Mums and dads join the children at summer camps to learn cúpla focail

THERE was a time when sending the children to Irish college meant a few weeks of peace at home but mums and dads are now taking the chance to improve their use of their native language at the same time.

Vincent and Helen Ryan have travelled from Aglish, Co Waterford, to the picturesque north-west, as they and their four children are taking part in the week-long course run by Cumann an Phiarsaigh in Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal.

The local community school is buzzing with activity all week, with 80 families from around the country in attendance.

For Vincent and Helen, one of 11 families whose stay is part-funded by Foras na Gaeilge, it’s a chance to improve their own Irish and that of their kids who are pupils of Scoil Gharbháin in Abbeyside near Dungarvan.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to help the kids going through school, but there’s plenty fun during the week as well as the learning,” said Vincent.

Neither he nor Helen are native speakers, but both have a good standard of Irish. The adults are placed from Level 1 for absolute beginners to Level 6 for those who are fluent.

“I went in at Level 5 and Helen started on Level 4 so there might be some healthy competition between us during the week,” he laughed.

For 12-year-old Niamh, Cian, 11, Clíona, eight, and seven-year-old Eoin, it’s also a chance to widen their vocabulary but also have fun with other children from around the country.

In the afternoons and evenings, the kids do swimming, sports, music workshops and other activities, while the adults can visit Glenveagh National Park, walk on Mount Errigal or learn music or art.

Families come together at night for quizzes or dances, with tonight’s Céilí marking the social highlight.

Course organiser and Gaoth Dobhair native Joe Ó Gallchóir, the principal of a Gaelscoil in Monaghan, said that from small beginnings a decade ago, he now has to turn away dozens of families each summer.

“The demand is so big, mostly through word of mouth, that we might run a second week next year,” he said.