Kildare gaelscoil celebrates fundraising success for new ASD classroom

CURRAGH Irish school Gaelscoil Chill Dara officially opened a newly developed autism class fitted with a new sensory room, Rang Zoe, following a year of dedicated work and extraordinary community support that raised over €13,500.

The school were delighted to invite Adam Harris, founder of AsIAm and a prominent autism advocate, who officiated the opening on Friday, May 16.

The class, named after its teacher Zoe in keeping with the school’s tradition of naming classes after their múinteoir, opened in September 2024 and has already made a significant impact.

“We’ve been trying to develop this class for several years,” said the school’s principal, Niamh Ui Chadhla.

“Last year we got the green light, and the class now has six wonderful children. We also have two SNAs supporting the children and a beautifully reconfigured classroom, thanks to the Department of Education.” However, while the Department funded the refurbishment of the classroom, more funds were needed to fully equip the classroom to meet the needs of the students. This gap led the school to begin fundraising on March 18, 2025."

One of the major fundraisers was a unique virtual run called "From Dingle to Errigal," where staff, students, and the wider community collectively ran or walked over 509 kilometers – the distance between the two points.

Children ran daily at school, and one teacher physically began the route in Dingle, while another finished in Errigal during the Easter break.

“The children in Rang Zoe actually came up with the idea,” said the principal. 

“They said, ‘Everyone loves to run or walk, let’s do this.’ It became a community-wide event that involved schools and families across Kildare and beyond.” 

Thanks to donations, raffles, and the virtual run, the school raised nearly €13,500 – a sum that has already covered a shortfall in funding for a new sensory room.

The funds are also helping to cover technology needs for the children. 

While the government provided €6,000 for technology, €4,000 of that was used for an interactive whiteboard, leaving only €2,000 for devices. 

The school hopes to buy tailored tablets for each child equipped with individualised programs such as speech-to-text tools, communication apps, or educational software.

The school’s next goal is to enhance the outdoor area with covered spaces so the children can enjoy the outdoors year-round.

“The current climbing frame is only suitable for older children. We'd like something safer and more fun for the junior infants and first class pupils, and maybe even a sheltered space so they can be outside even in poor weather.” 

The opening ceremony will be a low-key celebration, with a ribbon-cutting, cake, and a few performances by older children.

The school has already garnered media attention from TG4, KFM, and local press, and the story has resonated widely. 

“We’ve had support from the Curragh, Newbridge, even Dingle and Gweedore. We’ve learned so much – not just how to support autistic children better, but how to be more inclusive as a school.” 

Rang Zoe is a full immersion class, operating through the Irish language like the rest of the school. Despite common misconceptions, the school emphasises that autistic children can thrive in bilingual settings.

“Research now shows that bilingualism can benefit neurodiverse learners. It’s wonderful to see them learning Irish just like their peers,” said Niamh.

The success of Rang Zoe has inspired the school to continue its fundraising tradition next year, potentially with another virtual run.

Reflecting on the past year, the principal added, “It’s been a huge learning experience. We’ve grown more knowledgeable and more aware, and that’s made us better at supporting all children. The more we learn, the more we realise how much more there is to learn.”