Students attacked in Gaeltacht

[Dougal Maguire]

Eight students studying at an Irish language college in County Donegal's Gaeltacht have been assaulted by a gang of up to 20 youths.

The pupils, aged 15 and 16 and from counties Armagh and Down, were walking back to Colaiste Mhuire in Loughanure on Tuesday when they were attacked.

It is understood some had their hurleys taken off them and these were used to beat them.

Although they were treated for cuts and bruises, none had to stay in hospital.

Joint principal of the college, Donal O'Neill from Belfast, said the attack came out of the blue although in the past there had been some verbal incidents.

He said he was "absolutely at a loss" as to why the eight students had been attacked.

Mr O'Neill said the students were shocked by the attack.

"They were shaken up by it last night but they are in better form today and are looking forward to the rest of the course," he said.

"We have a good understanding with the people of Loughanure and it is unfortunate that this group of thugs are intent on attacking our students."

[fitzroyalty]

Fightin the munchies is one of the two main elements of the Loch an Iuir experience...the other being bearla.

[Gaffer]

In my day there you had Siopa Cassie to buy sweets in and the "Scotties" to box with, though in those days it was all about " Get him down by the hair and kick him in the face "

[Lecale2]

Armagh and Down? No self respecting hurler would have his hurl taken off him to get battered with.

Bad craic all the same.

[Shamrock Shore]

I hope no minor Dougal Maguires were caught up in this

[drici]

'The Gaeltacht' won't be the same with the kids having their every move watched. It'd be cat to be going to 'Gaeltachts' now and in the future, with no freedom.

Aye, a fella was telling us a couple of years ago that he was on the ordinary service bus which was stopped at Omagh bus station and The Gaeltacht got on the bus he was on as The Gaeltacht's bus had broken down.

[Pangurban]

Its time we ended this farce, sending children to the Gaeltacht. The only ones who benefit are the owners of the boarding houses. With most of the former Gaeltacht areas, now virtually anglizaised, are at best paying token service to the language for financial gain, much better work is being done by committed individuals and groups in the childrens local areas. Too much Money has been wasted on grants and other payments to these elitist areas. with little to show for it. This Money could and should be better spent, encouraging local initatives in the language preservation and revival throughout the country as a whole. The Gaeltachts are an outworn concept that are long past their sell-by date

[el_cuervo_fc]

They're some craic all the same

[Gaffer]

Was great for pulling. Even buck ugly lads who couldn't score at home managed it at the Gaeltacht.
Remember facing a thing from Bangor at Loch Manure. Massive boyos on her! Holy Jaysus! Never got near them though.
Gaeltacht chat between newly met couples "What's the food like in your house then?"

[johnneycool]

Armagh and Down? No self respecting hurler would have his hurl taken off him to get battered with.

Make a mess off the biggest lad with the first swing and hope the rest take fear, eh, hardstation!!

[Doogie Browser]

Jarlath Burns giving out yards in the paper this morning, his son was one of the lads attacked.

[NAG1]

Must have been a right soft lad that gave up his hurl to a munchie to use on them. Happen to watch a clip of Colin Lynch on youtube there a few years back. Maybe those boys should take a look at it, there would have been pile a munchies sprayed acorss the road if they have of seen it. 

On a serious note, agree with the statements above that, too long have these ungrateful b******s been propped up with grant money and good hard working families sending their kids there to spend money in the locality only to be treated like dirt.

Hopefully radical changes will be made!

[spuds]

sounds like a history of animosity towards the students from the 6. totally unacceptable what sort of standards are these locals living by if s group if older teens think it s ok to swing hurl at young bucks
real cowardly behaviour
gaeltacht grants is a completely separate issue
is irish strong in loch an iúir ?

[Gaffer]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0806/1224276309141.html