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Home
Age Groups
Age Group 4 and under
Irish names
Playgroups
Using Irish with your children
Speaking Irish to your grandchildren
Raising children with Irish outside the Gaeltacht
Raising children through Irish in the Gaeltacht
Support, services & facilities
Age Group 4 - 12
Irish-Medium Schools
Benefits of All-Irish Education
Irish Colleges (Gaeltacht Summer Courses)
The Gaelbhratach
Irish Language Festivals
Support, services & facilities
Age Group 12 - 18
Irish-Medium Schools
Benefits of All-Irish Education
Summer Colleges
The Gaelbhratach
Irish Language Festivals
Using Your Irish Name
Support, services & facilities
Age Group 18 - 22
Learn Irish: 18-22 year olds
Irish Third-Level Courses
Irish Language Festivals
Support, services & facilities
Age Group 22+
Irish language jobs in Ireland
Irish Classes for Adults
Get Involved in the Movement with Conradh na Gaeilge
Conversation Circles
Irish Language Festivals
Support, services & facilities
Community
PEIG.ie Newsletter
10 Reasons to Register to our Business Directory
Supports Available for Businesses
Conversation Circles
Surnames
The Gaeltacht
Community Groups
Irish Language Centres
Organisations
Irish Language Festivals
Festivals
Irish Week / Seachtain na Gaeilge
Awareness Events
5 Tips
Irish Language Books
Irish Language Podcasts
Learn
Learning Irish
Playgroups
Irish-Medium Schools
Irish in English Speaking Schools
Irish Classes for Adults
Irish Classes
Irish Services for Schools
Terminology and Grammar Tools Online
Rights
The Official Languages ​​Act 2003 and the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language
The European Charter for Minority Languages
The 20 Year Strategy in the North
Services Available in Irish
Get Involved with Conradh na Gaeilge
Campaigns
Research and Submissions
Using Irish State Services
Irish Language Commissioner
Employment
Irish Language Careers Booklet
Irish language jobs (Europe)
Irish language jobs in Ireland
Irish Third-Level Courses
Vacancies
Information Sheet on Job Possibilities

Playgroups

This article describes what a naíonra is, where you can find them, and the main organisations that are relevant to them.


A naíonra is an Irish-medium playgroup for pre-school children (aged between 3-5 years old) that usually runs for around 2 – 3.5 hrs per day, under the instruction of the naíonra director.

The aim is to support the physical, intellectual, creative, aesthetic, social, emotional and lingual development of the child. This is done through play and the Irish language in a safe, supportive and encouraging environment.

Where is my nearest naíonra?

Naíonraí are established throughout the country. A list of the naíonraí outside the Gaeltacht is maintained by the Gaeloideachas organisation and can be found here.

Who are Gaeloideachas?

Gaeloideachas is a national, voluntary organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium education.

Founded as Gaelscoileanna in 1973 to support Irish-medium schools, primary and post-primary, outside of the Gaeltacht, the organisation’s remit now includes the provision of support services for Irish-medium schools in Gaeltacht areas, and for Irish-medium preschools outside of the Gaeltacht.

Early education services in the North

Altram is the regional support group for Irish-medium early years projects. It was founded in 1990 by local pre-schools in Derry, Belfast, Armagh and Newry. Altram supports the Irish-medium early years providers, helps improve the standard of provision in the sector and promotes the importance of the early years in Irish medium education

Early education services in the Gaeltacht

Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta provide the infrastructure for those offering early education services through Irish in the Gaeltacht. They provide administration services, support and training services for early childhood education and care services which includes naíonraí, crèches, breakfast clubs, afterschool services and parent and toddler groups in the Gaeltacht areas.

More information

Date updated: July 2023