Every year, Professor Pádraig Ó Macháin, the Director of the Centre for Spoken Irish, invites the Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht primary schools of Cork to UCC to celebrate the important work these schools do in promoting and developing the Irish language.

Nuala de Búrca, a tutor in the Centre for Spoken Irish, organizes a trip activites for the visiting schools as well as an official event. The Centre for Spoken Irish wishes to create a link with these primary schools and to strengthen this special link between the first and third level in education.

Lá na Scoileanna Gaeilge 2026

Lá na Scoileanna Gaeilge was held in the Aula Maxima in University College Cork on Friday, 22 May 2026. Dr Jennifer Murphy, The President's Office, welcomed the teachers and pupils from the following schools on the day:

• Gaelscoil an Chaisleáin
• Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin
• Gaelscoil na Dúglaise
• Gaelscoil Mhachan
• Gaelscoil Mhainistir na Corann
• Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers
• Gaelscoil Uí Riada
• Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin
• Scoil Chúil Aodha Barr d'Inse

The pupils and their teachers visited the Eureka Centre, where Dr Stephen Murphy and Dr Ryan Gallagher did a number of fun experiments with the group in the chemistry laboratory. Then the group visited the Crawford Observatory where Katie Kelleher, Visitors Services, talked to the group about the telescopes that are in the observatory.

Afterwards there was an official event in the Aula Maxima, where we had speeches, music and a celebration.  Amhlaoibh Ó Síocháin Ó Beoláin and Eimear Ní Chéilleachair played traditional music for the group that added to the occasion. Everyone who was in attendance enjoyed their day. 

Contact Details

Nuala de Búrca
Organizer of Lá na Scoileanna Gaeilge
E: n.deburca@ucc.ie