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) is delighted that Gaelscoil Uí Néill, first established in 1995 has appointed contractors to begin work on their new premises.

Gearóid Ó Gealbháin, Chair of the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Néill expressed his delight at the announcement:

‘After years of planning and countless meetings, the Board of Governors of Gaelscoil Uí Néill is delighted to announce that appointed contractors Connolly & Fee are to be instructed to commence the build of our new Gaelscoil at Gortgonis Playing Fields. We would like to recognise the continued efforts of DE, EA, CnaG and Mid Ulster Council officials as well as local political representatives who have assisted in bringing our dream to reality.’

Maria Thomasson, CnaG CEO, welcomed the long-awaited decision by the Department of Education to progress the school’s new build:

‘CnaG is delighted that after years of waiting, Gaelscoil Uí Néill will finally achieve what it richly deserves-a new, state-of-the art school building that will serve the Coalisland and Clonoe communities for generations. The new premises will allow Gaelscoil Uí Néill to continue providing first-class education through the medium of Irish in an environment that will greatly enhance the teaching and learning experience for pupils. I wish to congratulate the entire school community on this significant milestone and acknowledge their commitment to this project over many years.

In providing the funding required for this new build, the Department of Education is taking another step in the right direction to address the longstanding accommodation deficiencies within the IME sector in order to improve learning outcomes for IME pupils.’