Grainne Gill, Coláiste Feirste

https://www.colaistefeirste.org

Subject or Primary school year: Music, Drama, Spanish

Your place of birth: Portlaoise, Laois

Studied at: Univeristy of Limerick (undergrad), Queens (PGCE)

First job: Teaching fiddle at Comhaltas

What it taught me: This taught me the significance to be prepared for classes with different levels of talent, interest and ability. Also I had to develop add to my playing skills on how to teach and show young musicians how to improve and learn their techniques and tunes.

Family/status: Single

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: As an ECT, we are still learning so it's important and ok to ask for help, ask questions for clarity and advice on processes and initiatives within the school you are in.

As I was exposed to Irish language and culture from an early age both in and out of school, it instilled a foundation and love for it all in me. I continued studying Irish at university and directly researched the importance of minority languages and also had the opportunity to go abroad to study in the Basque Country. After graduating with Irish and Spanish, and not yet sure as to what I wanted to pursue, I went to Madrid. Knowing the extent of the Irish expat, I sought out the GAA teams and trad sessions. One year quickly turned in three. On returning to Ireland during the pandemic, I moved to Belfast to study and complete my PGCE in Modern Languages where I learned and expanded on skills now important to my everyday teaching and interaction with my students. I have been at Coláiste Feirste for nearly 2 years now and I am involved in the extracurricular music class and helped take our ladies football team. My school and colleagues have greatly helped me settle into Belfast and has turned it into my second home.