Earlier in the day, Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Chief Executive of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), officially launched the third instalment of the programme. She described how important the programme was to the development of Irish-medium education throughout Ireland.

This innovative project combines a number of educational approaches and begins with the very basics of reading and developing the child’s skills and vocabulary in an integrated way. Band 3 is a series of sixty books building on the previous two bands. In total there are now 180 titles in the complete programme. An tÁisaonad is currently doing the preparatory work to progress a similar programme for Key Stage 1.



In her opening address, Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir of St Mary’s discussed the many features of this set of 180 reading books that would enable the teacher to challenge and support young readers in Irish-medium schools. The standard of the texts is exemplary, she said, and will inspire a love for reading in Irish-medium pupils.

Dr Nig Uidhir commended the Áisaonad team along with teachers from partner schools that had been involved in the writing process. She also acknowledged the invaluable support and cooperation of COGG, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and Foras na Gaeilge.

“Comhghairdeas le foireann an Áisaonaid as an lá ceiliúrtha a reáchtáil siad chun Banda 3 den chlár luathléitheoireachta a sheoladh. Rinneadh ceardlann oiliúna a thóg croí na múinteoirí agus na mac léinn TICO a bhí i láthair nuair a míníodh na deiseanna agus na dúshláin foghlama a bhí ann. Tugadh ardmholadh don Áisaonad as na leabhair spreagúla ardchaighdeánacha a bhí scríofa agus foilsithe acu.”