Tá traidisiún fada rathúil i dteagasc na Gaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire le corradh le céad bliain. Ba é an tAthair Gearóid Ó Nualláin, scríbhneoir agus scoláire Ceiltise a ceapadh ina Ollamh le Gaeilge sa chéaduair thiar sa bhliain 1902. Bhí iad Pádraig Mac Piarais agus Eoin Mac Néill, beirt a bhí go mór chun tosaigh in athbheochan na Gaeilge, ar na daoine a mhol go mbeadh an Ghaeilge ar an chlár teagaisc an chéad lá riamh. Is í fís na gceannródaithe sin maidir le cúrsaí oideachais agus cúrsaí Gaeilge a spreag an obair a rinne na glúnta scoláirí a tháinig ina ndiaidh i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire.

St Mary’s University College has a long and distinguished tradition in teaching the Irish language, going back over one hundred years. Father Gearóid Ó Nualláin, Irish language writer and scholar, was appointed as a professor in Irish in 1902. Pádraig Mac Piarais and Eoin Mac Néill were two of the leading language revivalists who advocated that Irish should be on the teaching programme. That early vision for education and for the Irish language has inspired the work and achievements of subsequent scholars in St Mary’s.

An Ghaeilge Nua-aimseartha

Forbraíonn na mic léinn a roghnaíonn an Ghaeilge mar ábhar acadúil a gcuid scileanna teanga i ngnéithe éagsúla den chlár staidéir. Roghnaítear an Ghaeilge mar ábhar acadúil sna cúrsaí B.Oid agus Saorealaíona. Leanann siad clár staidéir a chuimsíonn gnéithe barrthábhachtacha den teanga agus den litríocht. Tá cleachtadh i labhairt na Gaeilge, meas na litríochta, scileanna aistriúcháin agus cuairteanna chun na Gaeltachta fite fuaite tríd na cúrsaí. Chomh maith leis sin, tugtar deiseanna do na mic léinn a gcuid Gaeilge a chleachtadh ar bhonn sóisialta agus eagraíonn an Cumann Gaelach céilithe, oícheanta ceoil, tráth na gceist, turais chun na Gaeltachta, agus imeachtaí eile ar nós Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Modern Irish

Today, BEd and LA students who choose the Irish language as their main academic subject in St Mary’s will develop their language competence and follow a dynamic programme of study on essential aspects of modern language and literature. Practice in spoken Irish, critiques of literature, translation skills and visits to the Gaeltacht are an integral part of studying Irish. Students are encouraged to use Irish socially and the Irish Society organises céilithe, music evenings, quizzes, fieldtrips and other events such as Irish Language Week.