Gaelcholáiste
A gaelcholáiste is a secondary level school in Ireland, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, outside Gaeltacht areas, where Irish is the primary language of teaching and communication.
Gaelcholáistí are supported and represented on a practical day-to-day basis by Gaeloideachas based in Dublin (who also support Irish-medium schools in the Gaeltacht) and are also supported and represented by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, or COGG for short.
There are 31 Gaelcholáistí and 17 second-level Aonaid Gaeilge (Irish language units) on the island of Ireland attended by over 11,000 students. A further over 3,000 pupils are receiving their second level education through Irish in the Gaeltacht.
Future Gaelcholáistí
An announcement from the Department of Education & Skills in 2012 [1] said that three new Gaelcholáistí were scheduled to open in September 2014: -
| Location | Coláiste Name | Start Date | Patron Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balbriggan | Coláiste Ghlór na Mara[2] | 1 September, 2014 | An Foras Pátrúnachta |
| Rathfarnham | Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh | September, 2014 | An Foras Pátrúnachta |
| Carrigaline | Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin | September, 2015 | Co. Cork VEC |
In 2015 Northern Ireland's second Gaelcholáiste Gaelcholáiste Dhoire opened in Dungiven Castle.
There are several campaigns running for new Gaelcholáistí to be set-up in other parts of the island of Ireland also.