In these Colleges the emphasis is on assisting pupils to acquire fluency in Irish which will enable them to participate through that language in the sort of everyday conversation in which they normally engage. Teachers will ensure that the atmosphere inside and outside the classroom will be pleasant and enjoyable. Learning Irish in this way will be a happy experience. That, of course, is the best way to instil in young people a love of the language and its culture.

This type of college offers many special advantages to pupils:

A. – It fits in admirably with the revised curriculum which the Department of Education and Science has introduced into the Post-Primary Schools.

B. – It is accepted by language teaching authorities worldwide that the earlier pupils learn a spoken language the more quickly and easier they acquire competence in it.

C. – It is essential that pupils should have a sound oral command of a language before they are required to read or write it.

All students stay in lodgings which have been inspected by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and officials from Coláistí Chorca Dhuibhne. Houses are of a high standard and each student has a single bed.  The Bean an Tí provide’s homely nutritious meals whose menus have been agreed with Coláistí Chorca Dhuibhne.

**It is essential that students wishing to be accommodated together apply together and attend the same course. A college of their choice may not be available to students of different age groups wishing to be accommodated together.

Courses are always filled on a first come, first served basis. It may not always be possible to provide accommodation where requested and no more than three friends will be accommodated in the same house.

Each college is conducted by a staff which includes a principal, teachers and assistants. The principal and teachers are qualified under the Department of Education and Science regulations, in addition to being fluent speakers of Irish. All of the assistants are eighteen years of age or over and are trainee teachers at one of the Colleges of Education. The assistants’ duties include helping students to speak Irish outside the classroom, assisting with the organisation of games in the afternoons and the teaching of dancing at the evening céilí. The assistants also perform the very important function of helping young students who feel lonely to settle down on the course.

The Committee does not believe in having a long list of rules which students must obey. There are a few simple rules and it is requested that these be brought to the student’s attention before coming to the Gaeltacht. Contravention of these rules will result in the student being sent home from the course and forfeiting the course fee.

• Students must speak Irish at all times.
• All students must obey instructions received from the Headmaster, Teachers and Assistants.
• All students must return to their houses from the céilí at the appointed time and are not permitted to leave thereafter prior to 9.00am on the following morning. This also applies to students taken out for the day or part of the day by Parents/Guardians.
• Possession or use of tobacco, alcoholic drink or addictive substances is prohibited. Students are not allowed to enter a licensed premises.
• Students must comply with the rules of the road.
• Use of mobile phones will be restricted during college hours.