The centre is located in the village of Leitir Móir, 30 miles West of Galway City. Leitir Móir is on one of the Gaeltacht islands of Ceantar na nOileán in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. Separated by the sea, but accessible by bridge, it is one of the last resourts in Ireland where the Irish Language is still spoken as part of the daily life. The students will experience, therefore, the Irish language as a vibrant and living Community Language.

Accomodation

Interviews

Speaking Irish during the Course

Staff

Special Courses

General Features

Environmental Studies

Further Information

All accommodation arrangements are made by our office staff. The students stay in houses which have to be approved by the Dept. of the Gaeltacht before being accepted by the college. The amount of space allocated to each student is determined by the Department's Inspector. Each student has a single bed.

Interviews are necessary for all applicants.

A game of chess!

The purpose of the interviews is not only only to determine the level of compentency in Irish of the applicants but also to explain the regulations regarding the speaking of Irish during the course. Interviews will be held at convient locations to parents/students and at least one parent/guardian is expected to attend with each applicant.

Athlone, Longford, Navan, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Thurles, Portlaoise, Castlebar, Sligo.

The primary aim of these courses is to help the students achieve an adeuate fluency in the Irish language and a better understanding of the life of the Gaeltacht. To ensure that parents and students get full value for money we shall insist on strict observance of our guidelines regarding the speaking of Irish throughout the course. Special help and encouragement will be given to students with little or no fluency in th elanguage but a sincere effort can work wonders!. Students who do not co-operate in this regard will be sent home without are fund of the fee as they deprieve other students the opportunity of benefiting fully from the course.

The college is staffed by a Headmaster, Teachers and Ardchinnirí (senior student assisants). The ratio of students to staff is averages 1:12. The Departement of Education determines the qualifacations and sanctions the appointment of staff. The courses are inspected regularly by the Departement of Education inspectors. The majority of the staff are native Irish speakers and all staff are required to have suitable experience in teaching Irish to students of varying levels of competency.

5th Year/Pre Leaving Certificate Students

Intensive preparation for oral examinations by teachers who are experienced examiners for all these examinations.

Junior Certificate Courses

The new Junior Certificate course requires the student to have a good knowledge of spoken Irish. Our course at Coláiste Leitir Móir are prepared by teachers with the new exam format in mind. We will place special emphasis on topics linked to the students own life and surroundings.

Special Course for Primary school Children

We prepare a special course for primary school students paying particular emphasis on students going into second level school during the coming year.

Céilí: 4 nights per week. Instruction given by teacher.

Dancing at the céilí

Supervised Swimming: safe, sandy beaches near colleges. Students are accompained by teachers on visits to the beach.

Set on an island, a stricking and relatively unspoilt rural area, the Centre provides its students with firsthand experience of environmental issuses - an education in the environment. The students go on fieldtrips, led by professionals, and become active in monitoring the environment through activites, such as the Constant Effort Sighting Scheme of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Society. All field work done by the students will be recorded and will provide invaluable information to environmental and ecological organisations.