Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, was awarded €5,000 to collaborate with six schools* to promote philosophical education using Philosophy4Children (P4C) pedagogy in the context of primary and post-primary Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. By facilitating two workshops, in which teachers actively engaged in P4C methodologies, it aimed to form a network of educators, trained in P4C trí Ghaeilge, and to continue to promote the value of philosophy for Irish-medium education.
*List of collaborating schools:
- Gaelscoil Naomh Phádraig
- Coláiste Chilliain
- Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin
- Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada
- Gaelscoil na Camóige
- Gaelscoil Inse Chór
School’s reflection
This was a fantastic opportunity to promote an extremely undervalued area of teacher education – P4C – in a context which, due to a lack of resources and information, has never gotten the chance to engage with this particular area. I completed the Level 1 SAPERE P4C course in October 2025 and it completely changed my outlook on teaching (philosophy). To consequently be afforded the opportunity to share this course with colleagues in Irish-medium education was really special and significant. The course opened up several important educational partnerships – between Coláiste Cois Life, the host school, and other local Gaelscoileanna, between Coláiste Cois Life and UCD, and between Coláiste Cois Life and SAPERE.
The funding allowed for the provision of the course, in addition to the development of resource packages, specifically designed for teachers of P4C in the Irish-medium context. This level of tailoring is uncommon at most CPD courses, and I know that every teacher was absolutely delighted with this, as well as with the valuable ideas they obtained through attending the course. On a personal note, I see the development of philosophical thinking in students as my life’s work and passion.