Children who learn predominantly through Manx Gaelic were given the chance to put their language skills to the test with a trip to an Irish-speaking school.

Ten children from years five and six (aged nine to 11), who attend the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, in St John’s, travelled to Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland, to meet and speak with children who go to the Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg, a school which teaches children to speak Irish Gaelic in similar way to the Bunscoill, writes Mike Wade.

The children were accompanied by Adrian Cain, the Manx language development officer at Culture Vannin, who organised the trip, along with the Bunscoill teacher Annie Kissack and Manx Gaelic speakers Phil Gawne, Nicola Tooms and Sarah Quayle.

The children were encouraged to speak Manx Gaelic to the Irish schoolkids, who conversed back in their own similar language.

They also visited local landmarks, such as the Cliffs of Mohir and museums including the Michael Cusack centre, a museum dedicated to the historical local figure who was both instrumental in the promotion of teaching Irish Gaelic during the 19th century, and who founded the Gaelic Athletic Association. The school is also named after him.

’Basically, the purpose of the trip was to get kids who are speaking and learning Manx to see another group of kids speaking a similar language in a similar setting,’ said Adrian.

’The Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosógis not in a Gaeltacht area, where people speak primarily Irish Gaelic.

’It is similar to the situation in the Isle of Man, where some of the parents speak Irish, and some don’t.

’It is quite a big school, with around 430 kids, and it is quite an inspirational school in terms of teaching Gaelic.

’The head teacher, Dónal Ã? hAiniféin, is a very inspirational character and he had a talk with our kids in a mixture of English and Irish about the importance and the unique-ness of what they are doing with language, being able to speak in Manx Gaelic.

’Also, the school itself was only established in the early 80s, and in their first year they only attracted around 20 or so children. It has grown exponentially now.’

He added: ’The kids spent some time there, and were able to have a go at Gaelic football and hurling, as well as some art and Irish history lessons.

They also met kids who are similar to them in age and talked to them. Hopefully they all made new friends and had a good time along the way.’

During the evenings, the children went to many cultural events, and even entertained some of the locals at a family ceili, with 10-year-old Frank Joughin playing Manx folk tunes on the violin.

Some the children, who are members of local folk dance groups, performed impromptu Manx dance routines.

In the weeks before the trip, Adrian gave the children lessons in Irish Gaelic, teaching the children the basics of the language, whilst pointing out the similarities between the two languages.

Adrian said the aim of the trip was to broaden the horizons of children who learn through the medium of Manx Gaelic, and to point out that the speaking of Manx does not need to be something that is just confined or relevant to the Isle of Man.

’Essentially, I wanted to get the kids to realise that, in the Isle of Man we live in a little bubble, and it is good to get a bigger perspective of learning through the medium of Manx, and to put them in a situation where they were looking to use the language on a daily basis,’ he said.

’They were immersed in an almost multi-lingual environment, where many things were explained in a mix of Irish, Manx and English all the time and they were able to get the idea of what was being said. For example, they went on a tour of the local museum, which was delivered entirely in Irish.

’After a while they were able to tune their ears in and gradually they were able to understand more and more.

’Not many children are able to do that, to listen to two or three languages and go between each one,’ he continued.

’That, I think was a message that will hopefully hit home to the kids about how special, unique and important what they are doing is.

’Hopefully the fact that they heard lots of similar aged kids speaking Irish on a regular basis would be an inspiration to them as well.’

Adrian thanked the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, Culture Vannin and Mooinjer Veggey for their help with the trip.