Ring, County Waterford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ring
Irish: An Rinn
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Boats in Helvick Harbour on the Ring peninsula
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 Ring
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Waterford |
| Population
(2016)
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499 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | X259930 |
Ring, officially known as An Rinn, is a special Irish-speaking area in County Waterford, Ireland. It is part of the Gaeltacht na nDéise region. Ring is located on a peninsula, a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. It lies about 11 kilometers (7 miles) south of Dungarvan. The main village in this area is also called Ring or Ringville.
Ring is a growing community. It has three schools: two primary schools and one secondary school. You can also find restaurants, pubs, and other businesses here. The area has two fishing harbors, Ballynagaul and Helvick, and two beaches, The Cunnigar and Ballynagaul. There is also a small cove at Helvick. Ring is the only Gaeltacht area in County Waterford and the only one in the southeast of Ireland.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name 'Ring' comes from the Irish name 'An Rinn'. This means 'cape', 'point', or 'headland'. In 2005, the Irish government decided that official road signs in Gaeltacht areas would only show the Irish names. So, 'Ring' was removed from road signs. However, many people in Waterford still use the name 'Ring' every day.
The Irish Language in Ring
The type of Irish spoken in Ring is called Gaoluinn na nDéise. This is a special version of the Munster Irish dialect. It is spoken by local people who have grown up speaking Irish.
Many young people in Ring speak Irish daily. About 50.8% of those aged 10-14 use Irish outside of school. Over the past few decades, many people have moved to Ring. Some of these new residents did not grow up speaking Irish.
Studies have shown how many people speak Irish in the Gaeltacht na nDéise area. In 2007, 43.07% of people in Ring spoke Irish. This number grew to 48.14% by 2014. The 2016 census found that 33% of people in Ring spoke Irish daily outside of school. More than 75% of the population said they could speak Irish.
A famous Irish language writer, Áine Ní Fhoghludha, was born in Ring.
Learning in Irish
All schools in Ring teach lessons in the Irish language.
- Naíonra na Rinne is a pre-school located in the local community center.
- Scoil Náisiúnta na Rinne is the primary school.
- Meánscoil San Nioclás is the secondary school. It serves students from Ring, An Sean Phobal, and some from Dungarvan.
Coláiste na Rinne: A Special School
Coláiste na Rinne (Ring College) is a unique primary school in Ring. It also runs Irish language summer courses. During the school year, it teaches students in their fifth and sixth years of primary school. It is a boarding school, meaning students live there during term time. Many students who attend go on to other boarding schools for their secondary education.
Many visiting students stay with local families. These families often speak only Irish at home. The college also offers Irish language training for public workers and future teachers.
Sports in Ring
Rinn Ó gCuanach CLG is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Ring. This club has teams for both Gaelic football and hurling every year. These are traditional Irish sports.
Building the Community
Community development in Ring is handled by two main groups. They work together to improve the area.
Comhairle Pobail na Rinne manages the local community hall, called Ionad Pobail na Rinne. This hall hosts many activities and services, such as:
- Naíonra na Rinne (the pre-school)
- A local doctor's clinic
- A studio for Raidió na Gaeltachta (an Irish language radio station)
- Seirbhís Iarscoile na Rinne (an after-school service)
- Spraoi (a parent and toddler group)
This group also organizes many community events. They have a rule that activities in the hall should include the Irish language. Most activities are held only in Irish.
Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise is another important group. It represents the entire Gaeltacht na nDéise area and has an office in Ring. This group works on different projects to develop the community. It was started in 2005 and is a registered charity. Its board includes members from Comhairle Pobail na Rinne.
An Comhlucht Forbartha has created plans for the Waterford Gaeltacht. These plans have led to new facilities in Ring, like a playground. In 2006, Comhairle Pobail na Rinne won an award for their community work in the An Baile Beo competition.
Images for kids
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View south over the peninsula
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See also
In Spanish: An Rinn para niños
