THE principal of a small island school at risk of closure due to plummeting numbers has revealed the special perks enjoyed by children who attend.
Scoil Naisiunta Inis Chleire, located on the picturesque island of Cape Clear, off the coast of Cork, is one of the last island primary schools in the country.
The 129-year-old Irish-speaking school recently launched an appeal urging families with young children to move to the island after only three kids enrolled for the next school year.
School principal Brid Ni Ghriofa has seen many appeals like this before.
Brid, who has been an island resident for nearly 40 years, said: “Over the years, we’ve seen the population dropping, and at various times, we would look to a campaign. That has happened over the years, and many campaigns have been successful.
“At different times, different families came for different lengths of time. It doesn’t have to be a whole year. It could be just a few months, and that still adds to our school.”
However, Brid said that this feels more urgent than in previous years.
She explained: “Well, the numbers are low, and they were low a few years ago as well.
“The school will continue to be open. It’s just that we would like a bigger school population.”
Brid urges families, particularly Irish speakers, to think of moving to the island.
She says: “I think the school is an ideal for people who are interested in Irish because it is part of the Gaeltacht.
“We achieved our Sceim Gaeltachta, and that means that all of our junior infants that come in they don’t do any English for the first two years.
She added: “It would be great for them also because we have such low numbers, there is a lot of one-to-one time with teachers.
“This means that a child who maybe has difficulties with learning would get a great deal of attention.
Brid notes that there are many benefits to living on the island, not just for the kids, but for parents as well.
ISLAND LIFE
She said: “Those who are interested in nature and would like to have the time out from maybe living in a town, live a different way of life for a short while or a long time, maybe they come here for a short time and then find themselves here for many years.
“When I came back in 1989, we thought we’d stay here for maybe two years and then move away. But we didn’t. We brought up our children here, and they went to school and certainly enjoyed it.”
The island’s development agency is currently offering two low-cost rental properties for September to incentivise young families to move to the island.
Amenities such as cheap long-term rental accommodation and fibre broadband are being advertised in an attempt to draw visitors to the island.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
A €35,000-a-year tourist manager job is also being offered, in order to manage the Cape Clear Fastnet Experience and Heritage Centre, a site which received €1million from Failte Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta last year.
While families with a competent level of Irish are considered preferable, the island is also keen to attract families from various backgrounds and nationalities.
The island currently boasts a local bus service, a public library, a public health nurse, two pubs, and its own postal service.
However, with the number of children enrolled for the next school year down to just three from 15 in 2015, newcomers are urgently needed to keep the island’s vibrant community afloat.
The island, notably already boasts a varied community, with residents from France, Germany, Ukraine, America, and Scotland.
