A small Gaeltacht community on the Galway-Mayo border is offering a house rent free for a year to a family willing to relocate with children of primary school age.
The initiative was taken by local people in An Chloch Bhreac outside An Fhairce in a bid to save their Gaelscoil from closing by boosting pupil numbers.
It appears to have paid off, with than 1,100 families applying for the competition.
The Gaeltacht village of Chloch Bhreac, situated between Loch Measc and Loch Coirib in the heart of Joyce Country, has seen the demise of its shop and post office in recent years.
But the community is determined not to let that happen to Scoil Naomh Pádraig.
The school has just 11 pupils, but needs at least 12 to hold on to a teacher and stay open in the long term.
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Geraldine Feerick is Principal of Scoil Naomh Pádraig and is one of the two teaching staff. There is also a learning support teacher.
"We have a fantastic school and this is the only central focal point that's left in the community," she said.
"We run courses here, have card games, coffee mornings and we put on a play every year. I grew up here myself, I went to school here and it would break my heart to see the school closing, because it was always a beautiful little school in the middle of a stunning rural area.
"And it's still the same as it was years ago when I came here. And we came up with this idea of the free rental in order to try and get a family to boost our numbers.
"So first we had to get a house and obviously it's quite hard with the housing crisis at the moment. So we were very lucky to get a local couple that offered us a five-bedroom house at great value in order to support the school and we're very grateful for it. Then it was full steam ahead."
Ms Feerick said that once the house was obtained, the team were able to advertise and look for a family to come to the community.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for any family because it's a small school where we have lots of support, lots of things going on through gaeilge, which they will pick up very easily because kids are like sponges. And they get to experience living in a local rural community which is a great advantage to any family," she said.
"We've got a lot of interest, which was amazing and interest from abroad as well as at home with our families from Manchester, London, Portugal, you know, a lot of various places.
"We had over 1,100 applications which was fantastic. Going through all of them wasn't an easy task, but it's done now and we've whittled down a shortlist of candidates."
Ms Feerick said the shortlist is made up of families which they feel might be able to relocate easily into the community.
"It's a very friendly community and the locals are all fantastic," she adds.
The committee formed by the Gaelscoil and local Co-op - Comharchumann Dhúiche Sheoigheach Teo - were inundated with replies to their advertisement. They say that people applied from all over Ireland and further afield in places like France, Portugal, England and Wales.
Aíne Ní Mhainín is the second teacher at the school and says it is vital that more children enrol in September to get the number above 12.
"We really need to keep this school open. If we don't get the numbers up, we will become a one-teacher school next year. My job is gone first and one teacher schools never survive," she said.
As well as getting a year rent free, the successful family will be able to work remotely at the nearby Gaeltacht digital hub in Corr na Móna.
Seán Ó Cionnaigh is on the Gaelscoil Board of Management.
"We are delighted that we had over 1,100 applications. but that comes down to the beauty of the area. We have plenty of employment here with the Gaeltacht gteic digital hub. It means people can work remotely and live in a beautiful part of rural Ireland," Mr Ó Cionnaigh said.
"We have plenty of lovely walks around the lakes and outdoor activities. And our school is a wonderful asset and a huge bonus for the chosen family when they arrive.
"So hopefully, le cúnamh Dé we will get a nice family and they will learn cúpla focal from a most welcoming community."
Stiofán Seoighe, the Irish language development officer at the local Co-Op Comharchumann Dhúiche Sheoigheach Teo, said they were delighted to support the school when they were approached.
"A key element of developing the Irish language is developing the community and ensuring that there are schools, that there is a population. Gan pobal, gan scoil, gan daoine níl teanga ar bith."
Saoirse Ní Chíarragáin and Keira Ní Fhloinn are pupils at Scoil Naomh Pádraig are excited about meeting a new family and gaining new pals in September.
Marcel Anczewski is 11 years old and speaks Irish, English and his native Polish.
"It is great to speak three languages. And I love the school. The teachers are nice and I have good friends. I live in a beautiful village and I want this school to be saved. It will be so nice to meet the new children after the summer," he said.
"Is maith liom an daoine anseo agus tá mé 'excited by' an daoine atá ag teacht."
One lucky family will be chosen by the end of this month. They will then spend the summer preparing for a new life and a new school in An Chloch Bhreac.
