Colaiste Ghobnatan
Colaiste Ghobnatan is an all Irish school in the Muskerry Gaeltacht. There are approximately 200 students and 20 teachers, and a great emphasis is placed on speaking Irish throughout the school.
Catchment area
The students of the school come from a variety of national schools, including Ballyvourney, Killnamartyra, Cúil Aodha (Coolea), Reanaree, Clondrohid, Glenflesk and Killarney. Formerly, some students came from Kilgarvan national school, but with the opening of Pobal Scoil Inbhearscéine, they reduced until they were no more.
History
The school opened in the 1940s as a school for boys. Within 30 years, it was also accepting girls from the area. In the 1980s, a huge blow came to the community when the other school, Colaiste Íosagán, closed. This boosted pupil numbers in Colaiste Ghobnatan.
Sport
The school places a great emphasis on sports. During physical education classes, a variety of sports is played including Gaelic football, hurling, hockey, soccer, rugby, basketball, dodgeball and volleyball. In 2009, the school's senior Gaelic football team reached the VEC B Football Championship. It went to the All-Ireland semi-final in Killmallock, Co. Limerick, where it was beaten by Granard. The school's team was led by Kerryman, Gudence councillor and former Limerick football county manager Mickey O'Sullivan and a fellow Kerryman and woodwork teacher Shane Dennehey.