CinnirÍ
Coláiste Chamuis has a unique system of cinnireacht or student leadership. The Cinnirí are the backbone of An Coláiste as they are both students and leaders at the same time. Essentially a Cinnire is a person who leads those in his/her group by inspiring them to follow rather than by trying to force them to do something. The good Cinnire will say ‘come on’ rather than ‘go on’.
Thosaigh mé ag dul go Coláiste Chamuis i mo chailín óg. Spreag sé mé i dtreo na Gaeilge agus chuir mé aithne ar chairde maithe thiar ann agus is í an Ghaeilge ár dteanga chumarsáide anois agus go deo. – Aisling, Cill Dara
There is a Cinnire Tí in each house, and all groups have a Cinnire also – walking groups, games groups etc. This gives the students themselves an active start in the running of the course and develops many interpersonal and leadership skills in our students.
Cinnirí are usually in the older age-bracket in An Coláiste, have themselves graduated through our system of cinnireacht, and thus help new and younger students solve any problems they might encounter.
I sent all my kids to Coláiste Chamuis over the years and they all came home with a genuine love for Irish, learned a lot and wanted to return to the course.
- Mícheál, Sligeach.
In all I attended seven courses in Coláiste Chamuis. It was a great experience. I not only learned to speak Irish but I also got great confidence and life skills from my time there.
– Gearóid Ó Drisceoil, Baile Átha Cliath
