Dr Neasa Ní Chuaig has been appointed as the new Head of the Department of Language and Literacy Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), bringing a wealth of experience to her new role.
Neasa has been with MIC since 2017 with the Faculty of Education as a lecturer in Education with expertise in Irish. Prior to this, she taught in the University of Galway, as well as Dublin City University, Maynooth University, and St Mary’s University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Neasa received her undergraduate degree in Irish and Legal Science from the University of Galway and went on to receive a Masters in Modern Irish in the same University, having grown up in the Galway Gaeltacht. She also completed teaching qualifications in the University, including a Professional Diploma in Education and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate.
She went on to complete her doctorate in Dublin City University under the supervision of Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir and Dr Eithne Kennedy. On completion of her PhD, she began working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment as an Education Officer, where her main role was the development of the Primary Language Curriculum from Third to Sixth class.
She is very much looking forward to the new role and to working with colleagues to develop and champion aspects of language and literacy within the department and the wider college community. Speaking about her appointment to the role, Neasa said:
“I am delighted with this new role and proud to have the opportunity to work with my colleagues to develop opportunities and tackle the challenges associated with the work of our department”.
Dr Angela Canny, Acting Dean of Education at MIC added: “We are delighted to welcome Neasa as our new Head of the Language and Literacy Department in the Faculty of Education. Neasa has been a valued member of our Faculty for a number of years and she brings a wealth of experience to this role. She is passionate about the Irish language, and broader language and literacy education. I look forward to working with her to progress and develop educational opportunities and initiatives that will ultimately be of benefit to our education students and the teaching profession more generally.”
Bean Léinn as Gaillimh Ceaptha ina Ceann ar an Roinn um Oideachas Teanga agus Litearthachta i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál
Tá an Dr Neasa Ní Chuaig ceaptha ina Ceann nua ar an Roinn um Oideachas Teanga agus Litearthachta i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál (MIC), agus tabharfaidh sí an-chuid taithí chuig a ról nua.
Tá Neasa ag obair i nDámh an Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál ón mbliain 2017 ina léachtóir san Oideachas a bhfuil saineolas aici ar an nGaeilge. Bhí sí ag teagasc roimhe sin in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, agus in St Mary’s University, Albain Nua, Ceanada.
Bhain Neasa bunchéim amach sa Ghaeilge agus san Eolaíocht Dhlíthiúil ó Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus bhain sí Máistreacht amach sa Nua-Ghaeilge ón Ollscoil chéanna ina dhiaidh sin. D’fhás sí aníos i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe. Ghnóthaigh sí a cuid cáilíochtaí teagaisc san Ollscoil freisin, lena n-áirítear Dioplóma Gairmiúil san Oideachas agus teastas TEFL (Múineadh an Bhéarla mar Theanga Iasachta).
Bhain sí a dochtúireacht amach in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ina dhiaidh sin faoi mhaoirseacht an Ollaimh Pádraig Ó Duibhir agus an Dr Eithne Kennedy. Nuair a bhí a PhD bainte amach aici, thosaigh sí ag obair ina hOifigeach Oideachais leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta. Ba é an príomhról a bhí aici Curaclam Teanga na Bunscoile a fhorbairt ó rang a Trí go rang a Sé.
Tá sí ag súil go mór leis an ról nua agus le bheith ag obair lena cuid comhghleacaithe chun gnéithe teanga agus litearthachta a fhorbairt agus a chur chun cinn laistigh den roinn agus laistigh de phobal níos leithne an choláiste. Is éard a dúirt Neasa faoi gur ceapadh sa ról í:
“Tá mé thar a bheith sásta faoin ról nua seo agus bródúil as an deis a fháil a bheith ag obair le mo chuid comhghleacaithe chun tabhairt faoi na dúshláin agus na deiseanna a thapú a théann leis an obair seo.”
Is éard a dúirt an Dr Angela Canny, Déan Gníomhach Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál: “Tá an-ríméad orainn fáilte a chur roimh Neasa ina Ceann nua ar an Roinn um Oideachas Teanga agus Litearthachta i nDámh an Oideachais. Tá Neasa ina ball luachmhar dár nDámh le roinnt blianta anuas agus tabharfaidh sí an-chuid taithí chuig an ról seo. Tá dúshuim aici sa Ghaeilge, agus san oideachas teanga agus litearthachta níos leithne. Táim ag súil le bheith ag obair léi chun deiseanna agus tionscnaimh oideachais a fhorbairt a rachaidh chun tairbhe, i ndeireadh na dála, dár mic léinn oideachais agus do ghairm na múinteoireachta i gcoitinne.”
