School’s in for Cape Clear Island as call to fill teacher posts is met
The future of a 150-year-old school looks a lot brighter after a number of teachers answered a call for help from islanders living off the southwest coast.
People living on Cape Clear recently sent out a nationwide SOS seeking a principal and teacher for the Irish-speaking Scoil Náisiunta Oileán Cléire.
There were real fears that they would find it hard to fill the two positions, especially as there is a national shortage of such professionals.
In addition, recruiting teachers to national schools on offshore islands is a recurring problem.
However, school board of management chairman, Neil Ó Riagáin, has reported that a number of applicants have answered the call.
Interviews for the principal’s position took place on Monday in Skibbereen and interviews for the teacher post will be completed today.
“We’re very happy with the response we got,” said Mr Ó Riagáin. “We got applications from Connaught, Leinster, and Munster for the positions.”
He said the applicants are a near even spread between male and female and they vary from recently qualified teachers to highly experienced ones.
Mr Ó Riagáin said the appeal carried in the Irish Examiner generated a lot of interest and was followed up by radio stations throughout the country.
Islanders also carried out appeals on social media.
Islanders were keen to point out that there are a lot of services on Cape Clear, including a shop, pubs, restaurants, a library, and a bus service run under the rural transport scheme.
They also pointed out the tremendous community spirit on the island, its natural beauty, and opportunities for bird and whale watching and outdoor pursuits popular such as kayaking and walking.
Mr Ó Riagáin said that, in the early 1970s, they were very fortunate to have recruited two gifted young teachers who settled on the island and spent their careers there.
However, since they retired it had become harder to recruit teaching staff.
“We’re now very confident that the two teaching roles will be filled when the school opens on August 30,” said Mr Ó Riagáin.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. These are permanent teaching positions and we hope to secure the future of the school for a number of years to come.”
He said the board of management is hoping that 10 children will enrol for the first term of the school year and they will be from senior infants up.
Mr Ó Riagáin added that securing the school could make it more attractive for families to settle on the island and provide new blood.
