Naíonra - Season 1

The start of the Naíonra year brings a mix of nerves and tears - affecting not only the children but their parents too. But in the space of a few short miraculous months, we see the children grow in confidence, learn new skills, new words as Gaeilge and make new friends. All the important routines are now well established from putting on coats to eating lunch. Playing The Three Little Pigs, hiding under blankets at Halloween and dressing up as Mammy Clause for Christmas… It's all happening through play, song and fun.

January - the start of a new year and a new term in the Naíonra. The children are calm and happy and the skills of listening, speaking and questioning are coming to the fore. The children are now starting to use more words as Gaeilge naturally in their day-to-day life, and their play is becoming more sophisticated. Fun, play and song continues to be at heart of what happens in the busy life of the naíonra – love on Valentines Day, marching behind Múinteoir Máire in their own Patrick's Day parade, dressing up as their favourite book characters, and leaving the naíonra in a bus on an exciting trip for the very first time. 

In this final term of the Naíonra year, the children are strong and independent- they can solve problems, play elaborate imaginative games, have an argument and resolve it. Their language skills are improving significantly. They play ‘school' and talk about uniforms and homework as they get used to the idea of the next step. In the suburb of Tallaght, and in the town of Mallow, it's time for each little community that has grown together, played together and learned together, to move on to big school.