Community Links

Coláiste Iognáid
Over the last seventeen years St Joseph's has established a close relationship with Coláiste Iognáid (better known in Galway as 'The Jes'). Each year 45- 50 transition year students participate in structured activities with the pupils in St Josephs. The activities involve swimming sessions every Friday in Leisureland, a weekly art class for Senior 5 organised by eight Jes students in their school and daily lunchtime play activities in our school.
The project referred to by the Jes as 'Social Outreach' has been a great success and is mutually beneficial for students in both schools in that it affords an opportunity for them to interact in a meaningful way breaking down barriers that sometimes exist between people with and without disabilities.

Comments from transition year students
"People with disabilities are the same as everybody else.
"That’s exactly what it was like for both of us at the start, we were shy and they were shy as well, and now we are a lot more comfortable with each other".
"Even when we’re adults, it’ll definitely stay with us – how to communicate".

Comments from St Joseph's pupils
"If I saw them in the town I’d love to come up with them and spend an hour or two with them even and just walk around and have a chat as well"