Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin was established by the Department of Education in 1994 with Traolach Ó Donnabháin as chairperson of its Board of Management and Carmel Nic Airt as its principal. The school was founded in response to parental demand for a multi-denominational Gaelscoil in the Clonakilty area. It was the second multi-denominational Gaelscoil established in the state.
A limited company, called An Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán Gaeilge, was formed to act as patron for the school. This patron body now manages 70 Gaelscoileanna throughout the country, including inter-denominational, multi- denominational and Catholic ethos schools.
Our school opened its doors on the 1st of September 1994 as Gaelscoil Chloch na gCoillte, the name under which it operated until 2013, when it was renamed Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin in honour of local patriot Michael Collins. There were 22 pupils and 1 teacher, Carmel Nic Airt, in the school that first year. The school grew quickly in size and occupied many buildings over the years ranging from a hotel ballroom to a holiday home, a gluttony of prefabs to an unused bank until a permanent school was constructed on our current location in 2013. In 2012 an ASD Unit (Aonad Uí Mhuirthille) was established in the school to help cater for children in both Clonakilty and the greater area who were on the Autism Spectrum. There are currently 4 classes in Aonad Uí Mhuirthille. The school now employs over 40 people in the delivery of services to 380 pupils. All of this would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of parents over the years, the hard-working boards of management, the parent's associations and the leadership and guidance of both Traolach Ó Donnabháin and Carmel Nic Airt. After 23 years ‘steering the ship’,as principal, Carmel Nic Airt retired in 2017 and was succeeded by the present principal.
Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin is also affiliated to Gaelscoileanna Teo. Since the early 1980’s there has been a phenomenal growth in the number of Gaelscoileanna which now number 180 on the island of Ireland. Gaelscoileanna strike an exciting balance between a rich cultural heritage and a modern educational outlook.
