Schooling offshore at Coláiste Naomh Eoin

You won’t find one of Ireland’s most unique schools on today’s feeder lists. Coláiste Naomh Eoin shares a roll number with Coláiste Cholmcille in Indreabhán, Co Galway, and, although they are two nearby rural schools, they offer quite a different experience.

Coláiste Naomh Eoin was set up on the beautiful and historic island of Inis Meáin, the middle of the three Aran Islands, in 2001. For Mairéad Ní Fhátharta, who grew up on the island, it meant a chance to live and raise her family in the place she calls home.

“When I was growing up, turning 12 meant that you had to leave the island and go to boarding school,” she explains. “Parents on the island really wanted to hold on to their children a bit longer but they didn’t have any choice. I came on board as principal in 2007. The school meant that people could have and raise their children here, and we’ve seen a baby boom on the island and a growing population.”

Unique educational experience

The local population alone couldn't sustain the school, but it didn't take long for them to realise that non-native islanders could have a unique educational experience on the island, immersed in Irish language and culture. Children come from around Ireland and live with host families on the island that was so special to JM Synge. Classes run from first to sixth year and the transition year is particularly popular, with many TY students staying on to do the Leaving Cert. The school has a strong academic record and, last year, one student scored 600 points.

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“The young people have reenergised the island,” says Ní Fhátharta. “They are the pulse of the island, and they really contribute to the community. As well as the broad range of subjects that we offer, we have extracurricular activities including drama and a ‘junk couture’ fashion club.

“We’ve won first prize in the junior category at the BT Young Scientist, but perhaps the highlight for the students is our community-based projects which helps them integrate into the community and its rich language, literature and history.”

The students meet with Peadar Moore, a 70-year-old island resident who doesn't have a word of English, uses cow dung as fuel and eats salted fish for Christmas; and Maureen, a woman in her 80s who is considered the greatest living knitter of Aran sweaters. They learn about the traditional clothes worn on the island and its literary traditions. There simply isn't an educational like it anywhere in Ireland.

Factfile: Coláiste Naomh Eoin

Located on Inis Meáin, one of the three Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, Coláiste Naomh Eoin is a co-educational school under the auspices of the Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board. It has 41 students. Leaving Cert subjects on offer include art, biology, business, chemistry, construction studies, English, French, geography, home economics, Irish, Leaving Cert vocational programme, science and technology.

Interesting fact: A boarding scholarship scheme is open to mainland students from first year to sixth year who wish to be completely immersed in Irish and spend a year living on an offshore island. Scholarship covers accommodation and subsistence for the academic year.

Web: ColaisteNaomhEoin.ie