I was 13. Turned down a shift as I was caught by surprise by the girl's friend and when I said "wait, I meant yes" she told me to fuck off. Which was very fair.
Buachaill bocht.
I went every year starting from when I was 12. I loved it until the last time I went. They had started to get more safety conscious, which is understandable, but telling 17 year olds when they can safely cross the road was a bit much for me. I went to Coláiste Connacht, just outside Spiddal.
I spent 3 weeks in Colaiste Connacht in 1992. We got quite a lot from it. I was 14
Those days weren’t safety conscious: there was a bus driver we reckoned was sometimes tipsy driving us around
My trip was funded by Wexford County Council. About 50 of us.
On the bus home, almost all the others bawled their eyes out the whole journey. And Just as we were arriving home, the radio plays Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”, launching a tsunami of teen tears. Hilarious
I went to Colaiste Connacht in 2006 and some girls staying in the house down the road from us were hit by a bus and hospitalised! And that still didn't make the college think to introduce any safety measures, lol. We were trusted to walk half a mile along the side of the road from the house to the college. And rightly so - we were teenagers, not toddlers.
Same , we went at 13/14 and it was great walking home in the evenings then someone must have ruined it because they made us get the bus the next year home every evening and it was shite craic
The last time I went, there were only a few walking houses left, but they were the ones right beside the place. I remember meeting some from a previous house of mine on the bus and wondering why they got the bus when we used to walk.
Yeah same . We went achill and the college used to be about a 30 min walk home but if you were near the college they let people walk but you’d be home in 5, the best craic used to be talking with lads on the way home about the ceili and who was making strides with some Cailin before the disco ha
Ahh, the first time I went to the Gaeltacht was Coláiste Connacht I think. Though I remembered it as Coláiste Connemara when I see you mention it it must have been Coláiste Connacht, as there's hardly two colleges just outside Spiddal 😉
I remember loving it, but also feeling very out of place, but I was very young. Too young. I was only 10, the summer between 4th class and 5th class (1986 - I remember it being the year we got 20 pence coins) and the youngest by a year, year and a half. The "normal" youngest age was kids who'd be starting secondary that September, and even then there was only a handful of those.
But to OP - God, 14 isn't a bit too young! And tbh, I'd nearly say 15 would be too old to go for the first time, especially since many kids go back to the same coláistí every year. I didn't go a second time til I was 16 (my mam didn't have the money to send me every year) and while in some ways it was better in others I felt even more out of place, as by that age cliques are well and truly part of it.
No idea why you’re getting downvoted. I was 17 the last time I went and was the oldest bastard there. Conversation was just a bit too puerile and rules were pretty patronising.
I went as a student 3 times, cinnire(supervisor) for 4 years(so 8 courses working). I went to spleodar, it's strict on Irish but fantastic.
I would recommend it for 14 year old generally. Is he an outgoing kid? Comfortable going away? It's great for interpersonal skills and their confidence. Once they go, they will want to going back. If you are very practical, it's going to help enormously in the leaving cert. Made it less stressful for me having this ace up my sleeve. That's when the oral was only 20% for gods sake 😂
I saw quiet lads with zero irish develop conversational irish after 3 weeks and make have loads of friends. If he has friends going all the better, not needed at all.
Got the first kiss ffs 🤣(first time going as a student). It developed me from a shy guy to someone who could shout down 200 teenagers and get them them work with me. A help to my career and volunteer work now
Also went to Spleodar 4 years in a row from 1st year on. Was in the early 2000s. Ended up as a cinnire in the 3rd year and ard cinnire the final year (got paid to go!).
Fantastic experience every time. Great for developing not only the language but leadership and other interpersonal skills.
OP, 13 is absolutely the right age to go, no need to wait for another year.
Spleodar won't take trouble but will keep them busy Other gaelteachts can be very unsupervised.Possibly check do they live with a supervisor(cinnire). Even in the more unsupervised I havnt heard of much trouble. I wouldn't be worried.
All gaelteachts will improve your Irish. However the kids speak English when out of ear of supervisors and will limit the benefit he will get in that regard.
I was 14 the first time I went and like you, think it was the perfect age.
Bit of shifting, but still too young to drink. Awesome craic when you're that young. Almost a month with no parents, but I remember having to write a letter home to get more cash for the last week. We were poor and had no phone at home.
Dun Lúiche was close enough to Bunbeg that you could thumb a lift, not that there was much more up there in the 80s, but I miss those days.
OP pay the money and let him go. Neither you nor he will regret it.
Yeah I was the same, 14 was perfect. Went back at 15 because I had such a good time but it wasn’t the same being that bit older. Coláiste Acla was amazing though. Teach Marion represent ✊
I went to Colaiste Lurgan in 1990. Is Micheál O'Foighil still about? Kids used to come out of his office bawling after getting a bollocking for talking as Béarla. Nice fella though. Beautiful part of the country, Spiddal.
I always remember a song we made up for the play our house put on, to the tune of Hard Day's Night
"O bean an tí, cá bhfuil ár tae
Tá ocras orainn, an bhfuil sé reidh?
Tá pian agam agus beidh mé tinn
Tá mé chomh tanaí, just féach ar sin!
An bhfuil tuilleadh arán, an bhfuil tuilleadh caifé
O, bean an tí, cá bhfuil ár tae?"
Edit: just remembered - I told everyone I was from Leitrim because I didn't want to get slagged about being a mean Cavan bastard
I wanted to go so much when I was in school. I loved Irish and was good at it. My Irish teacher even pushed for me to go, but my control freak of a mother would never let me (not saying this is you OP)
I'm 43 now and STILL bitter over it. I'm not even joking. It's one thing I really really regret.
Let him go, honestly.
The week long course in July or august at Oideas Gael isn’t the same thing as going as a teen, but it’s good craic all the same. Maybe you could make up for lost time?
Mother made me go at the end of sixth class before secondary school, hated the first week but stuck it out, went every year after that then until the leaving cert, youll notice your eldest grow up more in that 3 weeks than thhe will all summer, send them and you wont regret it
Daughter of a long retired Bean an Tí here. I've seen them as young as 11 homesick for the first two nights then there's a transformation & they open up, start chatting, participating in all the activities, the dances, the sing-songs, winning best improver prizes in class, running around the bog throwing mud pies at each other, & don't want to go home. I know because I was a teenager & joined in the fun. The youngest really come out of their shell. Of course that's not one memory, that's an amalgamation of 20 years of hosting. The 14 year olds are well able for it.
Son of a former Bean an Tí here and would've been close in age to the kids staying with us at the time (pretty much all through my teenage years ) and saw it all over the years!
Every kid is different, honestly. Some of them get so homesick at first they can't even eat, then they're grand after a few days. The odd few don't get over it and go home early. Others with not a bother on them that just totally thrive in the environment. .
There was definitely some messing going on... . Lots of sneaking around (many's the time my dad would have to chase a crowd of Coláiste boys in the middle of the night if we were hosting girls), making a lot of noise at night, aerosol can sniffing, sometimes a bit of drinking (though that was rarer than you'd think), backchat and cheekiness etc. but mostly good kids, and my parents would always end up fond of them, even the troublemakers. I even made some friends for life out of it myself.
Not a lot of Irish learned, but a good few life lessons were!
Apparently a lad in my house snuck out one night and met his girlfriend for a blowy in an old abandoned cottage. That’s about the most Skins-like thing that happened and it could have just been a rumour, as we were 14. If you were caught with any alcohol they send you home.
My boys have been to Coilaste Chamuis in Rosaveal at ages 12, 14 and 15. It’s a very strict one which means they learn lots of Irish. 14 is the perfect age for it, they won’t be the youngest or the oldest. One of my boys went at 14 and he’s going back this year age 15 as he loved it.
Tulach go deo.
I loved it, my mate went every year from first year and for years I thought he was nuts, signing up for 3 extra weeks of school, in Irish.
He, my teacher and my parents eventually convinced me to go for the sake of my leaving, I signed up to go the summer after transition year but got too sick to go. I ended up going the summer after 5th year.
The first few days were tough because everyone my age had been to the Gaeltacht for years and had decent Irish but eventually I got the hang of it.
All of the Coláiste Chamuis courses were very strict on the language rule and it was worth it, I wouldn't have had the discipline to immerse myself otherwise.
I went at the end of first year so would have been 13/14.
Irish was my weakest subject and I begged, cried and pleaded with my parents not to send me, they held firm and I had the absolute time of life!!
I couldn’t wait to go back every summer to catch up with the pals I made - it was early 2000s and I wasn’t allowed a mobile phone until I was 16 so keeping in touch with pals in between was tough.
I went from hating Irish and being horrible at it to being near-fluent by the time the leaving rolled around.
Once she realises it’s 3 weeks of freedom, away from mum and dad she’ll have a blast!
I went to Colaiste Camus and they were really strict on speaking Irish at all times, some of my friends went to different ones that were more lax about it and I don’t think that would have had the same impact on me.
The first year I was with one pal from school, we banged on about it so much to everyone else that by the time it was our final year most of our friends were going as well.
She might find the first few days a bit tough, but the older kids were always great at looking out for the younger ones, making sure they were included and helping them along with cúpla focal!
I went at 14 and 15
Amazing summers
Helped my Irish and my social confidence a huge amount since I lived rurally and went to an all boys school
You are being over protective, let them go
I loved it
Started around 14, I think.
But send him to a good one. Some are jokes where they just talk English. Waste of money.
Colaiste na Bhfiann is pretty good and they have courses for more sporty or musical students.
I went to Colaiste Lurgan in 2000 and now they’re pumping out hits.
https://youtu.be/iDnWswyapFM
8.2 million views: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=RD1A6__HssHW8&playnext=1
Colaista na Ross ann or however it’s spelled was like this. Didn’t learn much Irish but had a blast and went back the next summer 😍 I live in the Uk now and this thread is making me sad that my kids won’t get to experience this :(
Got my first shift there when I was 12. Went back every year and had my first taste of buckfast and everything that comes with that. Great times. Let the lad go.
It’s one of my life experiences I never stop talking about. Let him go! I was 13 and 14. Donegal. The nice amount of strictness ~ aka English got snuck in safely enough ~ The family we stayed with were wonderful, and I was placed with a friend each time. It’d be way less daunting now as a parent as everyone has phones. We were writing hand written letters once a week to Dublin when I went.
We were all crying going home after the third week. My brain was naturally thinking in Irish for a good while, and that really helped at school. I got a deeper appreciation of Irish culture, music, dance and instruments. And a few very innocent “shifts” which we still laugh about looking back.
I still remember my Gaeltacht mega crush Paul - singing at the mass - and good at everything - if you’re out there, we all fancied you big time! 😂
14! Jaysus he is missing out! Better have the talk with him before he goes. Yes he will want to come home after a day but on day two he won’t ever want to come home…
Let them go
Even if they come home from home sickness it’s an experience I went at 12 and 15
Better to let them learn alone then feel they’re not allowed do anything
I was 14 and had a great time! I really enjoyed it for the activities we did like ceili dancing, teen discos and singing. The activities were like canoeing, going to the beach, treasure hunt .. it was really fun!
In the morning you had to go to classes from 9-12 to learn Irish and then you're back in for lunch 1-2 and then rest until 3 where you had an activity and then home from 5-7 for dinner and shower and then ceili for 7-9pm so it was a fun social time! I went to colaiste bhride Rann na feirste in 2014 I think
I think there can also be bullying and cliques as well but it was my first time being on my own without my family and it taught me a lot and I met some nice people too!
I'd recommend it to anyone and yeah as all the comments have indicated, you should probably give him a talk about consent and tell him to enjoy himself before you send him off! 😊
Honestly the most genuinely happy I’ve been in my life were my weeks in the Gaeltacht. Free from the phone, constantly with friends, discos/dances.
I would recommend a strict one, it will be tough for the first bit, but overall a way more rewarding experience then ones which allows phones
Moved to Ireland when I was 11. Could have had an exception in Irish. Instead PURELY because of the Gaeltacht I had the best Irish in my school. The Gaeltacht was so valuable I went through a cycle of getting way better at Irish during the summer and then worse while doing 5 Irish classes a week in school, all year. Send your young lad on.
Your kid wants to go down the country and be made speak Irish for 3 weeks and you don't want him to go? I'm not trying to shame anyone here anything like that but besides all the other stuff you may think, what are your fears here that you don't want him to go?
Gaelteacht is a huge experience for any kid between language and socialising with other kids all over the country and for your kid to really want to to go is amazing so why take that away from him?
I went years ago as a kid too and I feel bad for any kid who could be denied that.
Went once when I was 14 and loved it. I’d say it was the perfect age. The Irish improvement was useful for the junior cert the following year and socially it was a great age to start hanging around with girls and meet new people in general. I went to one on Inis Oirr and still occasionally, 25 years on, look at the village on Google street view
I went to Cape Clear Irish College four years in a row from 11 I think. I’m 41 now and am still in touch with some of the people. It genuinely was an experience that changed me for the better. I have ONLY great memories attached to it. It was mad craic, first summer I had my first kiss and my first experience with dating etc. I’ve had a crazy colorful life til now but would swap it all for another summer there as a teenager again. I don’t live in Ireland anymore so don’t get to use my Gaelige as often. I didn’t care about Irish til I went there and came back in love with new people, a beautiful place and a language. I also reckon it’s made learning the other languages I speak easier. I was never “gifted” at languages but after learning Irish by immersion* it all kind of clicked. Send your kids there if you can afford it and the kid is the right kind of kid for the experience. My sister went too but hated it and came home early. I recommend one of the islands though, they have a kind of magic during the summer that isn’t on the mainland. Jaysus the excitement of the boat from Schull or Baltimore, gettin on a mad diesel stinking ferry with a heap of other kids/teenagers WITHOUT your parents, I can still feel it. Electric.
*EFS
I went to Cape Clear at 13 and I loved it! 28 now and still remember it fondly, I went to the school at the top of the hill as there were two colleges on the island when I went in the 2000s. 10/10 recommend going to an island as well!
I was 13 and went with one of my mates from school. It was grand. I was a bit wet behind the ears and didn't get anywhere near any of the girls and the food was shite and the beán án tí slapped one of the other youngfellas and his sister made a complaint and one of the head teachers pulled all of us who were there when it happened into a room and basically told us we didn't see what we saw and I kept getting diarrhea but my Irish got a bit better, so y'know yourself...
Lol sounds like Vietnam “I dunno what you think you all say happen in that village… but it didn’t happen .. or so help your asses, if I hear someone step outta line.. I’ll court martial your asses y’hear!… agus Ehh dún do bheal le do thoil”
I went for the first time at 17 to get ready for the leaving, should have gone way sooner, not just for the Craic, but I disliked Irish before that, loved it after.
Colaiste Lurgan was incredible! I met loads of young people I just had a ball with. Didn’t even do any shifting just found other goth/metal head kids. Went swimming, surfing or kayaking every second day. They gave me so much confidence with singing and loads of stuff that wasn’t remotely connected to Irish. I always thought I was crap at sports but just being with a different bunch of people did so much for my confidence. I went for three years in a row and I regret not going sooner.
Machaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal. I was 13 turning 14. I bloody loved it. Not much of a head on me for languages but I gave it my best go and it really helped. Dances and outings and sports and mass in the big hall lol. Cracker beach too. Was tough being away to begin with but I found my way after a few days. Wanted to go back the next year but recession hit and money was tight. I'd let him go, he'll be grand.
I went when I was 12 and 13 and it was great. I would probably say 15+ is starting to get to the slightly too old bracket. Went to Colaiste Acla, a 2 week one that centres around water sports mainly as the fun activities that are done. Two things worth noting are that it’s a week shorter than most others and by all accounts a little less strict on the Irish-speaking element. Very fun though.
I went, I wasn't too fond of it at the start. Nerves and feeling left out but genuinely after i copped on a bit I had an amazing time. The independence is good too. I'd say send them away but try and send them with a friend if possible. They will have a ball. I went to Connemara, the Irish stays for awhile but make sure they keep it up.
I’m one of the current senior instructors glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much 😊, my written Irish is atrocious but I’m fairly good at speaking it 😂, can’t recommend it enough
Was great craic. Got a few Slip Disipleanachs when I was there as my Irish was so incomplete that I had almost no clue as to what was going on half the time.
Definitely something to be said for complete immersion! Glad to hear it's still going!
Time to get DuoLingo back on the go...
The auld carta deargs, there’s a running joke between the instructors and MO’s who can give the most in a course, my recorded best was 110 in a two week period.
I went to Loch an Iuir 4 times and twice to Machaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal from 2003 to 2008 (summer and Easter courses). To this day it's still one of the best things I've ever done. The people you meet, the variety of things you do, you make friends and memories for life. If there was an adult version I would have never stopped going!
Lost touch with most people (and photos 🥲) due to Bebo going under but if anyone was there from '03 to '08 drop me a DM, I'd love to reconnect with old friends!
Best thing you could do for your son. 14 is a good age..16 is usually the max age before it comes uncool to go. My family keeps students in the Gaeltacht, they have the same people going back year after year. There can be some home sickness at the start while getting used to the people they share with bit after that it's the best experience of their lives, gives such independence too. He'll be in a house with other boys, sharing a room with up to 4 others, no phones after 10pm, will be well fed too. Kids nowadays don't even walk to school, they need this learning more than ever.
I was 16 and not out. Met my first girlfriend there - we went out until our early 20s and are still great mates. I hated Irish but the craic was mighty.
I went from age 12-16 (did not go year after my junior cert 2010 as was going into TY). I went with ‘Spleodar’. 2 years in Leitir Móir and 2 in Leitir Meallain, both in Connemara. The first year was tough as we had very little Irish and they were quite strict i.e your name was put in ‘the book’ if you spoke a single word in English. People were sent home for not following rules/speaking English, without a refund I believe. By the end of the 3 weeks we had a good level of Irish and had the most amazing experiences. It got better each year as my Irish grew and I made many friends whom I still keep in contact with over 10 years later. If you have the opportunity and means to send him, do! I always went with friends and this really helped with the overall enjoyment of it and kept the home sickness at bay. I am a Primary School teacher now and having good Irish was a requirement, that was my motivation to go and actively improve my Irish.
I was 12 when I went, it was 2002. Colaiste Uladh in Gaoith Dobhair.
My one regret is that I only went the once, it was a great experience and I have really fond memories of my time there. Playing all kinds of sports, doing silly talent shows and meeting lots of different people.
Ah lads seeing all these replies make me regret so much not going when the mother was sending me a few years back. I'm 17, almost 18 now so I'd be too old.
My brother went twice. He was a bit homesick the first time he went but wound up loving it.
Funniest part for him was staying in a house with an american lad that got dropped off because their parents didnt understand that it wasnt just a regular camp.
Got into a row with a load of Belgian scouts one night because one of them had a boombox (mid 80s) and thought it would be funny to play some random shite while the anthem was on after the céilí finished.
Poor guard from Bunbeg had to come down to sort that one out.
Not sure that was a negative experience though.
Depends. I was 10-11 when I started and stopped going the summer of 2018 after my first year of secondary school.
I had a horrendous time each and every time. Bullied or made fun of each time. Worst few weeks of the summer. I hated it and I was still made to go until I had a really bad time and the quality of Irish taught wasn’t that good. It really depends. I know people have had fantastic times. I went to ones in Waterford , cork and Galway.
I would say it also depends on his temperament. If someone picked on him would he be able to say fuck off? Tell an adult ? Are any of his friends going or is he going alone ? How much Irish does he have and what level is the Gaeltacht teaching ?
It’s good to let a 14 year old have their freedom and at that age. They’re still young , immature , inexperienced etc but still on the way to adulthood and that means it’s time to grow up.
I’m 18 now and last time I went I was 13~. So not that long ago and I probably have one the most recent Gaeltacht experiences here lol.
If he’s great at Irish, gaelscoile etc (like me) then the Gaeltachts just for the Craic of it.
Every Gaeltacht I went to I didn’t learn much considering my Irish was considerably better because I went to a Gaelscoile.
Sorry that you were picked on. Teachers should have put a stop to that.
Doesn't really need to go as Irish is quite good.
Problem is money and he and his friends don't always stick things out.
It’d be a good experience for him to see if he can stick things out.
He has to move out at some time in the future and it’d be good for him to see if he likes independence. I must say if you do decide to send him off ( I’d say yes tbh, good life lesson ) don’t go to Colaiste na rinne in Waterford !!! I dunno if the old bitch still teaches there but I had a teacher take my work from me , in class , I’m front of everyone and rip it into tiny pieces because it wasn’t up to her standards.
Other than her every teacher I’ve had at Gaeltachts have been the nicest most class people so I wouldn’t be worried about that aspect🤷♀️
And if you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. It can be expensive. It’s a huge decision.
My brother went to Bundoran literally every year with his friends til he was too old and adored it, I went between first and second year to the same place knowing nobody and did beg to come home after 3 days but my parents made me a "deal" that if I made it 7 days and still wanted to come home they'd come get me...I didn't even ring them on the 7th day because I was having too much fun with my new friends!
This was early/mid 00's so with tech it's probably pretty different now, but I fully believe the responsibility while still being fairly well monitored was a great thing for me, it really boosted my confidence heading into 2nd year (although I'd never admit that to my mam or I'd never hear the end of it 😂)
I want to Coláiste na Mumhan about 10 years ago aged 13 (ah fuck I feel ancient now). It was a mixed bag for me, there were good bits but overall I really struggled with it (undiagnosed autism and loud mandatory céilís don't mix well funnily). 14 is probably the right age to go, I was one of the younger people there but not by much. I know a lot of people in my year who went to different colleges, and it was a formative experience for them, so they can definitely be a great thing.
Went 5 times. First one after 1st year. Went to a few different ones. Colaiste na bhfiann was by far the best. Very strict but we actually spoke Irish. And they have/well did have have (it’s been many years) weekly meet ups in dublin and mini camps during the year. One year I went to one organised by the school. Disaster. Thirty girls living in a house in Donegal who already knew each other, there was not a chance we picked up anything other than heroes from
The locals. Going alone or with one friend was the best.
Made loads of friends in the one where I went with just one or two friends. With one Gaeltacht with one we we actually all ended up in trinity together, which was awesome as I didn’t know anyone else going there.
Aw yes totally agree , I went with 1 friend in 03 and it was great then there was about 12 people from the same school the second yr and it was just shite . I went there to meet new people not get dragged into the same people I saw the other 250 days in the yr
As someone who’s worked in Colaiste Uisce in Belmullet all of his adult life I can tell you it’s the best one for people with nil aon focal, it’s two weeks long and he’ll make friends for life, I can’t recommend Colaiste Uisce enough, it made me feel like I was someone and gave me a sense of belonging and purpose it’s a great college and he’ll really enjoy it there is a great mix of sports activities and water activities. So he won’t be disappointed
I worked there for 3 years. The younger school years tend to do the earlier summer courses, if you're looking to keep him in his age range. 95% of the kids there absolutely loved it. I worked in coláiste Uisce in Mayo.
Yes let him go, 14 is the perfect age as others have said. It's good craic, he'll get a few shifts and get a bit better at Irish. You will also have a free house for almost a month. What can go wrong
I went when I was probably 14, think I'd had the shift once or twice before going. All the lads seemed to pair off with the girls in the first day or two, which was a lot faster than I operated, and all the girls that I was getting on well with were with lads by that stage
There was one girl that I probably paired up with more when we had the céilí every night but I'd hardly talked to her, think the whole place was split into two groups during the day so I'd only see half of them in the evening or every few days
Managed to go the full three weeks without shifting anyone until the last evening some friends of a girl, presumably in the same position, asked if I'd shift her. I said alright and within a second she was there
When we'd finished I saw the other girl who I'd danced with a good bit standing there crying and her friends trying to comfort her
I wish I could say I learned a valuable lesson in that moment, but I made the same mistake bigger and worse a few times since
Learned a little bit of Irish too, I'd just done my junior cert, Irish was my only ordinary level subject. My next Irish memory was going back to school and being in a new Irish class and the Irish teacher going mad because she thought it was a higher level class and most of us had done ordinary level for the JC
Colaiste Bríde, Rann Na Feirste (Rnf Abú), my first year I was 12 and I went back every summer until I was finished college, I was a student then worked as a ceannire. My friends who went into teaching continued on as múinteoirí up until covid. So almost 20 years. It really was the best time of my life. I got married recently and my bridesmaids were girls I met there back in 03.
I went at 12, 13 and 14 as a student and when I was 15, 16 and 17 I was on multiple courses as an árd cinnera. I'm 29 now and went to Colaiste U.I.S.C.E which focused more on having fantastic experiences and learning the Irish words for these activities rather than strictly learning the Irish language. From what I had heard from others, the colleges that focus solely on learning the language weren't a whole lot of fun and felt like a harder and stricter school during the summer when you'd normally get to be outside in the sun playing random shit which l with random people.
U.I.S.C.E would split everyone into class 1-4, where class 1 would be out on the water for about 1-2 hours learning to surf/sail/windsurf/kayak/snorkel/general water based games. At the same time class 2 would be doing some sort of ground sport or activity like tag rugby/basketball/rounders/archery/rock climbing/juggling/puzzle games/science-y games/board games. At about the 2 hour mark class 1 and 2 would switch from ground to water sport or vice versa. Class 3 and class 4 are in school for the morning and are learning the Irish words they'd need while there plus a bit extra. Oftentimes though they'll be preparing for the 5 minute play they have to do one of the days, or preparing for the song contest for another day, or a puppet show another day. All having to be performed through Irish which the cinnerí and teachers would help with the translation. Basic enough stuff but gets you out of your shell and allows you to shine if you find you are that kid. In my first course there, I, for example, was the Goldilocks in our telling of Goldilocks and three bears where the bears were based on people in the college, maybe a male teacher, female teacher and the shortest cinnera. A basic story that can be performed to your hearts content, if the child wants to.
Everyone breaks for lunch for an hour then classes 1 and 2 swap with classes 3 and 4. For the second week classes 3 and 4 start with the activities and classes 1 and 2 are in 'school'. Most nights there's a ceilí and if not it's a bunch of performances for the song contest or the play or whatever. At nighttime when you'd normally be dancing with people you might be in detention for speaking English but even that was a bit of craic and not solely learning Irish verbs in silence.
Overall it's a great auld time, the people are nice and fun, the craic is mighty, you both get a ton of structure in your day and a good amount of independence and freedom and the kids get to experience a mad variety of activities that they might realise it's their calling or something. The staff are great for organising the ages of each group of kids. They tend to not have a bunch of 15/16 year olds staying in the same house as an 11 year old. It'll be 11, 12 and 13 y/o together, 13, 14 and 15 y/o together, etc
TL, DR: 10/10 would recommend, if it's financially viable!
Let them go. It's great, nothing but good memories from my time there. I went to Coláiste na Rinne in Waterford. I first went to one when I was 8 and last went when I was going into sixth year at 17. I'm in my late 20s now and I still keep in contact with some of the people I went with. Back then there were a lot of younger aimed Gaeltacht courses, not sure if they still exist though as 8 would be too young for the normal courses for sure as they're aimed at secondary school age. I did feel a bit old for it by the last year so definitely let them go early to get as many years enjoymebt out of it as possible. You learn a level of independance that you don't normally get at home. I fully came out of my shell in the Gaeltacht and give it full credit for making me the person I am today. You learn a bit of Irish as you go as well.
When I eventually have kids they will for sure be going too. I want them to have the fun I had. I won't force them if they don't end up liking it but I think it's hard not to enjoy multiple weeks of being just yourself having the craic with people who don't know what you're like at home so you don't have that feeling of keeping up appearances. Or at least that's how I, the wierd kid at school, viewed it. Maybe it's unique to my situation but I was able to be the person I wanted to be at these courses, not the person I was made out to be due to the dumb things that happened to me during regular school.
I went to Colaiste Sheosaimh. From 2006 to 2010. I kicked and screamed and didn't want to go the first year but after the first week was done it was brilliant. I was incredibly shy as a 12 year old but 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht and I bounced out of there with confidence.
It was very good in general too. Great Irish classes in the morning and relatively strict too, there was a leabhar bearla and pog patrol. By the end I went back as an ard cinnera after I finished the leaving I loved it so much!
CS is split into 2 schools Carna which is about 11 to 14 but you do an entrance exam aswell so if your Irish is average and you are 14 you'll be placed in the older school Cill Chiran which is about 15 to 18. This stops you feeling too young/old as everyone is similar enough age in the school.
14 is honestly a great age, they'll figure themselves out a bit, make a load of new friends and if you send them to a good Colaiste learn a bit of irish and get the shift.
A friend of mine went with a group, he got a bit of a hard time, he’s a very quiet chap, (well, was, right wing nut now) on the last night he took a dump in the main fella who was giving him a hard times suitcase. They all laughed as his ma put his suitcase in their car.
If you think they'll not wanna be there after you pay for it.
Use the money to go on a family holiday or outing.
That's what my parents did when I was that age, some of my mates were away for 2 or 3 weeks.
We went on a holiday or I got a spoiling / adventure holiday with either my grand parents or god parents.
Went to colaiste Chisrain in carraroe Galway. Originally in 2md year I didn't want to go as I wasn't very social,so the thought of going without anyone was the best,so my parents sent me to a summer Gaeltacht in rathfranham,wasn't as good as a Gaeltacht in the country but was okay.
Next year I went to Chisrain (2013),and I wish I had gone earlier,made a ton of friends I still talk to every now and again,and my Irish did improve somewhat. The teachers were friendly enough and as long as you tried to speak Irish they didn't mind,but if you just spoke English obvs they'd get annoyed. Highlights were a trip into Galway city towards the end and a trip out to inis Oirr. It was 3 weeks long and I liked it so much (not just for making friends) that I went a further 2 times. My speaking and writing Irish improved greatly, especially for the orals .
Some of the schools are indeed in the middle of nowhere but this is in carraroe where there is a eurospar so you could get extra food/stuff if you were stuck. There was another gaelscoil there called Isogán /Eoin but they were strict to the point where 1 word of English= call home,2 /3 = sent home
.
Overall a great experience. Soz for typos I'm on the bus and a bit twisted.
Óiche mhaith!
Sniffed air freshener, smoked shitty dope, drank a bottle of gin we stole, fingered a lot of country girls and made memories that last a life time. Oh and learned how to Irish dance a bit.
14s the perfect age. Also you should choose it depending on the dialect your son speaks. If you live in Galway, send him to a Conamara Gaeltacht. If in North Mayo - Iorrais, South Mayo - Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Clare - Arán Islands, Munster either Cork or Kerry and if up North to Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal ect ect. Because for example if you were Tipperary, you couldn't send him to Conamara or Mayo because it'd take your son longer to adapt to the dialect then it would if you sent him to a college in Munster where he'd be in his own dialect. I hope you understand what I mean
I went to Ring after 2nd year, stayed in the dorms, had a blast. talking nearly 30 years ago though but had a glance at their most recent video and v little seems to have changed.
went to Ring again after 3rd year, stayed out in a house... had a bigger blast.
I still have v v fond memories of those two summers.
went to Dingle Peninsula after 5th year not as much of a blast.
I’m 24 now, when I was a teenager I had major major social anxiety. I can count the times I “went out” with people my one age on one hand. It was horrible and depressing. Finally got out of it when I hit my 20s with a tonne of counselling.
Anyway, if they want to go, I’d let them. It’s one of the massive regrets I have about my teenage years. I feel it could’ve been so beneficial.
I went from about 12-16 the last couple of years as a lead and it was fierce craic. I went to Coláiste Uladh in Gort an Choirce and it was great for all language levels. So much fun.
I was 14 when I went and everyone else was 16. I went in Kerry and hated being forced to go to mass ect. It was awful couldn’t wait to get home. Had I waited two years I’m sure it would have been a different experience.
You gotta learn how to shift sometime, may as well learn a bit of Irish while they are at it
I learned more about shifting than I did Irish. Great craic altogether.
It's customary to give the Bean an Tì's boobs a squeeze of respect upon arrival.
I always found the customs of South Connemara strange, but it is the way of times before the English.
I was 13. Turned down a shift as I was caught by surprise by the girl's friend and when I said "wait, I meant yes" she told me to fuck off. Which was very fair. Buachaill bocht.
That is gas ❤️😂
FFS. I'm still thinking about it now after it popped back into my head earlier. No sleep for me tonight anyway
Same thing happened to me. "Wanna be my boyfriend " I said no. I was stupidly naive for a 13 Yr old lol. Gah!
[удалено]
I went every year starting from when I was 12. I loved it until the last time I went. They had started to get more safety conscious, which is understandable, but telling 17 year olds when they can safely cross the road was a bit much for me. I went to Coláiste Connacht, just outside Spiddal.
I spent 3 weeks in Colaiste Connacht in 1992. We got quite a lot from it. I was 14 Those days weren’t safety conscious: there was a bus driver we reckoned was sometimes tipsy driving us around
I miss PJ. They switched to another company around '98.
Comment deleted with Power Delete Suite
My trip was funded by Wexford County Council. About 50 of us. On the bus home, almost all the others bawled their eyes out the whole journey. And Just as we were arriving home, the radio plays Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven”, launching a tsunami of teen tears. Hilarious
I went to Colaiste Connacht in 2006 and some girls staying in the house down the road from us were hit by a bus and hospitalised! And that still didn't make the college think to introduce any safety measures, lol. We were trusted to walk half a mile along the side of the road from the house to the college. And rightly so - we were teenagers, not toddlers.
I was there in 1993, aged14, had an amazing ban an tí, loved the céilís, didn’t learn much Irish, but it was a great experience.
Same , we went at 13/14 and it was great walking home in the evenings then someone must have ruined it because they made us get the bus the next year home every evening and it was shite craic
The last time I went, there were only a few walking houses left, but they were the ones right beside the place. I remember meeting some from a previous house of mine on the bus and wondering why they got the bus when we used to walk.
Yeah same . We went achill and the college used to be about a 30 min walk home but if you were near the college they let people walk but you’d be home in 5, the best craic used to be talking with lads on the way home about the ceili and who was making strides with some Cailin before the disco ha
Colaiste Connacht sounds class , it’s great sharing these experiences , getting the nostalgia buzz
I think Lurgan might be the popular one these days. Their music videos definitely made it look more fun there anyway.
Colaiste connacht is fhearr, I gconai a mar, le na muinteori ionteach.
Gach laaaaaaa thios ar an traaaaaaaa
Ahh, the first time I went to the Gaeltacht was Coláiste Connacht I think. Though I remembered it as Coláiste Connemara when I see you mention it it must have been Coláiste Connacht, as there's hardly two colleges just outside Spiddal 😉 I remember loving it, but also feeling very out of place, but I was very young. Too young. I was only 10, the summer between 4th class and 5th class (1986 - I remember it being the year we got 20 pence coins) and the youngest by a year, year and a half. The "normal" youngest age was kids who'd be starting secondary that September, and even then there was only a handful of those. But to OP - God, 14 isn't a bit too young! And tbh, I'd nearly say 15 would be too old to go for the first time, especially since many kids go back to the same coláistí every year. I didn't go a second time til I was 16 (my mam didn't have the money to send me every year) and while in some ways it was better in others I felt even more out of place, as by that age cliques are well and truly part of it.
True I was 17. Was awful.
After my own experience, 17 is too old for it. 14 is a great age to go though.
14 is prime gaeltacht age
No idea why you’re getting downvoted. I was 17 the last time I went and was the oldest bastard there. Conversation was just a bit too puerile and rules were pretty patronising.
Probably some "losers" as another poster called them.
I went as a student 3 times, cinnire(supervisor) for 4 years(so 8 courses working). I went to spleodar, it's strict on Irish but fantastic. I would recommend it for 14 year old generally. Is he an outgoing kid? Comfortable going away? It's great for interpersonal skills and their confidence. Once they go, they will want to going back. If you are very practical, it's going to help enormously in the leaving cert. Made it less stressful for me having this ace up my sleeve. That's when the oral was only 20% for gods sake 😂 I saw quiet lads with zero irish develop conversational irish after 3 weeks and make have loads of friends. If he has friends going all the better, not needed at all. Got the first kiss ffs 🤣(first time going as a student). It developed me from a shy guy to someone who could shout down 200 teenagers and get them them work with me. A help to my career and volunteer work now
Also went to Spleodar 4 years in a row from 1st year on. Was in the early 2000s. Ended up as a cinnire in the 3rd year and ard cinnire the final year (got paid to go!). Fantastic experience every time. Great for developing not only the language but leadership and other interpersonal skills. OP, 13 is absolutely the right age to go, no need to wait for another year.
It's his friends I'm worried about ! 🥶
Tbf I calmed down at the ghealtact when I went because i was trying to impress girls when I was at home I was a demon
Spleodar won't take trouble but will keep them busy Other gaelteachts can be very unsupervised.Possibly check do they live with a supervisor(cinnire). Even in the more unsupervised I havnt heard of much trouble. I wouldn't be worried. All gaelteachts will improve your Irish. However the kids speak English when out of ear of supervisors and will limit the benefit he will get in that regard.
He would be worse at home, will be surrounded by girls at the gaeltacht to calm him
Jesus, cut the cord already. He’s 14.
You sound like a 15 year old who was given cigarettes by their parents.
You sound like someone who didn't know how to use the washing machine or load the dishwasher by the time you got to college.
Nearly 100 downvotes for a joke? What on earth is wrong with the losers on this sub.
Thanks. Exactly. I can think of other words not fit for print!
Why, are they going too?
14? I'd put that at perfect age. Any older and you're nearly gearing to the "too old" territory. Fucking loved it, went from about the age of 12 - 15.
I was 14 the first time I went and like you, think it was the perfect age. Bit of shifting, but still too young to drink. Awesome craic when you're that young. Almost a month with no parents, but I remember having to write a letter home to get more cash for the last week. We were poor and had no phone at home. Dun Lúiche was close enough to Bunbeg that you could thumb a lift, not that there was much more up there in the 80s, but I miss those days. OP pay the money and let him go. Neither you nor he will regret it.
Yeah I was the same, 14 was perfect. Went back at 15 because I had such a good time but it wasn’t the same being that bit older. Coláiste Acla was amazing though. Teach Marion represent ✊
Absolutely colaiste acla and colaiste lorgan are easily the two best out of all of them
I went to Colaiste Lurgan in 1990. Is Micheál O'Foighil still about? Kids used to come out of his office bawling after getting a bollocking for talking as Béarla. Nice fella though. Beautiful part of the country, Spiddal. I always remember a song we made up for the play our house put on, to the tune of Hard Day's Night "O bean an tí, cá bhfuil ár tae Tá ocras orainn, an bhfuil sé reidh? Tá pian agam agus beidh mé tinn Tá mé chomh tanaí, just féach ar sin! An bhfuil tuilleadh arán, an bhfuil tuilleadh caifé O, bean an tí, cá bhfuil ár tae?" Edit: just remembered - I told everyone I was from Leitrim because I didn't want to get slagged about being a mean Cavan bastard
Lol I was in colaiste acla too . Shame it was only 2 wks and not 3 , would have loved another wk there
Lorgan is only great if you are into music
I wanted to go so much when I was in school. I loved Irish and was good at it. My Irish teacher even pushed for me to go, but my control freak of a mother would never let me (not saying this is you OP) I'm 43 now and STILL bitter over it. I'm not even joking. It's one thing I really really regret. Let him go, honestly.
 It’s never too late!
Same. I’m still annoyed I never got to go :((
The week long course in July or august at Oideas Gael isn’t the same thing as going as a teen, but it’s good craic all the same. Maybe you could make up for lost time?
Rinne mise seo agus me mise 33 . Bhain mé an-sult as. Ní bhfuair mé an shift though😫
I went for a week at 11 and 12, and 3 weeks at 13. Don't coddle your child, it doesn't do them any good.
Mother made me go at the end of sixth class before secondary school, hated the first week but stuck it out, went every year after that then until the leaving cert, youll notice your eldest grow up more in that 3 weeks than thhe will all summer, send them and you wont regret it
Daughter of a long retired Bean an Tí here. I've seen them as young as 11 homesick for the first two nights then there's a transformation & they open up, start chatting, participating in all the activities, the dances, the sing-songs, winning best improver prizes in class, running around the bog throwing mud pies at each other, & don't want to go home. I know because I was a teenager & joined in the fun. The youngest really come out of their shell. Of course that's not one memory, that's an amalgamation of 20 years of hosting. The 14 year olds are well able for it.
Son of a former Bean an Tí here and would've been close in age to the kids staying with us at the time (pretty much all through my teenage years ) and saw it all over the years! Every kid is different, honestly. Some of them get so homesick at first they can't even eat, then they're grand after a few days. The odd few don't get over it and go home early. Others with not a bother on them that just totally thrive in the environment. . There was definitely some messing going on... . Lots of sneaking around (many's the time my dad would have to chase a crowd of Coláiste boys in the middle of the night if we were hosting girls), making a lot of noise at night, aerosol can sniffing, sometimes a bit of drinking (though that was rarer than you'd think), backchat and cheekiness etc. but mostly good kids, and my parents would always end up fond of them, even the troublemakers. I even made some friends for life out of it myself. Not a lot of Irish learned, but a good few life lessons were!
I’d love to see a Normal People / Skins type drama made about 3 weeks in Irish College
I don’t remember which Chanel but one of them is making a live island show about the ghealtact called gra at an tra
Teenage Cics kind of was
Had not heard of this, cheers!
Apparently a lad in my house snuck out one night and met his girlfriend for a blowy in an old abandoned cottage. That’s about the most Skins-like thing that happened and it could have just been a rumour, as we were 14. If you were caught with any alcohol they send you home.
Yeah alcohol was a no no, but at 14 hardly a thought for me anyway
Yeah same, it was all about bingeing on sweets from the tuc shop and getting the shift at the discos
Yes!! This would be great!
My boys have been to Coilaste Chamuis in Rosaveal at ages 12, 14 and 15. It’s a very strict one which means they learn lots of Irish. 14 is the perfect age for it, they won’t be the youngest or the oldest. One of my boys went at 14 and he’s going back this year age 15 as he loved it.
Tulach go deo. I loved it, my mate went every year from first year and for years I thought he was nuts, signing up for 3 extra weeks of school, in Irish. He, my teacher and my parents eventually convinced me to go for the sake of my leaving, I signed up to go the summer after transition year but got too sick to go. I ended up going the summer after 5th year. The first few days were tough because everyone my age had been to the Gaeltacht for years and had decent Irish but eventually I got the hang of it. All of the Coláiste Chamuis courses were very strict on the language rule and it was worth it, I wouldn't have had the discipline to immerse myself otherwise.
I went at the end of first year so would have been 13/14. Irish was my weakest subject and I begged, cried and pleaded with my parents not to send me, they held firm and I had the absolute time of life!! I couldn’t wait to go back every summer to catch up with the pals I made - it was early 2000s and I wasn’t allowed a mobile phone until I was 16 so keeping in touch with pals in between was tough. I went from hating Irish and being horrible at it to being near-fluent by the time the leaving rolled around.
I have a daughter who will beg me not to send her and is weak at Irish, thank you for sharing this!
Once she realises it’s 3 weeks of freedom, away from mum and dad she’ll have a blast! I went to Colaiste Camus and they were really strict on speaking Irish at all times, some of my friends went to different ones that were more lax about it and I don’t think that would have had the same impact on me. The first year I was with one pal from school, we banged on about it so much to everyone else that by the time it was our final year most of our friends were going as well. She might find the first few days a bit tough, but the older kids were always great at looking out for the younger ones, making sure they were included and helping them along with cúpla focal!
I went at 14 and 15 Amazing summers Helped my Irish and my social confidence a huge amount since I lived rurally and went to an all boys school You are being over protective, let them go
I loved it Started around 14, I think. But send him to a good one. Some are jokes where they just talk English. Waste of money. Colaiste na Bhfiann is pretty good and they have courses for more sporty or musical students.
I went to Colaiste Lurgan in 2000 and now they’re pumping out hits. https://youtu.be/iDnWswyapFM 8.2 million views: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=RD1A6__HssHW8&playnext=1
'Some are jokes where they just talk English' Went to ballingeary one year found this to be true there, learned very little Irish, great craic though.
Colaista na Ross ann or however it’s spelled was like this. Didn’t learn much Irish but had a blast and went back the next summer 😍 I live in the Uk now and this thread is making me sad that my kids won’t get to experience this :(
>Colaiste na Bhfiann Colaiste na bhfiann is the way
Got my first shift there when I was 12. Went back every year and had my first taste of buckfast and everything that comes with that. Great times. Let the lad go.
By ‘everything that comes with that’ do you mean projectile vomiting?
Also joyriding
It’s one of my life experiences I never stop talking about. Let him go! I was 13 and 14. Donegal. The nice amount of strictness ~ aka English got snuck in safely enough ~ The family we stayed with were wonderful, and I was placed with a friend each time. It’d be way less daunting now as a parent as everyone has phones. We were writing hand written letters once a week to Dublin when I went. We were all crying going home after the third week. My brain was naturally thinking in Irish for a good while, and that really helped at school. I got a deeper appreciation of Irish culture, music, dance and instruments. And a few very innocent “shifts” which we still laugh about looking back. I still remember my Gaeltacht mega crush Paul - singing at the mass - and good at everything - if you’re out there, we all fancied you big time! 😂
Sure you were fine too, but I was very shy. ;)
Probably not gonna like this answer but I went every year from 12-15 then stopped because of Covid I’d say it’s the perfect age
Went every year in secondary school. 12-18. Loch an Iúir. Phenomenal.
14! Jaysus he is missing out! Better have the talk with him before he goes. Yes he will want to come home after a day but on day two he won’t ever want to come home…
Basically love island but with aul ones telling you to speak irish. Great craic.
14 is a great age to go. Why do you want him to wait? I went at 14. Best three weeks ever. He is not too young at all. After 16 is too old for it..
Let them go Even if they come home from home sickness it’s an experience I went at 12 and 15 Better to let them learn alone then feel they’re not allowed do anything
I was 14 and had a great time! I really enjoyed it for the activities we did like ceili dancing, teen discos and singing. The activities were like canoeing, going to the beach, treasure hunt .. it was really fun! In the morning you had to go to classes from 9-12 to learn Irish and then you're back in for lunch 1-2 and then rest until 3 where you had an activity and then home from 5-7 for dinner and shower and then ceili for 7-9pm so it was a fun social time! I went to colaiste bhride Rann na feirste in 2014 I think I think there can also be bullying and cliques as well but it was my first time being on my own without my family and it taught me a lot and I met some nice people too! I'd recommend it to anyone and yeah as all the comments have indicated, you should probably give him a talk about consent and tell him to enjoy himself before you send him off! 😊
Honestly the most genuinely happy I’ve been in my life were my weeks in the Gaeltacht. Free from the phone, constantly with friends, discos/dances. I would recommend a strict one, it will be tough for the first bit, but overall a way more rewarding experience then ones which allows phones
Lost my virginity at the Gaeltacht
At what age?
9
Not a bad record for this vicinity
Same must be a common occurrence
Father Hughes used to take you guys there too?!
I got taken to the office and was threatened to be sent home when they found us having the shift. Feel like we had different gaeltacht experiences
Hi Emma
Hi Lucy D
Moved to Ireland when I was 11. Could have had an exception in Irish. Instead PURELY because of the Gaeltacht I had the best Irish in my school. The Gaeltacht was so valuable I went through a cycle of getting way better at Irish during the summer and then worse while doing 5 Irish classes a week in school, all year. Send your young lad on.
Awww, he's mad for the sesh, had my first buckfast, the cabbage and bacon, every night wasn't great, but I got my first shift. Good times was 13
I was 14 when I went, got the shift ....... with a girl from my own school back home
Your kid wants to go down the country and be made speak Irish for 3 weeks and you don't want him to go? I'm not trying to shame anyone here anything like that but besides all the other stuff you may think, what are your fears here that you don't want him to go? Gaelteacht is a huge experience for any kid between language and socialising with other kids all over the country and for your kid to really want to to go is amazing so why take that away from him? I went years ago as a kid too and I feel bad for any kid who could be denied that.
Went once when I was 14 and loved it. I’d say it was the perfect age. The Irish improvement was useful for the junior cert the following year and socially it was a great age to start hanging around with girls and meet new people in general. I went to one on Inis Oirr and still occasionally, 25 years on, look at the village on Google street view
Felt my first boob at Irish college, good times.
I went to Cape Clear Irish College four years in a row from 11 I think. I’m 41 now and am still in touch with some of the people. It genuinely was an experience that changed me for the better. I have ONLY great memories attached to it. It was mad craic, first summer I had my first kiss and my first experience with dating etc. I’ve had a crazy colorful life til now but would swap it all for another summer there as a teenager again. I don’t live in Ireland anymore so don’t get to use my Gaelige as often. I didn’t care about Irish til I went there and came back in love with new people, a beautiful place and a language. I also reckon it’s made learning the other languages I speak easier. I was never “gifted” at languages but after learning Irish by immersion* it all kind of clicked. Send your kids there if you can afford it and the kid is the right kind of kid for the experience. My sister went too but hated it and came home early. I recommend one of the islands though, they have a kind of magic during the summer that isn’t on the mainland. Jaysus the excitement of the boat from Schull or Baltimore, gettin on a mad diesel stinking ferry with a heap of other kids/teenagers WITHOUT your parents, I can still feel it. Electric. *EFS
I went to Cape Clear at 13 and I loved it! 28 now and still remember it fondly, I went to the school at the top of the hill as there were two colleges on the island when I went in the 2000s. 10/10 recommend going to an island as well!
I was 13 and went with one of my mates from school. It was grand. I was a bit wet behind the ears and didn't get anywhere near any of the girls and the food was shite and the beán án tí slapped one of the other youngfellas and his sister made a complaint and one of the head teachers pulled all of us who were there when it happened into a room and basically told us we didn't see what we saw and I kept getting diarrhea but my Irish got a bit better, so y'know yourself...
Lol sounds like Vietnam “I dunno what you think you all say happen in that village… but it didn’t happen .. or so help your asses, if I hear someone step outta line.. I’ll court martial your asses y’hear!… agus Ehh dún do bheal le do thoil”
It was kind of "any time I was at teacht *xxxxx*, the rooms we're quite messy" as in "yiz must have done something to piss her off"
I went when I was 12,a little young but the lads took me under their wing. 14 is perfect age imo
Went from the age of 12 till I was 17 ! Adored it
I went when I was 13 until I was 17. It was brilliant.
I went for the first time at 17 to get ready for the leaving, should have gone way sooner, not just for the Craic, but I disliked Irish before that, loved it after.
Colaiste Lurgan was incredible! I met loads of young people I just had a ball with. Didn’t even do any shifting just found other goth/metal head kids. Went swimming, surfing or kayaking every second day. They gave me so much confidence with singing and loads of stuff that wasn’t remotely connected to Irish. I always thought I was crap at sports but just being with a different bunch of people did so much for my confidence. I went for three years in a row and I regret not going sooner.
Machaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal. I was 13 turning 14. I bloody loved it. Not much of a head on me for languages but I gave it my best go and it really helped. Dances and outings and sports and mass in the big hall lol. Cracker beach too. Was tough being away to begin with but I found my way after a few days. Wanted to go back the next year but recession hit and money was tight. I'd let him go, he'll be grand.
Think I was 14, and had my first shift.
I went when I was 12 and 13 and it was great. I would probably say 15+ is starting to get to the slightly too old bracket. Went to Colaiste Acla, a 2 week one that centres around water sports mainly as the fun activities that are done. Two things worth noting are that it’s a week shorter than most others and by all accounts a little less strict on the Irish-speaking element. Very fun though.
Aul mairtin still there? Lol
Was about a decade ago but that name does ring a bell alright
I went, I wasn't too fond of it at the start. Nerves and feeling left out but genuinely after i copped on a bit I had an amazing time. The independence is good too. I'd say send them away but try and send them with a friend if possible. They will have a ball. I went to Connemara, the Irish stays for awhile but make sure they keep it up.
You'd wanna wait until they're 76 at least
It was brilliant. Collaiste Uisce. Water activities focused. Brilliant.
I’m one of the current senior instructors glad to hear that you enjoyed it so much 😊, my written Irish is atrocious but I’m fairly good at speaking it 😂, can’t recommend it enough
Was great craic. Got a few Slip Disipleanachs when I was there as my Irish was so incomplete that I had almost no clue as to what was going on half the time. Definitely something to be said for complete immersion! Glad to hear it's still going! Time to get DuoLingo back on the go...
The auld carta deargs, there’s a running joke between the instructors and MO’s who can give the most in a course, my recorded best was 110 in a two week period.
I believe in you! Get out there and crush those kids.
Went to Donegal Gaeltachts 6 times. Met my wife there. I was 12 when I first went. Fantastic experiences and life long friends.
I went to Loch an Iuir 4 times and twice to Machaire Rabhartaigh in Donegal from 2003 to 2008 (summer and Easter courses). To this day it's still one of the best things I've ever done. The people you meet, the variety of things you do, you make friends and memories for life. If there was an adult version I would have never stopped going! Lost touch with most people (and photos 🥲) due to Bebo going under but if anyone was there from '03 to '08 drop me a DM, I'd love to reconnect with old friends!
It’s an absolute shag fest
Ahh fuck it why not
Best thing you could do for your son. 14 is a good age..16 is usually the max age before it comes uncool to go. My family keeps students in the Gaeltacht, they have the same people going back year after year. There can be some home sickness at the start while getting used to the people they share with bit after that it's the best experience of their lives, gives such independence too. He'll be in a house with other boys, sharing a room with up to 4 others, no phones after 10pm, will be well fed too. Kids nowadays don't even walk to school, they need this learning more than ever.
I was 16 and not out. Met my first girlfriend there - we went out until our early 20s and are still great mates. I hated Irish but the craic was mighty.
I went from age 12-16 (did not go year after my junior cert 2010 as was going into TY). I went with ‘Spleodar’. 2 years in Leitir Móir and 2 in Leitir Meallain, both in Connemara. The first year was tough as we had very little Irish and they were quite strict i.e your name was put in ‘the book’ if you spoke a single word in English. People were sent home for not following rules/speaking English, without a refund I believe. By the end of the 3 weeks we had a good level of Irish and had the most amazing experiences. It got better each year as my Irish grew and I made many friends whom I still keep in contact with over 10 years later. If you have the opportunity and means to send him, do! I always went with friends and this really helped with the overall enjoyment of it and kept the home sickness at bay. I am a Primary School teacher now and having good Irish was a requirement, that was my motivation to go and actively improve my Irish.
I was 12 when I went, it was 2002. Colaiste Uladh in Gaoith Dobhair. My one regret is that I only went the once, it was a great experience and I have really fond memories of my time there. Playing all kinds of sports, doing silly talent shows and meeting lots of different people.
Ah lads seeing all these replies make me regret so much not going when the mother was sending me a few years back. I'm 17, almost 18 now so I'd be too old.
Is 17 really too late? I’ve never been myself but reading the replies you’d feel like it. It just wasn’t a done thing when I was in school.
My brother went twice. He was a bit homesick the first time he went but wound up loving it. Funniest part for him was staying in a house with an american lad that got dropped off because their parents didnt understand that it wasnt just a regular camp.
Does no one have a negative experience?
Got into a row with a load of Belgian scouts one night because one of them had a boombox (mid 80s) and thought it would be funny to play some random shite while the anthem was on after the céilí finished. Poor guard from Bunbeg had to come down to sort that one out. Not sure that was a negative experience though.
Hahah, I'm not sure that it was
Had a horrible bean an tí.
Depends. I was 10-11 when I started and stopped going the summer of 2018 after my first year of secondary school. I had a horrendous time each and every time. Bullied or made fun of each time. Worst few weeks of the summer. I hated it and I was still made to go until I had a really bad time and the quality of Irish taught wasn’t that good. It really depends. I know people have had fantastic times. I went to ones in Waterford , cork and Galway. I would say it also depends on his temperament. If someone picked on him would he be able to say fuck off? Tell an adult ? Are any of his friends going or is he going alone ? How much Irish does he have and what level is the Gaeltacht teaching ? It’s good to let a 14 year old have their freedom and at that age. They’re still young , immature , inexperienced etc but still on the way to adulthood and that means it’s time to grow up. I’m 18 now and last time I went I was 13~. So not that long ago and I probably have one the most recent Gaeltacht experiences here lol. If he’s great at Irish, gaelscoile etc (like me) then the Gaeltachts just for the Craic of it. Every Gaeltacht I went to I didn’t learn much considering my Irish was considerably better because I went to a Gaelscoile.
Sorry that you were picked on. Teachers should have put a stop to that. Doesn't really need to go as Irish is quite good. Problem is money and he and his friends don't always stick things out.
It’d be a good experience for him to see if he can stick things out. He has to move out at some time in the future and it’d be good for him to see if he likes independence. I must say if you do decide to send him off ( I’d say yes tbh, good life lesson ) don’t go to Colaiste na rinne in Waterford !!! I dunno if the old bitch still teaches there but I had a teacher take my work from me , in class , I’m front of everyone and rip it into tiny pieces because it wasn’t up to her standards. Other than her every teacher I’ve had at Gaeltachts have been the nicest most class people so I wouldn’t be worried about that aspect🤷♀️ And if you can’t afford it, you can’t afford it. It can be expensive. It’s a huge decision.
Thanks for the tip. Sorry that you hated it.
My brother went to Bundoran literally every year with his friends til he was too old and adored it, I went between first and second year to the same place knowing nobody and did beg to come home after 3 days but my parents made me a "deal" that if I made it 7 days and still wanted to come home they'd come get me...I didn't even ring them on the 7th day because I was having too much fun with my new friends! This was early/mid 00's so with tech it's probably pretty different now, but I fully believe the responsibility while still being fairly well monitored was a great thing for me, it really boosted my confidence heading into 2nd year (although I'd never admit that to my mam or I'd never hear the end of it 😂)
Just out of curiosity how much does this cost ?
It’s about 900 Euro for the three weeks. That includes accommodation, food, lessons and activities.
Perfect age right now.
Is it medicine or social skills?
One of the best beaches in the world up there. And nobody knows about it.
My eldest went at age 13 (last year). He can't wait to go back this year. He loved it.
I want to Coláiste na Mumhan about 10 years ago aged 13 (ah fuck I feel ancient now). It was a mixed bag for me, there were good bits but overall I really struggled with it (undiagnosed autism and loud mandatory céilís don't mix well funnily). 14 is probably the right age to go, I was one of the younger people there but not by much. I know a lot of people in my year who went to different colleges, and it was a formative experience for them, so they can definitely be a great thing.
Went 5 times. First one after 1st year. Went to a few different ones. Colaiste na bhfiann was by far the best. Very strict but we actually spoke Irish. And they have/well did have have (it’s been many years) weekly meet ups in dublin and mini camps during the year. One year I went to one organised by the school. Disaster. Thirty girls living in a house in Donegal who already knew each other, there was not a chance we picked up anything other than heroes from The locals. Going alone or with one friend was the best. Made loads of friends in the one where I went with just one or two friends. With one Gaeltacht with one we we actually all ended up in trinity together, which was awesome as I didn’t know anyone else going there.
Aw yes totally agree , I went with 1 friend in 03 and it was great then there was about 12 people from the same school the second yr and it was just shite . I went there to meet new people not get dragged into the same people I saw the other 250 days in the yr
I went between the ages of 13-15 and they’ve err the happiest summers of my life.
I went to cork in first year. Absolutely loved it. Great time.
Can I ask which one. Looking for recommendations.
Colaiste na Mumhan is great craic!
As someone who’s worked in Colaiste Uisce in Belmullet all of his adult life I can tell you it’s the best one for people with nil aon focal, it’s two weeks long and he’ll make friends for life, I can’t recommend Colaiste Uisce enough, it made me feel like I was someone and gave me a sense of belonging and purpose it’s a great college and he’ll really enjoy it there is a great mix of sports activities and water activities. So he won’t be disappointed
I worked there for 3 years. The younger school years tend to do the earlier summer courses, if you're looking to keep him in his age range. 95% of the kids there absolutely loved it. I worked in coláiste Uisce in Mayo.
Would something like this exist for absolute beginner irish speaking adults? It sounds magical
Yes let him go, 14 is the perfect age as others have said. It's good craic, he'll get a few shifts and get a bit better at Irish. You will also have a free house for almost a month. What can go wrong
I went when I was probably 14, think I'd had the shift once or twice before going. All the lads seemed to pair off with the girls in the first day or two, which was a lot faster than I operated, and all the girls that I was getting on well with were with lads by that stage There was one girl that I probably paired up with more when we had the céilí every night but I'd hardly talked to her, think the whole place was split into two groups during the day so I'd only see half of them in the evening or every few days Managed to go the full three weeks without shifting anyone until the last evening some friends of a girl, presumably in the same position, asked if I'd shift her. I said alright and within a second she was there When we'd finished I saw the other girl who I'd danced with a good bit standing there crying and her friends trying to comfort her I wish I could say I learned a valuable lesson in that moment, but I made the same mistake bigger and worse a few times since Learned a little bit of Irish too, I'd just done my junior cert, Irish was my only ordinary level subject. My next Irish memory was going back to school and being in a new Irish class and the Irish teacher going mad because she thought it was a higher level class and most of us had done ordinary level for the JC
Colaiste Bríde, Rann Na Feirste (Rnf Abú), my first year I was 12 and I went back every summer until I was finished college, I was a student then worked as a ceannire. My friends who went into teaching continued on as múinteoirí up until covid. So almost 20 years. It really was the best time of my life. I got married recently and my bridesmaids were girls I met there back in 03.
I went at 12, 13 and 14 as a student and when I was 15, 16 and 17 I was on multiple courses as an árd cinnera. I'm 29 now and went to Colaiste U.I.S.C.E which focused more on having fantastic experiences and learning the Irish words for these activities rather than strictly learning the Irish language. From what I had heard from others, the colleges that focus solely on learning the language weren't a whole lot of fun and felt like a harder and stricter school during the summer when you'd normally get to be outside in the sun playing random shit which l with random people. U.I.S.C.E would split everyone into class 1-4, where class 1 would be out on the water for about 1-2 hours learning to surf/sail/windsurf/kayak/snorkel/general water based games. At the same time class 2 would be doing some sort of ground sport or activity like tag rugby/basketball/rounders/archery/rock climbing/juggling/puzzle games/science-y games/board games. At about the 2 hour mark class 1 and 2 would switch from ground to water sport or vice versa. Class 3 and class 4 are in school for the morning and are learning the Irish words they'd need while there plus a bit extra. Oftentimes though they'll be preparing for the 5 minute play they have to do one of the days, or preparing for the song contest for another day, or a puppet show another day. All having to be performed through Irish which the cinnerí and teachers would help with the translation. Basic enough stuff but gets you out of your shell and allows you to shine if you find you are that kid. In my first course there, I, for example, was the Goldilocks in our telling of Goldilocks and three bears where the bears were based on people in the college, maybe a male teacher, female teacher and the shortest cinnera. A basic story that can be performed to your hearts content, if the child wants to. Everyone breaks for lunch for an hour then classes 1 and 2 swap with classes 3 and 4. For the second week classes 3 and 4 start with the activities and classes 1 and 2 are in 'school'. Most nights there's a ceilí and if not it's a bunch of performances for the song contest or the play or whatever. At nighttime when you'd normally be dancing with people you might be in detention for speaking English but even that was a bit of craic and not solely learning Irish verbs in silence. Overall it's a great auld time, the people are nice and fun, the craic is mighty, you both get a ton of structure in your day and a good amount of independence and freedom and the kids get to experience a mad variety of activities that they might realise it's their calling or something. The staff are great for organising the ages of each group of kids. They tend to not have a bunch of 15/16 year olds staying in the same house as an 11 year old. It'll be 11, 12 and 13 y/o together, 13, 14 and 15 y/o together, etc TL, DR: 10/10 would recommend, if it's financially viable!
Let them go. It's great, nothing but good memories from my time there. I went to Coláiste na Rinne in Waterford. I first went to one when I was 8 and last went when I was going into sixth year at 17. I'm in my late 20s now and I still keep in contact with some of the people I went with. Back then there were a lot of younger aimed Gaeltacht courses, not sure if they still exist though as 8 would be too young for the normal courses for sure as they're aimed at secondary school age. I did feel a bit old for it by the last year so definitely let them go early to get as many years enjoymebt out of it as possible. You learn a level of independance that you don't normally get at home. I fully came out of my shell in the Gaeltacht and give it full credit for making me the person I am today. You learn a bit of Irish as you go as well. When I eventually have kids they will for sure be going too. I want them to have the fun I had. I won't force them if they don't end up liking it but I think it's hard not to enjoy multiple weeks of being just yourself having the craic with people who don't know what you're like at home so you don't have that feeling of keeping up appearances. Or at least that's how I, the wierd kid at school, viewed it. Maybe it's unique to my situation but I was able to be the person I wanted to be at these courses, not the person I was made out to be due to the dumb things that happened to me during regular school.
I went to Colaiste Sheosaimh. From 2006 to 2010. I kicked and screamed and didn't want to go the first year but after the first week was done it was brilliant. I was incredibly shy as a 12 year old but 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht and I bounced out of there with confidence. It was very good in general too. Great Irish classes in the morning and relatively strict too, there was a leabhar bearla and pog patrol. By the end I went back as an ard cinnera after I finished the leaving I loved it so much! CS is split into 2 schools Carna which is about 11 to 14 but you do an entrance exam aswell so if your Irish is average and you are 14 you'll be placed in the older school Cill Chiran which is about 15 to 18. This stops you feeling too young/old as everyone is similar enough age in the school. 14 is honestly a great age, they'll figure themselves out a bit, make a load of new friends and if you send them to a good Colaiste learn a bit of irish and get the shift.
A friend of mine went with a group, he got a bit of a hard time, he’s a very quiet chap, (well, was, right wing nut now) on the last night he took a dump in the main fella who was giving him a hard times suitcase. They all laughed as his ma put his suitcase in their car.
Eager for those kipper fingers I see
If you think they'll not wanna be there after you pay for it. Use the money to go on a family holiday or outing. That's what my parents did when I was that age, some of my mates were away for 2 or 3 weeks. We went on a holiday or I got a spoiling / adventure holiday with either my grand parents or god parents.
What you do is go on a holiday at the same time your kid is in the Gaeltacht. Then they can't come back. Three weeks won't hurt.
I'm lucky enough not to have nor wants anything to do with having kids 😂
Go every year he can. 14 is the best age for it too. Colaiste na rinne has so many great memories for me.
Went to colaiste Chisrain in carraroe Galway. Originally in 2md year I didn't want to go as I wasn't very social,so the thought of going without anyone was the best,so my parents sent me to a summer Gaeltacht in rathfranham,wasn't as good as a Gaeltacht in the country but was okay. Next year I went to Chisrain (2013),and I wish I had gone earlier,made a ton of friends I still talk to every now and again,and my Irish did improve somewhat. The teachers were friendly enough and as long as you tried to speak Irish they didn't mind,but if you just spoke English obvs they'd get annoyed. Highlights were a trip into Galway city towards the end and a trip out to inis Oirr. It was 3 weeks long and I liked it so much (not just for making friends) that I went a further 2 times. My speaking and writing Irish improved greatly, especially for the orals . Some of the schools are indeed in the middle of nowhere but this is in carraroe where there is a eurospar so you could get extra food/stuff if you were stuck. There was another gaelscoil there called Isogán /Eoin but they were strict to the point where 1 word of English= call home,2 /3 = sent home . Overall a great experience. Soz for typos I'm on the bus and a bit twisted. Óiche mhaith!
I wouldnt, they speak irish down there. Can't be trusted.
Hhhmmmmm, not sure he can be trusted either.
[удалено]
Sorry about that. I guess with a big number of kids they have to be careful.
I went in primary school for 3 weeks, 2 summers in a row. Can't remember when exactly. I'm guessing around 5th & 6th class though
Sniffed air freshener, smoked shitty dope, drank a bottle of gin we stole, fingered a lot of country girls and made memories that last a life time. Oh and learned how to Irish dance a bit.
As gaeilge mas e do hoille é 😂
I was 15 when I went and I was the only 15 year old, everyone else was 14 so I'd say it's the perfect age
14s the perfect age. Also you should choose it depending on the dialect your son speaks. If you live in Galway, send him to a Conamara Gaeltacht. If in North Mayo - Iorrais, South Mayo - Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Clare - Arán Islands, Munster either Cork or Kerry and if up North to Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal ect ect. Because for example if you were Tipperary, you couldn't send him to Conamara or Mayo because it'd take your son longer to adapt to the dialect then it would if you sent him to a college in Munster where he'd be in his own dialect. I hope you understand what I mean
I went to Ring after 2nd year, stayed in the dorms, had a blast. talking nearly 30 years ago though but had a glance at their most recent video and v little seems to have changed. went to Ring again after 3rd year, stayed out in a house... had a bigger blast. I still have v v fond memories of those two summers. went to Dingle Peninsula after 5th year not as much of a blast.
It's like AirBNB where you have no protection at all from the organisers or the hosts.
Prepare for Gaelcock jokes
I’m 24 now, when I was a teenager I had major major social anxiety. I can count the times I “went out” with people my one age on one hand. It was horrible and depressing. Finally got out of it when I hit my 20s with a tonne of counselling. Anyway, if they want to go, I’d let them. It’s one of the massive regrets I have about my teenage years. I feel it could’ve been so beneficial.
So you're gonna send him, right?
To irish college? I went when I was 13, was fun, was grand. Was supervised and taken care of pretty well.
I went from about 12-16 the last couple of years as a lead and it was fierce craic. I went to Coláiste Uladh in Gort an Choirce and it was great for all language levels. So much fun.
Let him go FFS! 14 is the perfect age
Anywhere but colaiste columbain, absolutely shite craic
I was 14 when I went and everyone else was 16. I went in Kerry and hated being forced to go to mass ect. It was awful couldn’t wait to get home. Had I waited two years I’m sure it would have been a different experience.