Caitlín Ní Ruanaidh

First job: Making tea at Irish language intensive courses for my da.

What it taught me: I watched my daddy, Pilib Ó Ruanaidh, build an Irish language centre in the south of the city. I watched him work tirelessly to ensure that children in the Short Strand and surrounding areas had access to a local Irish medium school. I watched him work night and day to build an Irish language centre for his area, and it taught me the value of a great work ethic. He was the boss and worked harder than anyone in the place, he organised, he taught, he helped with the cleaning up and even helped make tea with me. I hope that I have inherited his strong work ethic.

Family/status: Mother of Feilimí (3).

Best advice anyone ever gave you: Winners never quit, and quitters never win. Courtesy of my daidí Pilib.

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: As teachers in the Irish medium education sector we stand on the shoulders of giants. We follow people who founded our schools when it was illegal, women who cleaned schools for nothing, teachers who taught for free and spent day and night translating and creating resources and of course the parents who fundraised day and night to set up our schools. Never forget where we came from and always remember their mantra: Ná hAbair É, Déan É (Don't say it, do it).

My parents sent me to local naíscoil at the age of three, from there I went to Gaelscoil na bhFál and Coláiste Feirste (Meánscoil Feirste as it was known then). I went to the National University Ireland, Galway, to study history and Irish. I then went on to complete a Post-Graduate Diploma in journalism in Connamara (NUIG). 

From there I spent some time working in the Irish medium sector for organisations such as Nuacht 24, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain and InaG. I decided that this wasn’t for me, that I was a teacher through and through and I wanted to be in the classroom with the next generation of young Gaels. I went on to complete my PGCE in history at the University of Ulster and my TICO at St Mary’s. I started my teaching career in Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan. I spent two happy years there. I then went abroad to Qatar and worked as a primary school teacher. 

I eventually landed my dream job, as a teacher in Coláiste Feirste. I am currently in my seventh year at Coláiste Feirste. I am the Acting Head of the History Department, I am the Teacher Tutor for newly qualified teachers (a post that I adore) and also the newly appointed Learning Leader in the school. This new post was created by our brilliant Board of Governors to help with the ongoing challenges of the current pandemic. 

I was reared in the Short Stand. I am the third of five daughters. I would be lost without my brilliant family. Our house was always filled with love and support and plenty of laughter. I have a sister with Downs, Niamh, and she is the beating heart of our clann. She has taught us so many lessons, mainly compassion, patience and love. I am the proud mamaí of Feilimí Óg (3), who now fills my own house with so much love and laughter.