Coláiste na bhFiann
Coláiste na bhFiann (CnabhF) is an Irish language summer course for students aged 10–18 years. The company was founded by Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí and the first course was in Rosmuc, County Galway, Ireland in 1968. Since then, fifty thousand students have studied on their summer courses.[1]
Activities
Some courses are college based and others are based in the Gaeltacht areas of Rosmuc, County Galway and Ráth Cairn, County Meath. Most courses are three week residential courses in which students are immersed in an Irish speaking environment. During these courses students attend classes and take part in various activities, games, arts, crafts, and sport. As Ireland's longest-established course organiser, several other courses have been founded on the same model.[1]
In 1970, Cumann na bhFiann was founded to provide weekly youth clubs and to give students the opportunity to practise the language skills acquired on the summer courses. There are now sixty clubs nationwide.[2]
Sexual abuse allegations
Since his death, Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí, the company's founder and first teacher on the courses, has been subject to allegations that he sexually attacked and abused teenage boys in the 1960s and 1970s either at school or during Coláiste na bhFiann outings.[3]
Locations
Residential - Rule A
- Ros Muc, County Galway. The first teacher here was Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí[4]
Residential - Rule B
- Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal
- Baile an Uairnigh (Warrenstown), County Meath (opened 2010)[1]
- Ráth Chairn, County Meath
Past Pupils
- Hector Ó hEochagáin, Television Presenter
- Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Television Presenter
- Carrie Crowley, Television Presenter
- Catherine Martin Irish Senior Government Minister appointed in 2020.
References
- "Colaiste na bhFiann breathes new life into Warrenstown". Meath South. Meath. The Meath Chronicle. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- "Cumman na bhFiann". Coláiste na bhFiann. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- Calls for review of Ó Lubhlaí allegations
- "Domhnall Ó Lubhlai marbh" (in Irish). An Tuairisceoir. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- Coláiste na bhFiann, About Us
- "Coláiste na bhFiann: Courses". Coláiste na bhFiann. Retrieved 19 October 2015.