GAIRMSCOIL Mhic Diarmada on Árainn Mhór Island celebrated its 35th birthday on Thursday with the official opening of a new garden and the launch of a new website and parents’ app.

Named after Dr Eugene McDermott who spearheaded the action committee that pursued the setting up of the school, the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) school officially opened its doors on October 8, 1990, after years of tireless campaigning by Father McDermott and the island’s parents.

Before that, young people had to leave the island at 12 years of age to attend boarding schools or mainland institutions.

The support of former Chief Executive Officer Seán Ó Longáin and the then County Donegal Vocational Education Committee (now Donegal ETB) saw the school become a reality, allowing the island’s young people to complete their second-level education whilst living at home.

Three and a half decades on, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada continues to provide high-quality education on Árainn Mhór Island.

In a remarkable shift, the long-standing pattern of students leaving the island for second-level education has now reversed, with young people from the mainland commuting daily to attend this well-resourced, bilingual school.

Its dual-language streams, Irish and English, ensure students can learn in their preferred language while preserving the island’s rich cultural heritage.

Along with strong ferry links and a vibrant local culture, Árainn Mhór has become a place where education flourishes, fostering both academic excellence and a deep sense of belonging.

Shaylyn Boyle, Jamie Gaughan, Florence Kelly, Joe Gallagher and Kaylen Devenny pictured in the new Biodiversity and Sustainable Garden as Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Árainn Mhór Island celebrated its 35th anniversary last Thursday.

Today, the school meets the needs of the local community by offering a range of programmes, including the new Junior Cycle, Transition Year, the Leaving Certificate, and the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme.

Principal of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, Ms Derval Newman, said this milestone marked a truly special moment in the life of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada.

“As we mark 35 years of providing excellence in education here on Árainn Mhór, not only to the young people of the island, but also to students who travel from the mainland, we reflect with pride on our journey so far and look ahead with renewed energy and purpose,” Ms Newman said.

“The opening of our new Biodiversity and Sustainable Garden, along with the launch of our new school website, is both symbols of growth, connection, and community.

“These milestones reflect the core values of our ETB school: care, respect, equality, community, and a commitment to educational excellence.

“We are proud to celebrate this day with the students, staff, families, and wider community who make this school what it is.”

Work began on the new garden in November 2024, as part of a biodiversity project with TG4 for its upcoming documentary series, Cúl an Tí.

Irish gardener, landscape designer, and author Mary Reynolds, the youngest contestant to win a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, designed the garden.

It was designed not just for learning, wellbeing, biodiversity, and sustainability, but also as a living space for student engagement, environmental education, and action.

It reflects the school’s growing commitment to climate action and connecting with nature.