St Oliver’s National School is embracing our native language, participating in a number of events to mark ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’.

From Irish performances and interviews to Irish Spelling Bees and Irish poetry writing, the school is a hub of Irish activity!

Recently, Kerry Comhaltas ran a ‘Cum Dán’ competition. Children from Third to Sixth Class all over Kerry were invited to write an Irish poem based on the theme of ‘Saoirse’ meaning freedom.

St Oliver’s pupils embraced this challenge, coming up with some wonderful poems through the medium of Irish. Three of the pupils were awarded prizes at the Munster Technological University (MTU) on Sunday last.

Rian Gleeson and Daniel Quinlan from Ms O’Donoghue’s class won second place and a Teastais Fiúntais (merit award) respectively in the Third/Fourth Class category and Jagoda Szwedo from Ms Brosnan’s Sixth Class also won a Teastais Fiúntais (merit award) in the Fifth/Sixth Class categories.

To further mark Seactain na Gaeilge, co-ordinated by Mr Gleeson, pupils from St Oliver’s will participate at 12 o’clock Mass in the Cathedral on St Patrick’s Day.

"The children will lead us in prayer through Irish and members of the Glenflesk Comhaltas branch will provide Irish music," St Oliver's teacher and Chairperson of Glenflesk CCE, Micheál Gleeson, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"It will be an uplifting Mass to celebrate our patron saint. We would love to see as many children and families as possible. 'Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla cliste'!"