Children at 19 schools throughout the country will soon be taught Irish through PE.
The pilot project, which is set to run for three years, is being launched today in a bid to promote the language.
Education Minister Joe McHugh is confident it will make Irish "more relevant" and allow young people to better engage with it.
The following schools and early years centres have been selected for the initial phase of the pilot project:
Early Years:
Teach Abhaile pre-school, Ennis, Co. Clare
Mounthawk Montessori, Tralee, Co. Kerry
High Hopes Montessori, Harolds Cross, Dublin
Roots and Wings, Donabate, Co. Dublin
Fairytales day care, Milford, Co. Donegal,
Teach Leanbh, Ballinalee, Co. Longford.
Primary:
Holy Family Senior NS, Ennis, Co. Clare
St. Olivers NS, Killarney, Co. Kerry
St. Mary’s NS, Donnybrook, Dublin 4
Scoil Réalt na Mara, Skerries, Co. Dublin
SN Naomh Colmcille, Kilmacrennan, Co. Donegal
St. Colmcille’s SNS, Kells, Co. Meath
St. Comán’s Wood PS, Roscommon
Post-primary:
Colaiste Fionnchua, Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
Millstreet Community School, Millstreet, Co Cork
Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, Co Kerry
St. Muredach’s College, Ballina, Co Mayo
St. Joseph’s, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Clonaslee College, Co Laois
Julian De Spainn, Ard Runai of Conradh na Gaeilge, has welcomed the programme and believes it will help to foster the language:
"This is something that's a very simple idea and will help"
The best way of teaching Irish is to be immersed in the language - we see that in Irish summer college and gaelscoileana so let's bring a bit of that into schools.
This is a very easy way to do it - do something that kids enjoy through Irish"
