Iarrthóirí Erasmus+ sna Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin
I Mí Mheán Fómhair 2025, cuireadh tús le tionscnamh spreagúil Erasmus+ KA210 darbh ainm Mountains For Change, tionscadal idirnáisiúnta a dhéanann iarracht feasacht a ardú maidir le turasóireacht shléibhe, athrú aeráide agus iniúchadh inbhuanaithe ar réigiúin shléibhtiúla na hEorpa. Mar a deirtear, “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine” agus is é croílár an tionscadail seo ná tíortha agus pobail éagsúla a thabhairt le chéile chun foghlaim óna chéile agus cairdeas nua a chothú.
Tá Coláiste Ghlór na Mara mar chomhordaitheoirí ar an tionscadal uaillmhianach seo agus tá muid ag obair i gcomhar lenár gcairde i Reithmannschule, Innsbruck na hOstaire, chomh maith le AEFH i nGuimarães na Portaingéile. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an tionscnamh tuiscint níos fearr a thabhairt do dhaoine óga ar thábhacht na hinbhuanaitheachta, na timpeallachta agus an chaidrimh idir daoine agus an nádúr.
Ag tús an tionscadail, thaistil Múinteoirí Cian, Róisín agus Gavin go hInnsbruck chun na pleananna a chur le chéile agus bunchloch láidir a leagan síos don chomhoibriú idir an trí scoil. Bhí sléibhte maorga na hOstaire mar chúlra acu agus iad ag plé smaointe, ag eagrú imeachtaí agus ag ullmhú clár a thabharfadh deis do dhaltaí ó gach tír taithí shaibhir Eorpach a fháil.
I Mí Feabhra, d’fhill an tionscadal ar Innsbruck arís nuair a thaistil Múinteoirí Eimear Curtin agus Niamh, in éineacht le cúigear daltaí Éireannacha, chun bualadh lena gcomhpháirtithe ón Ostair agus ón bPortaingéil. Ní hamháin gur foghlaim acadúil a bhí i gceist, ach deis cairdeas, muinín agus comhthuiscint a chothú idir daoine óga ó chultúir éagsúla. “Is fearr cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán” agus ba léir go raibh cairdis nua ag fás go nádúrtha idir na daltaí ón gcéad lá.
An tseachtain seo caite, tháinig sé inár seal féin fáilte mhór Ghaelach a chur roimh ár gcairde Eorpacha anseo in Éirinn agus, chun an fhírinne a rá, nach orainn a bhí an t-ádh cuairteoirí chomh lách, dea-bhéasach agus fuinniúil a bheith inár measc. Bhí beocht agus spraoi le sonrú i ngach áit agus cairdeas nua á chruthú ó mhaidin go hoíche.
Cuireadh clár iontach imeachtaí le chéile don tseachtain agus ní raibh aon lá cosúil leis an lá roimhe. I measc na mbuaicphointí; bhí turas isteach go croílár Bhaile Átha Cliath, áit ar bhain na daltaí taitneamh as stair agus cultúr na príomhchathrach; oíche scannánaíochta i Rang Lir; dreapadh sléibhe i gCill Mhantáin, áit ar ghlac na daltaí dúshlán fisiciúil rompu agus iad timpeallaithe ag áilleacht nádúrtha na tíre; agus siúlóid álainn feadh aillte Chlochán an Aifir, áit a raibh radhairc iontacha den fharraige agus den chósta le feiceáil.
Níor stop an eachtraíocht ansin. Thug an grúpa aghaidh ar Bhéal Feirste chun níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi stair agus faoi chultúr an oileáin, agus níos déanaí sa tseachtain, bhí lá lán d’fhuinneamh agus d’eachtraíocht acu agus iad ag cadhcáil faoi scáth shléibhte Chúaille i gCarlainn, Co. Lú. Mar chríoch speisialta ar an tseachtain, thug siad aghaidh trasna na dtonnta chuig Oileán Mhic Neasáin amach ó Bhinn Éadair — áit ina raibh draíocht agus suaimhneas na farraige le mothú go láidir.
Le linn an ranga Erasmus+ ag deireadh na seachtaine, luaigh roinnt de na daltaí gur i measc na laethanta ba dheise agus ba chuimhneacháiní dá raibh acu riamh a bhí an tseachtain seo. Agus ní haon ionadh é sin. Taobh amuigh de na himeachtaí oifigiúla, bhí na cuimhní beaga neamhfhoirmiúla chomh tábhachtach céanna — daltaí ag léimt ón gcéibh i Ros Eo faoi ghrian an tráthnóna; iasc agus sceallóga á n-ithe acu ar thrá na hInse; siúlóidí fada cois farraige i mBaile Brigín; agus ar ndóigh, cóisir tí mhór i Steach Maoilín lán le ceol, damhsa agus gáire. Mar a deirtear, “Bíonn siúlach scéalach” agus is cinnte go mbeidh neart scéalta agus cuimhní á n-insint faoin tseachtain seo go ceann i bhfad.
Ní neart go cur le chéile agus ní bheadh an tionscadal seo indéanta gan obair agus díograis na múinteoirí agus na gcomhpháirtithe go léir. Míle buíochas le Múinteoirí Cian, Róisín, Niamh, Emer, Danielle agus Ella a thug aire den scoth do na daltaí agus do na cuairteoirí le linn na seachtaine. Buíochas ó chroí freisin lenár gcairde i Reithmannschule agus AEFH a rinne an turas chomh speisialta, cairdiúil agus fiúntach sin. Tá sé soiléir anois go mbeidh cairdeas agus comhpháirtíochtaí láidre ag fás ón tionscadal seo ar feadh i bhfad amach anseo.
Ní féidir linn fanacht chun ár gcairde a fheiceáil arís i Mí Mheán Fómhair don chéad thuras eile nGuimarães na Portaingéile. Cuirfear deireadh leis an togra ansin i Mí na Nollag, agus muid ag bualadh le polaiteoirí ón trí thír chun ár dtorthaí a chur in iúl dóibh i bParlaimint na hEorpa sa Bhruiséil.
In September 2025, an exciting Erasmus+ KA210 initiative called Mountains For Change began — an international project that aims to raise awareness about mountain tourism, climate change, and the sustainable exploration of Europe’s mountainous regions. As the Irish proverb says, “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine” (“People live in one another’s shadow” / “We depend on one another”), and at the heart of this project is the idea of bringing different countries and communities together to learn from one another and to foster new friendships.
Coláiste Ghlór na Mara are coordinating this ambitious project, working in partnership with Reithmannschule, Austria as well as AEFH, our longstanding Portuguese partner school. The initiative aims to give young people a deeper understanding of sustainability, the environment, and the relationship between people and nature.
At the beginning of the project, Múinteoirí Cian, Róisín and Gavin travelled to Innsbruck to put plans in place and lay a strong foundation for cooperation between the three schools. Surrounded by the majestic Austrian mountains, they exchanged ideas, organised activities, and designed a programme that would provide students from each country with a rich European experience.
In February, the project returned to Innsbruck when Múinteoirí Eimear Curtin and Niamh, accompanied by five Irish students, travelled to meet their partners from Austria and Portugal. It was not only an academic learning experience, but also an opportunity to build friendship, trust, and mutual understanding among young people from different cultures. As the proverb says, “Is fearr cara sa chúirt ná punt sa sparán” (“A friend in court is better than a pound in the purse”), and it was clear from the very first day that new friendships were forming naturally between the students.
Last week, it was our turn to extend a warm Irish welcome to our European friends here in Ireland and, truth be told, we were incredibly lucky to have such kind, polite, and energetic visitors among us. There was a wonderful sense of life and fun everywhere, with new friendships forming from morning until night.
An outstanding programme of activities was organised for the week and no two days were alike. Among the highlights were a trip into the heart of Dublin, where the students enjoyed the history and culture of the capital city; a movie night in Rang Lir; mountain climbing in County Wicklow, where students embraced a physical challenge surrounded by the country’s natural beauty; and a beautiful walk along the cliffs of The Giant's Causeway, where breathtaking views of the sea and Scottish and Irish coastlines could be seen.
The adventure did not stop there. The group travelled to Belfast to learn more about the history and culture of the island, and later in the week they enjoyed a day full of energy and adventure while kayaking beneath the shadow of the Cooley Mountains in Carlingford. As a special finale to the week, they crossed the waves to Ireland's Eye off the coast of Howth — a place where the magic and tranquillity of the sea could truly be felt.
During the Erasmus+ class at the end of the week, several students remarked that this had been among the happiest and most memorable experiences of their lives. And that is no surprise. Beyond the official events, the small informal moments were just as important — students jumping from the pier in Rush beneath the evening sunshine; eating fish and chips on the beach in Laytown; taking long walks by the sea in Balbriggan; and of course, a fun-filled house party in Stamullen filled with music, dancing, and laughter. As the saying goes, “Bíonn siúlach scéalach” (“Travellers have stories”), and there will certainly be many stories and memories from this week shared for a long time to come.
“Ní neart go cur le chéile” (“There is no strength without unity”), and this project would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of all the teachers and partners involved. Sincere thanks to Múinteoirí Cian, Róisín, Niamh, Emer, Danielle and Ella, who took excellent care of the students and visitors throughout the week. Heartfelt thanks also to our friends in Reithmannschule and AEFH, who made the trip so special, friendly, and worthwhile. It is already clear that strong friendships and partnerships will continue to grow from this project for many years to come.
We cannot wait to see our friends again in September for the next trip to Guimarães in Portugal. The project will conclude in December, when we will meet politicians from all three countries to present our findings in the European Parliament in Brussels.
