Coláiste an Phiarsaigh facts for kids

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh is a school in Glanmire, Cork, Ireland. It is a voluntary secondary school where both boys and girls learn together. A special thing about this school is that Irish is the main language used for teaching and talking. This means students and teachers speak Irish every day. The school is free for students who attend during the day. However, students who live at the school as boarders pay a fee, but some special grants called bursaries are available to help with costs.

School History and Growth

The school was started in 1973 by a group called Gaedhealachas Teoranta. It was named after Patrick Pearse, who was an important Irish revolutionary and someone who worked to bring back the Irish language. Cormac Mac Cárthaigh was one of the people who helped start the school. Eibhlín Ní Drisceoil was the principal from 1973 to 1991.

In 1978, the school opened its first permanent building. At that time, about 200 students were enrolled. As more students joined in the 1980s, the school added prefab buildings, which are like temporary classrooms. In 1995, a permanent extension was opened. This new part included a science lab, a computer room, an art room, more classrooms, a staff room, and offices.

During the 2022-23 school year, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh had around 580 students. There were also 60 staff members working at the school. The school also hosts Irish-language courses during the summer holidays for children aged 10 to 14.

School Achievements

Coláiste an Phiarsaigh has a strong record in helping students move on to third-level education, like universities. In 2013, The Sunday Times ranked the school 5th in Cork city and county for students going on to higher education. It was also ranked 22nd in the whole country.

New Facilities and Future Plans

On May 12, 2023, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh received a large amount of funding, €25 million. This money was given to build new parts of the school on the Cork campus. This expansion will create more space and new facilities for students.

The new additions include 15 new classrooms and 3 new laboratories. A new sports hall is also part of the plan, which will be great for physical education and sports activities. The funding also provides for more specialized areas. These include a special unit for students with autism, a home economics room for cooking and life skills, and a school library. There will also be a new staff room and even a restaurant on campus for everyone to use.

Notable Alumni

• Barry Coffey
• Kieran Murphy

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