HEA Funding of €1 Million Awarded to UCC Irish-Language Community Project

25 Sep 2023

A UCC Irish-language community project, Barr na gCnoc, was among the five winners under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Performance Funding 2023 awards announced at a ceremony in the South East Technological University (SETU), Carlow campus, on 25 September.

This project, led by Professor Pádraig Ó Macháin, Head of Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha at UCC, was piloted in Terence McSweeney Community College, Knocknaheeny, where an Aonad Lán-Ghaeilge was established in 2019 with support from the university. The proposal to establish the Aonad came in response to the local community’s demand for educational choice in an area of high socio-economic exclusion. The ensuing collaboration involved the school, the Knocknaheeny community, the ETB, and UCC.

The major finding of the project was that in an area of social marginalisation, the Irish language, and education through Irish, could be both an educational and a social enabler.  For the pupils, it has proved to be transformative in matters such as academic performance, and development of self-confidence and sense of identity. An important feature to emerge was that pupils have begun to nurture aspirations with regard to further education beyond leaving certificate level, and to see a future as one of optimism and opportunity.

This support provided by Barr na gCnoc involved upskilling teachers in the Irish language, the provision of scholarships and Gaeltacht visits for pupils, public advocacy, and support for parents and guardians wishing to learn Irish.  Regular school and community visits to UCC were also facilitated in Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha. The upskilling classes were sponsored by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.

The emergence of these outcomes made it desirable that the project move beyond the pilot stage to that of consolidation and expansion. Recognition of the value of Barr na gCnoc by the HEA led to the funding announcement, which will ensure that it can now develop further and seek to replicate in other schools and in other situations what has been achieved to date in Knocknaheeny.