BY MICHELE CANNING SMITH
'It's the best school in the world', gushes 11 year old Grian Ni Dhaimhin about her school, Gaelscoil Ui Dhochartaigh.
The Strabane Chronicle this week spoke with Primary seven pupils at the Irish language medium primary school which is celebrating its tenth year.
Most of the pupils, sitting their 11 plus examination next month, have moved through the naiscoil, nursery, and into the primary school.
We asked their view on school life, dominated by the Irish language.
Lorcan - I love the Gaelscoil because I get to play with my friends every day and we get to do art on Friday. I like both English and Irish but I like Irish the best. I went to the naiscoil when I was three and my little brother Oisin is there now. I am doing my 11 plus this year but it's not any more difficult doing it in Iish.
Daragh McAmhlaí is adamant that Irish is the best language in the world.
He said, "I think that Irish is the best language in the world. I love coming to the Gaelscoil because we get to learn a lot of Irish. We get to go on school trips and GAA tournaments. The teachers are all very nice.
"Everytime I go away I get to go to different islands like Inishboffin and Oilean Thoraigh (Tory Island).
Hayden McNamee points out that going to the Gaelscoil means that he now has two languages.
"I like the Gaelscoil because I get to see my friends every day and we can play different types of sports here. I like Irish better than English, most schools only have one language and we have two. I was at the Naiscoil and my two nephews are in the Gaelscoil as well."
Aoife Nic Loingsigh says, "I love the Irish language because it's different from every other language and it's not difficult to learn.
"I was at the Naiscoil first and then came to the Gaelscoil and I'd like to go to an Irish language secondary school after my 11 plus. I like the Gaelscoil because the teachers are very good, and we get to do lots of different things."
And the last word goes to Grian, who says, "The Gaelscoil is the best school in the world. I love it because we get to learn lots of new words in Irish.
"I have been speaking Irish my whole life, I speak it at home and I also speak Irish with some of my friends outside of school. At Gaelscoil we get to play a lot of sports, like camogie and gaelic, and we get to do lots of art also. I think our school is the best school in the world."
