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Dr. Breandán Mac Gearailt

Dr. Breandán Mac Gearailt

Assistant Professor, Education

Biography

Breandán Mac Gearailt is an Assistant Professor in Irish Language Education. He specialises in the areas of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education, language teaching and learning, language acquisition and teacher professional learning. His doctoral research focused on language-sensitive teaching in Irish-medium secondary immersion contexts.He designs, coordinates, and delivers a number of modules for the Máistreacht san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta. He also works on the Dioplóma Iarchéime sa Ghaeilge do Mhúinteoirí, an upskilling programme for qualified teachers. Previously, he worked as a Lecturer in Education in the University of Galway where he contributed to the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (an Irish-medium initial teacher education programme). He is currently involved in ACT-AI, a three-year Erasmus project that focuses on the challenges and opportunities of AI in education. In conjunction with COGG, ETBI and Oide he designs and delivers, a professional learning programme for secondary immersion teachers. Breandán has authored numerous academic works in addition to presenting at academic conferences in Ireland and internationally. He has also worked on qualitative research reports for the NCCA and other state agencies. He collaborates extensively with educational support organizations such as COGG, Oide, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and ETBI in the area of teacher professional learning for teachers. Is Ollamh Cúnta le hOideachas Gaeilge i Scoil an Oideachais é Breandán Mac Gearailt. Siad na réimsí spéise atá aige ná: an t-oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta, teagasc agus foghlaim teangacha, sealbhú teanga, agus foghlaim ghairmiúil múinteoirí. Dhírigh a thaighde dochtúireachta ar an teagasc teanga-íogair in iar-bhunscoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Déanann sé modúil a dhearadh, a stiúradh agus a theagasc don Mháistreacht san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Chomh maith leis sin bíonn sé ag obair ar an Dioplóma Iarchéime sa Ghaeilge do Mhúinteoirí; clár uasoiliúna do mhúinteoirí cáilithe. Roimhe seo, d"oibrigh sé mar Léachtóir san Oideachas in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, áit a raibh sé ag obair ar an Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (clár in oiliúint tosaigh múinteoirí).Tá sé páirteach sa chomhghuaillíocht ACT-AI, tionscadal Erasmus trí bliana a dhíríonn ar dhúshláin agus ar dheiseanna na hintleachta saorga san oideachas. Ag obair i gcompháirt le ETBI, COGG agus Oide tá clár foghlama gairmiúil do mhúinteoirí tumoideachais iar-bhunscoile deartha agus á reáchtáil aige. Tá roinnt saothar acadúil foilsithe ag Breandán agus tá cuir i láthair déanta aige ag comhdhálacha acadúla in Éirinn agus thar lear. Lena chois sin d"oibrigh sé ar thuairiscí taighde cáilíochtúla don Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta agus do ghníomhaireachtaí stáit eile. Bíonn sé ag comhoibriú go forleathan le heagraíochtaí oideachais amhail an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, Comhaire na Gaelscolaíochta, OIDE, agus ETBI i réimse na foghlama gairmiúla do mhúinteoirí.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Mac Ruairc, Gerry; Murray, Clíona, SIOF: Towards a research-based pedagogical tool for language sensitive teaching in secondary CLIL and immersion settings, Journal of Immersion and Content-Based Language Education, 12, (1), 2024, p75 - 100Journal Article, 2024, DOI
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Mac Ruairc, Gerry; Murray, Clíona, Actualising Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in Irish-medium education; why, how and why now?, Irish Educational Studies, 41, (1), 2021, p39 - 57Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • Davitt, Emer; Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Mac Ruairc, Gerry, Timing of Leaving Certificate oral examinations: Multisite case study - Opinions and perspectives of parents, students, teachers and school management, The State Examinations Commission, 2024Report, 2024
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, The lived experiences of secondary Irish-medium immersion teachers: An examination of language-sensitive teaching in content areas, University of Galway, 2025Thesis, 2025, URL
  • Davitt, Emer; Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Concannon, Fiona; Mac Ruairc, Gerry; Molcho, Michal, Timing of the Leaving Certificate oral examinations: Opinions and perspectives of parents, students, teachers, examiners and schools, State Examinations Commission, 2024Report, 2024, URL
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Scáthanna staile: Léamh ar shaothar Phádraig Ua Mhaoileoin, University of Galway, 2001Thesis, 2001, URL
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Davitt, Emer: Mac Ruairc, Gerry; Concannon, Fiona, Taking up contract roles with the State Examinations Commission: Report on the opinions of teachers, examiners and school leaders, State Examinations Commission, 2024Report, 2024
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Davitt, Emer; Murray, Clíona; Westerwald, G, Analysis of the surveys and the written submissions on the draft specification for Leaving Certificate Irish (L1 and L2)/Anailís ar na suirbhéanna agus aighneachtaí scríofa ar dhréachtsonraíochtaí Gaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta (T1 agus T2), 2023Report, 2023, URL
  • The role of remote observation in the professional learning of student teachers and novice placement tutors in, editor(s)Marcus-Quinn Ann Hourigan, Tríona , Handbook for online learning contexts: Digital, mobile and open, Springer, 2021, pp327 - 338, [Mac Mahon, Brendan; Ó Grádaigh, Seán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad; Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Davitt, Emer]Book Chapter, 2021, DOI
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Cuir chuige roinne agus uile-scoile don teagasc ábharbhunaithe, Literacy Association of Ireand: 48th Annual Conference, Dublin, 8-9 November, 2024Conference Paper, 2024
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, The development of a pedagogical tool for CLIL: Research and practice, European Conference on Educational Research, Nicosia, Cyprus, 26-30 August, 2024Conference Paper, 2024
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, SIOF: Uirlis oideolaíoch don teagasc teanga-íogair in iar-bhunscoileanna tumoideachais, Tumoideachas: Súil Siar agus Súil ar Aghaidh, Luimneach, 10-11 Meitheamh, 2022Conference Paper, 2022
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, 'Scaoil leis an gCaid agus an Saol Eile', Conamara, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 1999, -Fiction and creative prose
  • Mac Gearailt, 'Scaoil leis an gCaid', Coiscéim, 2003, -Fiction and creative prose
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Dúthaigh Duibhneach, Baile Átha Cliath, Coiscéim, 2004Book
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, CINE4 - Na gaiscí agus na dúshláin, Comhar, 83, (2), 2023, p9 - 11Journal Article, URL
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Ocht gceist do TG4, Comhar, 81, (10), 2021, p14 - 17Journal Article, URL
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé, Comhar, 73, (9), 2013, p28 - 28Journal Article, URL
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, An Múnla SIOF agus comhoibriú foirne, 26 Meán Fómhair, 2025, Coláiste FeirsteInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Dea-chleachtais an tumoideachais: An Múnla SIOF, Béal Feirste, 10 Eanáir, 2025, Comhairle na GaelscolaíochtaInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Dea-chleachtais an tumoideachais: An Múnla SIOF, An Daingean, Co. Chiarraí, 2025, Pobalscoil Chorca DhuibhneInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Taithí an mhúinteora tumoideachais: Coimhlint, comhoibriú agus dul chun cinn, Comhdháil Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Béal Feirste, 20 Meán Fómhair, 2024, Comhairle na GaelscolaíochtaInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, An t-ionchur sa teanga sa suíomh tumoideachais, Comhdháil Chomhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, Béal Feirste, 20 Meán Fómhair, 2024, Comhairle na GaelscolaíochtaInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Aischur teanga agus aiseolas, Gaillimh, 9 Feabhra, 2024, Coláiste na CoiribeInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Ionchur teanga sa seomra ranga tumoideachais, Gaillimh, 9 Samhain, 2023, Coláiste na CoiribeInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Scafláil teanga sa seomra ranga tumoideachais, Gaillimh, 25 Lúnasa, 2023, Coláiste na CoiribeInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Scéim Phíolótach CLIL - Lá 2, Port Laoise, 10 Eanáir, 2024, OideInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Scéim Phíolótach CLIL - Lá 1, Port Laoise, 10 Deireadh Fómhair, 2023, OideInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Dea-chleachtais an tumoideachais d'oideoirí na n-oideoirí, Inis, 25 Deireadh Fómhair, 2023, OideInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Ní Ghuidhir, Sinéad, Cur chuige uile-scoile don FCÁT, Seimineáir BOOÉ, Ar líne, 11 Bealtaine, 2023, Education and Training Boards IrelandInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Bunphrionsabail an FCÁT, Ar líne, 21 Deireadh Fómhair, 2022, Junior Cycle for TeachersInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Acmhainní idirghníomhacha ar líne d"fhilíocht na Sraithe Sóisearaí: Réasúnaíocht agus cur chuige, Tionól Forbartha Gaeloideachas, Corcaigh, 5 Bealtaine, 2022, GaeloideachasInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Intinní foghlama teanga agus scafláil an aschuir sa suíomh lán-Ghaeilge, Seimineár Teanga: An Chigireacht, Ar líne, 2021, The Inspectorate/An ChigireachtInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Remote observation in teacher education, NISE Research Seminar, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, 13 February, 2020, National Institute for Studies in EducationInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Acmhainní praiticiúla agus spreagúla le Gaeilge na Sraithe Sóisearaí a mhúineadh san iar-bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta, Seimineár Gaeloideachas, Ar líne, 10 Samhain, 2020, GaeloideachasInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Davitt, Emer, Ábhar ó dúchas.ie sa seomra ranga Gaeilge: Réasúnaíocht agus cur chuige, Tionól Forbartha Gaeloideachas, Corcaigh, 15 Samhain, 2019, GaeloideachasInvited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán, Acmhainní éifeachtacha agus nuálacha don seomra ranga iar-bhunleibhéil, Tionól Forbartha Gaeloideachas, Gaillimh, 16 Samhain, 2018Invited Talk
  • Mac Gearailt, Breandán; Davitt, Emer, Excellence through collaborative leadership and management, CSL Seminar, 2019, Centre for School LeadershipInvited Talk

Research Expertise

The following are Breandán's research interests: Immersion education, Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), teacher education and professional learning, teacher language knowledge, technology in education, Artificial Intelligence in education, language teaching and learning, language acquisition, Irish in the education system, education and policy in the Gaeltacht

  • Title
    ACT-AI Academy: European Academy for Teachers' Skills and Competences Development for an Effective AI Integration in Education
    Summary
    ACT-AI Academy aims to establish a pan European academy for student-teachers, in-service teachers, and school leaders, focusing on equipping and/or upskilling them with the competences required to utilise AI effectively and ethically within the educational context, as well as part of their professional engagement. Additionally, the project aims to raise awareness about the potential benefits of AI for enhancing educational outcomes and supporting the holistic development of students while addressing societal and ethical challenges. It seeks to increase awareness within the educational community and advocate for policy recommendations to ensure the responsible and equitable integration of AI in education.
    Funding Agency
    European Commission
    Date From
    1/4/2025
    Date To
    31/3/2028

Recognition

  • Teaching Council