Developing bilingual and biliterate students is central to all that we do in Scoil Iósaef.  We have recently invested a substantial amount of money to provide a wealth of enjoyable and modern Irish Medium books for our school library. 

IMS students spend one period per fortnight in the school library and are encouraged to immerse themselves in Irish language books and novels.  With our newly founded ‘Club Leabhar’ pupils can ‘lose themselves’ in a novel while sipping at a cup of hot chocolate in their weekly reading club.

We recognise that excellent oracy and literacy skills are essential in the modern workplace. Through the Gael-Linn public speaking competition, Abair, Féile Scoildrámaíochta and Comórtas Uí Chadhain and our new internal focus on public speaking called Tuairimí, all our IMS students are encouraged to build their confidence in public speaking and thus prepare themselves for the world of work.

We host our annual Sruth na Gaeilge prizegiving ceremony (An Bronnadh) to celebrate all of the academic, sporting and extracurricular achievements of our students.

Our pupils have been inspired by our special guests and all-Ireland winners Sean Cavanagh of Tyrone GAA and Eamon Magee of Donegal GAA, as well as TV and Radio stars Lynette Fay, Tomaí Ó Conghaile, Karen Kirby and Conall Ó Máirtín.

Last year Scoil Iósaef were awarded the prestigious ‘Gaelbhratach’ flag by Gael-Linn, in recognition of the tireless work to promote spoken Irish right through the school.

IMS pupils benefit from regular school trips as part of whole-school opportunities. Every year we take our Year 10 students on a trip to the Donegal Gaeltacht to get a taste of our native language and culture.

We meet up with the local secondary school Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair and our pupils get an insight into life in a Gaeltacht school.  In 2017, Year 10 students had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Brussels along with IME students from other post-primary schools across the North, to get an insight into the workings of the parliament and opportunities for Irish Language employment.  2019 saw our first every Post-16 trip to Galway and the Arann islands

As well as following the excellent Employability & Careers programme in St Joseph’s, senior students have the opportunity to attend university seminars both in the North and in the Republic of Ireland and can consider degree courses through Irish. 

We regularly have Irish language guest speakers to provide relevant and up to date careers advice on current job opportunities with Irish at home and abroad.

Scoláirí an tSrutha are encouraged to use Irish outside of the classroom and this is facilitated through the organisation of a range of events throughout the school day such as Tae agus Plé, An Cumann Gaelach, Gaeilge 24, Seachtain na Gaeilge and An Cumann Scoildrámaíochta agus An Cumann Díospóireachta.

This year our newly formed Coiste na Gaeilge has been an excellent asset to our students: led by our senior pupils, all students have the opportunity to learn music, cookery skills, drama skills and play sport through the medium of Irish. I

In partnership with Cairde Uí Néill pupils are recognised on a weekly basis as ‘Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine’ and are rewarded with a £10 gift voucher.  We have also introduced a supportive but firm Riail na Gaeilge to ensure that Irish remains the spoken language of An Sruth.