A unique after-school facility for children aged between eight and 12 has opened in Galway city.
An Sp≤rtacadamh, which operates daily between 2.30 and 6 p.m. and is based in ┴rus na nGael, Dominick Street, offers youngsters an opportunity to take part in team sports and creative activity, learn first aid and do their homework, while also improving their Irish.
It was established by Mr Cian Marnell, a parent and lecturer in Irish in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, in response to what he felt was a lack of after-school facilities for senior primary schoolchildren. His experience with his own nine-year-old son led him to realise that "creches in general are geared towards younger children. As a result, older children can feel out of place in such an environment.
"So the idea is to provide them with something for their age group, encouraging them to a more active way of life and offering them an alternative to television and computer games".
Although most of its pupils to date are from Gaelscoileanna, it is open to children from all schools.
"It's a relaxed and fun-centred ambience in which to learn Gaeilge", promises Mr Marnell. "For those youngsters who don't attend Gaelscoileanna it will give them a different experience of Irish than they have at school where it is simply one subject in a bigger curriculum."
The manager is Ms Emer Mayock, who holds a diploma in Nursery Nursing and an advanced diploma in Childcare Education. Ms Br∅d Quinn, co-ordinates the children's physical activities and also offers tuition in music.
Further information on enrolment from 091 534892 or 086 8552341.