Leaders in Northern Ireland's Irish-medium education sector spoke at a bilingual event on the Falls Road in Belfast. The discussion, titled Gaeloideachas: An Tús ’s an Todhchaí, featured principals Maighréad Ní Chonghaile of Gaelscoil Éanna in Glengormley and Diarmaid Ua Bruadair of Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in Dungiven, along with Pilib Ó Ruanaidh, director of Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta.

Maighréad Ní Chonghaile stated that communities around Gaelscoileanna form through passion and extend beyond school hours. She noted that Gaelscoil Éanna grew from ten pupils in 2008 to over 220 today after starting in a house spare room in 2004. She added that the Department of Education has provided no funding for the school, with community efforts supporting breakfast clubs, after-school activities and events.

Diarmaid Ua Bruadair, raised in the Shaws Road Gaeltacht, pointed to expansion from seven or eight pupils in a shed at Bunscoil Bhóthar Seoighe in 1971 to seven or eight thousand pupils in Irish-medium education now. He said Gaelcholáiste Dhoire has operated for ten years but seeks further achievements.

Pilib Ó Ruanaidh identified capital underspend in education as a major issue, worsened for newer Irish-medium schools on unfit sites. He noted only two custom-built Irish schools exist outside Belfast, with many still using huts from over 25 years ago.

Clíodhna Nic Bhranair, who chaired the talk and attended Coláiste Feirste, described campaigning as central to school life there. Diarmaid Ua Bruadair said official opposition in the 1970s included jail threats to Bunscoil Bhóthar Seoighe families, but authorities now accept the sector's permanence.

Speakers emphasized post-primary options like Coláiste Feirste and Gaelcholáiste Dhoire to maintain fluency from primary level. They acknowledged parental choice in education paths and noted practices like using first names for teachers to foster mutual respect and confidence.