Griffith College Honours Joe Duffy
Pictured at Griffith College’s South Circular Road Campus in Dublin are Professor Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College, and Mr. Joe Duffy. Mr Duffy, one of the country’s leading broadcasters, received a Distinguished Fellowship Award at the College’s graduation ceremony in recognition of his public service contribution in Ireland. Griffith College, Ireland’s largest private higher…
Michael
“We are witnessing the death of small talk among our young people”
“If I had one message for education policy makers and the upcoming national convention on the future of education in Ireland, it would be a blanket ban of smart phones across our schools.” That’s according to family psychotherapist, Dr Richard Hogan, the keynote speaker at the annual congress of Education and Training Boards Ireland which…
Survey seeks views on multi-denominational, co-educational and Irish-medium education
The Primary Schools Survey 2030 is now open for parents to have their say on the future of primary education in Ireland. The survey is designed to get a broader view from the Irish public on the patronage of schools in Ireland. The survey will be online and some 493,000 households will be invited to…
The renaming of Dublin’s further education colleges needs a rethink
By Niall Gormley The desire to increase the prestige of education institutions is valid. We have had the evolution of the Institutions of Technology into Technological Universities with new amalgamations creating advantages of scale and identity. In Dublin the creation of TU Dublin by putting IT Blanchardstown, IT Tallaght and the many parts of DIT…
New principles to help young children in the arts launched
A new set of principles aimed at helping teachers, parents and carers guide young children into engagement with the arts have been published. Principles for Engaging with the Arts: a Guide for Early Learning and Care and School-age Childcare was launched by Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for…
Irelands Primary Education Revolution – A New Curriculum For A New Generation
Irish primary schools have embarked on their most significant transformation in over a generation with the launch of the redeveloped curriculum in September 2025. The focus on the new curriculum will be on fun, active and hands-on learning, designed to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future. The new curriculum is based…
Can mentoring change the future for young people in trouble?
Le Chéile Mentoring uses volunteer mentors to change outcomes By Josephine Gibney, Le Chéile Mentoring Le Chéile Mentoring was founded in Coolock in 2005 to support young people involved in, or at risk of, offending. What began as Ireland’s first pilot mentoring programme, developed in partnership with the Probation Service, has grown into a national…
The Back To School Clothing And Footwear Allowance – Now Open For Applications
Ensure your children are prepared for the new school year with this vital support. Find out if you’re eligible and if so how much you qualify for. Read on for key dates and information for 2025. Automatic Payments Good news! Over 114,000 families will automatically receive the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance this month. You…
Susan McKay interview – A referee for a free press
Susan McKay was appointed Press Ombudsman in 2022 at a time of enormous change for the traditional press. Niall Gormley spoke to her about her role. Susan McKay is well known in journalist and writing circles for her reporting and commentary in Ireland over the past 30 years. Born in Derry, she studied at Trinity College…
Universal by design – Interview with Dara Ryder, CEO of Ahead
Imagine a teacher in a classroom turns to the blackboard and writes in text this size. The students would need binoculars to read what’s on the board. Then the teacher relents and writes in text the size of the headline. Now half the students can read it. So the ones with 20:20 vision are moved…
What are Standardised Tests?
Standardised testing are tests that children take in Primary School. They begin in May/June for all children in 2nd class, 4th class and 6th class, but many schools use these tests in other classes as well. STen tests are exams that measure the level of the child in English and Irish reading and maths. They…
How To Get The Right Balance Between Online & Offline Activities For Children
In today’s digital age, Screens are integral to children’s lives for education, entertainment, and socialisation. Excessive screen time can negatively impact physical health, mental well-being, and overall development. Read on to explore some strategies for managing screen time effectively to maintain a healthy balance between online and offline activities. 1. Set Clear Screen Time Limits…
The Lir Academy Launches Acting Courses for Young Performers
Youth Academy is back! Join us in 2025 for our Youth Academy courses that is perfect for any young people eager to take the stage 🎭 Our acting courses are available for 15-17 and 12-14-year-olds – a great opportunity for students to learn acting skills in voice, movement, improvisation, whilst also concentrating on fun and play. We are also…
Believing in people instead of just believing
Interview with Emer Dillon, Humanist Celebrant – by Niall Gormley Emer Dillon describes her background as traditional Irish. Born in 1960. Educated by nuns. Went through all the stages: baptism, communion, confirmation, marriage. No, not marriage. By the time marriage came round Emer had turned away from the religion of her youth and had embarked…
Back To School Tips
Whether your child is just beginning primary school or pre school, or starting into a new school year as a returning student, there’s plenty that can be done to prepare for the school year ahead, including checking in about their anxieties and concerns. As Summer holidays wind down, it’s totally natural for kids to experience nervousness…
Minister Foley Launches New Anti-Bullying Initiatives In Irish Schools
Schools haven’t been “open enough” about the issue of bullying, Education Minister Norma Foley said as she unveiled new plans aimed at tackling the issue. She stated that schools and the Department Of Education would need to work harder if a child was not being included and was unhappy. New guidelines have been issued saying…
A Second Year Of Free School Books For Primary Schools
Norma Foley (Minister for Education) has announced details of the second year of the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme which provides free school books to children in primary schools and special schools. More than 563,000 pupils in approximately 3,230 primary schools, (including over 130 special schools) will continue to benefit from this scheme. This initiative will continue…
Professor Diarmuid Hegarty interview
Griffith College maturing with age Griffith College is marking its 50th year in 2024. Founder Professor Diarmuid Hegarty spoke to Niall Gormley about the background to the college, its somewhat fractious relationship with the state, attitudes to private provision and access to education. Over 40,000 students have passed through the corridors of Griffith College’s various…
Matt Cooper interview – more than a business beat
By Niall Gormley Matt Cooper has just published his sixth book and completed a 20 year run anchoring The Last Word drivetime show. Asked what surprised him in writing the book Who really owns Ireland? he launches enthusiastically into the story of how massive amounts of money have changed hands, how the bankrupt have bounced…
World Book Day 2024 – LÁ DOMHANDA NA LEABHAR ÉIRE
World Book Day is back for its 25th year of promoting books and the love of reading to all. What’s it all about? World Book Day is a registered charity aiming to give every child a book of their own. It was started by UNESCO in 1995 to celebrate books and authors and to encourage…