Five Kerry schools in Creative Ireland pilot

FIVE Kerry schools will be fully embracing their creative side come September after being chosen among 150 schools across the country to trial a new creative scheme.

The schools chosen to take part in the pilot Creative Ireland Programme in Kerry are Faha N.S. in Killarney, Fybough N.S in Tralee, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine in Kenmare, Presentation Primary School in Tralee and Scoil Eoin Balloonagh in Tralee.

The pilot scheme will start in the new term.

Launched earlier this year by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton and Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan, the programme is a central initiative of the Government’s Creative Ireland Programme. Tts role is to engage young people with the arts and creativity.

Speaking about the programme, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan said: “This pilot initiative will develop and celebrate the arts and creativity in our schools.

“It will establish a range of collaborative opportunities for schools and will develop and strengthen the relationships between schools and the broader cultural and community infrastructure here in Kerry and further afield.”

The 150 schools were chosen from 400 applicants. In their application, schools had to explain how their participation would support learning and development in the arts and creativity as a Creative School.

The long-term aim is for every school nationwide to have the opportunity to participate in the programme. Creative Schools is part of the Creative Ireland Programme, the collaborative initiative of the Department of Education and Skills, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht led by the Arts Council.