Dunmanway pupils win national award with water kids project

FIFTH and sixth class students from St Mary’s Senior School in Dunmanway have been named national winners of the Inland Fisheries Ireland’s ‘Something Fishy’ competition.

The students received the award and a €700 prize for their class project ‘The Wonderful Water Kids Show’. 

Their innovative entry comprised a digital and artistic interpretation of the water theme, presented through a video format.

Local Fine Gael TDs Jim Daly and Noel Harrington congratulated the students while presenting the perpetual award to the students on behalf of Joe McHugh, Minister for Natural Resources.

School principal Mairead Twohig was congratulated by local Labour TD Michael McCarthy at the ceremony. ‘I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the students of St Mary’s Senior School, who have demonstrated their excellent understanding of water and its huge importance in the world in their project,’ she said.

Aimed at fifth and sixth class students at primary level, the programme is based on the life cycle of salmon and gets students to explore, water, fish, fish stocks, angling, conservation of rivers and lakes and fish as part of the food chain. As well as class-based work, Inland Fisheries Ireland fishery officers take students into the ‘field’ to get hands-on experience of their work. 

A comprehensive set of resources for teachers and children is available on www.somethingfishy.ie.

Schools interested in participating in the 2015/16 programme should contact their local Education Centre for details.

Something Fishy is a project aimed at fifth and sixth classes in primary schools based on the SESE Curriculum. It aims to create awareness of the fisheries’ resource and to highlight the importance of the children’s local environment and fishery habitat.  

This year’s winning entry can be viewed online at: www.somethingfishy.ie/blog.html