A disco for teenagers helps to encourage the use of Irish in the everyday life of Carlow.
Gaelschoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc in Carlow was established in 1982 with 20 pupils and one teacher, Bríde de Róiste. The following year, 40 pupils enrolled in the school, and Treasa Ní Bheaglaíoch was appointed as an assistant teacher.
Carlow has won several awards for the promotion of Irish. As head teacher of Gaelschoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc, Bríde de Róiste is keen to see teenagers using Irish outside the classroom in their social life and activities.
This has led to the establishment of the Irish-speaking youth club Déagóirí na Dolmaine, named after Carlow's famous Brownshill Dolmen. Since its foundation, the youth club has grown to 70 members. They meet every Friday evening to socialise and participate in games and activities through Irish.
At Christmas, the teenagers took part in a céilí disco. They are now participating in an Irish language disco,
Tá sé go hiontach, tá spiorad iontach seo.
Also enjoying the disco is one of the youth club leaders, trainee teacher Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.
This episode of 'Iris ‘86' was broadcast on 10 February 1986. The reporter is Michael Davitt.
The Irish language series 'Iris' (meaning 'journal' or 'magazine') was first broadcast on 19 February 1985.
Presented by Michael Davitt and Maireád Ní Nuadháin it featured a wide range of topics. Its main focus was on issues affecting Gaeltacht communities and Gaeilgeoirí but it also contained reports on the arts, traditional music and current affairs.
Reporters were Maireád Ní Nuadháin, Michael Davitt, Eamon Ó Muirí, Pat Butler, Eoghan Ó Tuairisc, Breandán Ó Tuairisg, Áine Ní Ghlinn and Brídóg Ní Bhuachalla.
The series was produced by Cian Ó hEigeartaigh and Tony MacMahon, Brian Mac Lochlainn, Aindreas Ó Gallchóir, Michael McCarthy, Gerry Murray, Donall Farmer, Mícheál Ó Conaola and Tish Barry. 'Iris' ran until 1990.
