Our Story
A Brief History
Coláiste na Rinne began when visitors to the locality displayed an interest in learning Irish.
Pádraig Ó Cadhla, an organiser for Conradh na Gaeilge, set up the ‘Harbour School’ with a class held outside using a blackboard against the wall of a house they named ‘Dóchas na hÉireann’ beside Baile na nGall Quay, An Rinn.
Established in 1905, Coláiste na Rinne has built a wide range of experience in organising Irish language courses ever since.
Scoil na Leanaí was founded by Coláiste na Rinne in 1919 headed by its first principal Dr. Seamus Ó hEochadha (An Fear Mór). To this day Scoil na Leanaí continues to educate 10 to 13 year old children from near and far.
Coláiste na Rinne, standing on a 25 acre campus, is now a centre for education. We offer a wide range of classes and cultural experiences to learners and visitors of all ages, from all over the world.
“Remember that the Irish Language came from the Celts and the big generous heart that comes from the Gaels, and it would be a shame if we separated and lost that nice gentle language for ourselves and for the generation to come after us”
- Rev. Dr. Richard Hindeberg
Fáilte / Welcome
Coláiste na Rinne was established in 1905 and officially recognised in 1907 as an Irish language summer school. It’s precursor was informally established by popular demand in 1903 when visitors to the area, largely from Dublin, displayed an interest in learning Irish. Pádraig Ó Cadhla, an organiser for Conradh na Gaeilge secured a grant to establish summer classes in 1903 and from there the teaching of Irish in Gaeltacht na nDéise began and has flourished ever since.
Today Coláiste na Rinne offers a wide range of classes and cultural experiences to learners and visitors of all ages, from all over the world. It is renowned for its boarding school for 10 to 12 year old pupils, its summer schools for 10 to 19 years old students and its 25 acre campus offering a wide variety of facilities to groups and organisations which promote and cherish the Irish language.
Over three thousand students attended Coláiste na Rinne in the past year.
We collaborate and offer courses in partnership with ten third level institutions, both at home and abroad.
The number of schools that brought groups of students to visit Coláiste na Rinne for a Gaeltacht tour in the past year.
The proportion of students attending Scoil na Leanaí who have received a bursary from Coláiste na Rinne.