Seachtain na Gaeilge Ideas and Activities

Below are some simple suggested activities for clebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge:

• Decorate the school hall or entrance foyer with some Patrick’s Day decorations. Good value decorations can be found in any discount store.
• Print and laminate signs as Gaeilge and display them around the school to encourage the use of Irish.
• A simple post as Gaeilge on the school’s webiste/ social media pages each day.
• “Frása an lae” announced over the intercom in the morning. It can also be displayed at all entrances to the school and class teachers are asked to write it on their whiteboard and encourage the children to use it throughout the day. It could be shared on the school’s social media pages too.
• Gaeilgeoirí an lae ó gach rang – Simple certificates can be printed out for this and one can be awarded each day to a student in each class who makes an effort to speak Irish.
• Watch some cartoons as Gaeilge while eating lunch – Cúla4 have lots of options (or search YouTube for cartoons in Irish language)
• Movement breaks throughout the day – Irish action songs/ games (for example Deir O’Grádaigh or Sosanna Spleodracha which are excellent)
• Assembly – During assembly, some classes could perform songs/ poems as Gaeilge.
• Raffle – Tickets to be given by all staff to children who they hear speaking Irish. Children should write their name and class on the tickets and put them in the box in the foyer (or a box in their classroom and their teacher can empty it into the box in the foyer before Friday morning). On Friday a raffle with prizes will be held at assembly.
• Integration – When possble, class teachers can integrate all things to do with Ireland and Irish into curriculum work for the week e.g. English – Irish myths and legends, patron’s programme– St. Patrick, music – Irish songs/ Is Gearr Uainn Lá le Pádraigh, history – Irish history etc.
• Cluichí teanga sa chlós – msh. Deir O’Grádaigh, Cén t-am é a mhac tíre? These activities could be led by senior studnets for the younger classes.
• Teagmháil leis na meáin áitiúla – Take photos of activites during Seachtain na Gaeilge post them on the school’s website/ social media pages. Contact the local press to ask if they will cover events/ include the photos in their publications (make sure children have photography consent from their parents).
• Céilí – Class teachers could hold a mini céilí with their class during their PE time. This could involve just teaching them one traditional Irish dance such as the Seige of Ennis or The Walls of Limerick, or the whole school could have a céilí (ceoltóirí traidisiúnta ó na tuismitheoirí?)
• Competition in senior classes for best written piece in Irish. The winning piece could be published in the school newsletter/ on the website.
• Lá glas – All staff and students are encouraged to wear something green (or have a green non uniform day) on the last day of school before Patrick’s day
• Teagmháil leis an Gaelscoil – If you are in an English medium school and there is a Gaelscoil nearby, could you arrange an activity together such as a Tráth na gCeist or games for the junior classes?

Click on the image below to download these ideas in an editable Word document format, which includes a weekly grid which you can edit and adapt for use in your own school.