The first few days may be tough, the food scanty and the accommodation a bit basic, but meet kids on their way home from Irish college and the chances are you'll find them in floods of tears, unable to part with all their new-made friends. It's a funny thing about Irish - while most kids seem to loathe learning the language in school, at Irish college they simply love it. Some 23,000 students attend Irish college each summer; this figure has remained static for a number of years, according to the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Some youngsters opt to go to Irish college year after year, and for their parents, it remains a relatively inexpensive way of occupying children for three weeks during the summer. For many students - particularly those who normally go to single-sex schools - the fact that Irish colleges are co-educational is a bonus.
Ask most parents how they opted for a particular place and, almost inevitably, they'll tell you it was via their child's school or by word of mouth. If Mary comes back from Irish college, glowing with her experiences, you can expect that all her friends will clamour to go next year.
With around 60 establishments offering Irish summer courses to children and young people, parents selecting a Gaeltacht college for their offspring are hardly stuck for choice. Making a suitable match between child and college, however, can be a little more difficult. And be warned - failing to read the small print in the college prospectus can be a major mistake. Rules are rules and being sent home from Irish college for breaking them is one of the worst things that can befall a child.
Inevitably, a small number of children are sent home from Irish college, every year. "Parents must be aware of the college rules," explains Treasa Ni Chonaola, who teaches Irish at St Michael's College, Dublin. Some colleges enforce a strict rule on the speaking of Irish - saying only one sentence in English can be enough to get you sent home.
"There's nothing more devastating for a student than being sent home," Ni Chomaola says. "Ifparents feel it's an unfair rule, they should avoid colleges which operate that rule." Some colleges run courses where different rules apply. Take Colaiste bhFiann Teoranta, for example, which offers a number of Irish college programmes in locations throughout the State, catering for up to 2,000 students annually. On five of their courses - three at Rath Cairn, Co Meath, and two at Gearrbhaile, Co Galway - rule one applies. According to this rule, if you speak a complete sentence without using a single Irish word you will be sent home.
Rule two applies to other courses at these colleges and to courses in Ros Muc, Co Galway, Naomh Mel, Co Longford, Colaiste Chiarain, Kilkenny, and Colaiste Bhreannain, Killarney. Under rule two, students will be sent home, without warning, if they deliberately speak English. If they accidentally speak English, they will be reprimanded and warned and their parents notified. Any parent hoping to send a child to Colaiste bhFiann must attend an informal group interview, which includes a 20-minute video on a typical day at the college. The child's standard of Irish is also assessed.
Last year, Colaiste bhFiann expelled only two students. "When we explain the rules to them, students understand. The students who come here want to go home speaking Irish," comments Caitriona Ni Cheallaigh, managing director. "We keep the students occupied all day and they are under strict supervision. It would be very rare that we would have to send someone home for bad behaviour." According to Gearoid O Brosnachain of CONCOS - Comhchoiste Naisiunta na gColaisti Samhraidh - the umbrella group for over 50 Irish colleges - smoking and drinking, failing to adhere to the 10.30 p.m. curfew and leaving the house before breakfast are all reasons for automatic expulsion. "The rules are for the benefit of everyone and students are expected to obey instructions," he says.
Interviews for places on CONCOS-affiliated colleges are organised throughout the State. However, not all colleges require interviews.
Most children attending Irish college live with local Irish-speaking families, ruled by the bean a' ti. The packages offered by colleges include accommodation costs and pupils are allocated digs by the college.
A number of colleges offer residential courses, where children live on the premises. Courses run during June, July and August and cost up to £350 for a three-week stint.
A typical day at Irish college includes classes in the mornings, games, competitions and activities in the afternoons and ceilis in the evenings. "It's the cheapest summer camp that you will find," comments a Dublin mother. "You won't get three weeks' full board, accommodation and activities for that price anywhere else.
"And other language schools are far more expensive." On top of the programme fees, parents also have to factor in the cost of at least one weekend spent visiting children at Irish college. Younger children who are leaving home for the first time particularly look forward to a parental visit. Many parents prefer that children going to Irish college for the first time attend with friends. If they do, parents can share the weekend visits.
Quality standards in Irish colleges are monitored by the Department of Education and Science, in the case of curriculum, and by inspectors from the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, in the case of food and accommodation.
In order to minimise prices, the Department gives a grant of £5 per child per day, which is payable to the provider of accommodation. Most Irish colleges take children between the ages of nine and 18 years, but some specialise in a particular age group. Colaiste Eogahain Ui Chomhraide, near Kilkee, Co Clare, for example, takes 10- to 14-year-olds at a cost of £225 for three weeks.
According to college organiser Macdara Toibin, at least one-third of children in any one year are on a return visit to the college. Some of the colleges offer extra activities. Colaiste Arainn Mhoir - located on Arran Mor, a 20-minute ferry ride away from Burtonport, Co Donegal - places a special emphasis on music and drama.
"We do a lot of role play and drama," explains Aileen McDowell, who teaches at the college. "The emphasis is on Irish and enjoyment. You have to remember that the children are on holiday. They can chose to be in the same house as their friends. We try to put children who come alone in a house together." Colaiste Thir NA nOg whic is near Carnlough in the Glens of Antrim, offers an Irish college experience with a difference. The college takes a cross-community approach to the Irish language and culture, by offering programmes to both traditions in Northern Ireland.
"It's not widely known, but without the support of Protestant industrialists - particularly Presbyterians - the Irish language would not have survived the 19th century," explains Micheal O Duinnin, who is director of Colaiste Thir na nOg. "They collected manuscripts and fragments of poetry and organised language classes in Belfast."
The college offers a two-week residential programme costing £220 sterling, to nine to 15-year-olds from July 2nd to 16th. Colaiste Uisce, near Belmullet, Co Mayo, may be a little more expensive than other Irish colleges (£350 for a two-week stay), but it offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including horse-riding, wind-surfing, surfing, kayaking and sailing. Evelyn Ni Raghaill, a teacher at the college, situated on the Blacksod Peninsula, describes it as "a wonderful place to learn Irish on the water".
Back at school, Irish teachers enthuse about the benefits of Irish college. "It's a wonderful entry into young adulthood," comments Treasa Ni Chonaola. "When students come back they are much more open to learning Irish. It's an authentic learning experience - unlike the classroom."
If you're considering sending a child to Irish college this year - you'd better hurry. Many people booked last July; some courses are already full, while others are up to 80 per cent full.
