Cork school scoops Irish Aid award

Vicarstown National School won the overall prize at the 2015 Irish Aid Our World Awards final with their project ‘Our World in Our Hands.

Vicarstown National School took the top prize at the 2015 Irish Aid Our World Awards final in Dublin Castle last week.

The Cork students were delighted to receive the winners’ trophy from Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, in the company of special guest, Maria Walsh, Rose of Tralee. Their project – entitled ‘Our World in Our Hands’ really impressed the judges, with a full storybook prepared on the theme ‘Caring for Our World’, and engagement with younger classes by linking the theme to the popular Disney film, ‘Frozen.’

Glencullen National School from Co. Dublin received a Special Distinction Award, recognising their excellent performance at the Irish Aid Our World Awards over the last few years.

360 pupils from 12 schools throughout Ireland reached the National Final of the Our World Awards in Dublin Castle. The national finalists were selected at four regional finals, with the judges noting that the standard in 2015 was exceptionally high. The full list of national finalists are (in alphabetical order):

The Our World Awards were established by Irish Aid in 2005 to increase primary pupils’ awareness and understanding of global development issues.

• Balbriggan Educate Together N.S., Co. Dublin
• Glór na Mara N.S., Co. Waterford
• Jones Memorial P.S., Co Fermanagh
• Lyreacrompane N.S., Co. Kerry
• Loughfouder N.S., Co. Kerry
• Mullingar Educate Together N.S., Co. Westmeath
• Naomh Eoin, Birr, Co. Offaly
• St. Patrick's N.S., Glencullen, Co. Dublin
• Scoil Naomh Pádraig, Corracrin, Co. Monaghan
• Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
• Tubberclare N.S., Co. Westmeath
• Vicarstown N.S., Co. Cork

The Awards focus in particular on the Millennium Development Goals and the work of Irish Aid, and help children to explore the links between their lives and the lives of children in developing countries.

2015 is the tenth year of the Our World Irish Aid Awards for primary schools. This year’s theme was "Caring for Our World," with a particular focus on the links between the environment, climate change and development. For more information, visit the Irish Aid Our World Awards website.

For more information on Irish Aid work with schools, visit our Teaching and Learning section.