This year's return to school saw a significant boost for Irish-language education in the north-west, with the opening of two Gaelscoileanna in Co Donegal. There was also a dramatic increase in enrolment at Sligo's Gaelscoil, which has moved into new premises. The schools have opened at opposite ends of Co Donegal, in Buncrana and Donegal town.
Meanwhile Scoil Adhamhnain in Letterkenny, open since 1991, now has nearly 250 pupils, and will be finally moving into permanent premises at Easter.
The Gaelscoil in Buncrana opened with 26 pupils and two teachers, while in Donegal there are just 14 pupils, although this is certain to grow. Some forward-thinking parents have already enrolled their children for entry over the next three years. Both new schools are interdenominational.
This growth in the north west has of course been mirrored throughout the State over recent years, as more and more parents opt for Irish-medium education.
The decision is generally taken because of an interest in preserving the language, but also because of the growing view that children in these schools do better generally. Research has shown, for example, that they find it easier than their counterparts in English-medium schools to learn a third or fourth language, such as French or German.
There are now 134 all-Irish primary schools, and 31 second-level schools, throughout the 32 counties, outside of Gaeltacht areas. This has grown from 11 primary schools and five second-level schools since 1972.
The only counties in the Republic without any Irish language schools are Leitrim and Roscommon.
In most towns the move towards Irish-medium schools begins with pre-school groups. Such is the popularity of Gaelscoileanna that there is a shortage of suitable teachers. In Buncrana, one of two temporary teachers was brought back from retirement.
Mr Pol Mac Aodh, a member of the founding committee of the Donegal town school, said that one of the main concerns parents had was that they would not be able to help their children with homework. He said that while this had never been found to be a problem in other schools, a special class for parents had also started.
A native speaker from Gweedore, Mr Mac Aodh said it was important that parents had at least the choice of English or Irish medium education for their children.
There is a tremendous amount of goodwill in the community towards the Gaelscoil - two local businessmen donated computer equipment and an alarm system. Daniel O'Donnell performed the official opening last weekend.
The principal of Letterkenny's Gaelscoil, Ms Maire Nic Gairbhe, said the growth of the school was due to the good reputation it had built up over the years. She said that because some parents do not have a good level of Irish, teachers have to make an extra effort.
"There is an extra pressure on them to make sure that the children understand what they are doing before they go home in the evening," she said.
It is generally found in the Gaelscoileanna that parents play a very active role. For the first three years, before they receive permanent recognition, the schools receive only 75 per cent funding from the Department of Education, and therefore parents have to do a considerable amount of fundraising.
Gaelscoil Chnoc na Re in Sligo has received permanent recognition and has 95 pupils after 33 new pupils started this year. From one teacher in 1996, it now has four. This term it moved out of prefabs and into proper classrooms.
Principal Ms Gina Ni Lionscaigh said parents should not worry about their children having difficulties later if they had to go to an English-medium secondary school. "They are always able to convert from one language to another without any problem," she said.
At Gaelscoil na gCeithre Maistri in Donegal town, the children were already beginning to respond to and use Irish words within days. Teachers generally agree that children at this age are like Hoovers, picking up a language easily and naturally.
Principal Mr Oilibhear Mac Fhionnghaile, a native speaker from Gweedore who has just graduated from college, said he had seen a dramatic change in attitudes towards the language over recent years.
"There was a time when people were almost embarrassed about it, when they were socialising outside their home area for example. But over the last three or four years you wouldn't believe the change in attitude."