Féilte Bursary Scheme 2024 – Successful Applications

Ballinakill National School in Co. Laois has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Abbeyleix South National School, Laois to form a professional learning community to support the teaching of music through Irish. This project aims to increase the exposure of learners to Irish by extending the use of Irish as a medium of communication and instruction in real contexts beyond discrete Irish language lessons.  

Ballymoney National School, Ballineen, Co. Cork, has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Kilgarriffe National School, to introduce restorative practice to both schools as well as professional learning in the area of teaching and learning for Autistic pupils. This project aims to increase teachers’ understanding of autism, improving teachers’ ability to implement effective teaching strategies for autistic students, while enhancing communication and collaboration between teachers, students, and their families. 

Beaufort College, Navan, Co. Meath, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with three schools* to establish a Professional Learning Community for wellbeing and anti-bullying. This project aims to foster collaboration and innovation among teachers to address wellbeing, and hidden bullying, promote inclusion, and enhance psychological safety in schools.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Presentation Secondary School , Co. Kerry 

• Eureka Secondary School , Co. Meath 

• Scoil Naomh Eoin , Co. Meath

Bishop McEgan College, Macroom, Co. Cork, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Coláiste Ghobnatan, Scoil Mhuire, St. Brogan’s College, and Youthreach, to focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence into education. This project aims to support initiatives that foster innovation & professional development in education, empowering educators to keep pace with advancements in technology, in line with the Department of Education’s Digital Strategy to 2027.   

Castlebridge National School, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Curracloe National School to establish a community of practice for an anti-bullying policy review. This project aims to develop whole school community understanding of a whole education approach to bullying prevention in the Irish school setting (UNESCO World Anti-Bullying Forum 2021).  

Castletroy College, Co. Limerick, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with the University of Limerick, and six schools*, to create an agreed framework for student teachers on school placement. This project aims to create a partnership model involving teachers, student teachers, schools and teacher educators, to maintain and improve teaching standards and support Treoraí as mentors of student teachers on school placement.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Kilkee Community College  

• Killaloe Community College  

• Colaiste Mhuire Askeaton  

• Ennis Community College   

• Raheenwood Community National School   

• Limerick Community Special School  

Cork Educate Together, Wellington Road, Cork City, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with DCU, and five schools*, to create a collaborative network of SPHE teachers. This project aims to increase awareness of the importance of whole school approaches to SPHE through creative and arts-based interventions, encouraging cross-sectoral collaborations between teachers, students, and other key stakeholders, such as teacher education leads and national organisations of strategic relevance.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Larkin Community College , Dublin

• Dominican College , Dublin 

• Newbridge College, Co. Kildare  

• St Anne’s School , Co. Clare

• St Mary’s Secondary School , Dublin

Crannóg Nua School, Portrane, Co. Dublin has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Ballydowd Special School to establish a community of practice for an anti-bullying policy review in line with the Bí Cineálta procedures. This project aims to foster shared learning, promote consistency, and enhance the implementation of effective anti-bullying strategies in their respective schools.  

Dalkey School Project, Dublin, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Blackrock Education Centre, and three schools*, to create a professional learning programme for teachers in the area of nature based learning (NBL). This project aims to support teachers to provide NBL for children in different primary school settings, enabling children to lead their play and learning in nature as an integral part of their education and healthy development.  

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Monkstown Educate Together National School  

• Dun Laoghaire Educate Together  

• Sallynoggin Killiney ETNS  

Drumlease National School, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Kilglass NS, Co. Sligo, and Ballyheeda NS, Co. Cork, to teach Mathematics through Gaeilge, using a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach. This project aims to increase teachers’ understanding of pedagogical principles underpinning CLIL, while extending pupils’ use of Gaeilge as a medium of communication and instruction in real contexts beyond discrete Gaeilge language lessons.   

East Cork Community Special School, Carrigtwohill in Cork has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Rochestown Community Special School, Cork to establish a professional learning community. This project aims to establish a culture of conversation and collaboration between the schools, fostering professional learning and peer support among teachers around shared practice, identifying current best practice approaches in the field of special education.  

Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Rathfarnham, Dublin, has been awarded €3,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate DCU, and thirteen schools*, to promote the teaching of Music through Irish. This project aims to create a network of music educators committed and develop a continuum of support to enhance leadership in music education, sharing best practices and resources for choral and ensemble music education in Irish-medium schools.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Coláiste Cois Life , Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath 

• Coláiste Pobail Ráth Chairn , Co. na Mí

• Gaelcholáiste Reachrann , Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath 

• Colaiste na Coiribe , Co. na Gaillimhe

• Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara , Co. Chill Dara

• Meánscoil San Nioclás , Co. Phort Láirge

• Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin , Co na Gaillimhe

• Coláiste Charraig Uí Leighin , Co. Chorcaí

• Gaelcholáiste an Chláir , Co. an Chláir

• Gairmscoil Chú Uladh , Co. Dhún na nGall

• Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad , Co. Chill Dara

• Coláiste Chillian , Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath

• Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne , Co. Chiarraí

Glenasmole National School, Bohernabreena, Co. Dublin has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Saint Martin’s National School, Dublin, to introduce zones of regulation in both schools. This project aims to enhance inclusive education by strengthening staff capacity to meet diverse student needs through practical strategies, aligning with the Wellbeing Framework for Practice.  

Le Chéile National School, Roxboro Road, Limerick, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with University of Limerick and three collaborating schools*, to support a collaborative professional development programme for teachers who work in four communities in the top five most disadvantaged in the state. This project aims to foster a collaborative professional learning culture, enhancing teaching practices, and inclusive strategies, leading to more inclusive, engaging educational outcomes.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• St Mary’s NS  

• Our Lady Queen of Peace  

• Our Lady of Lourdes NS  

Newport College, Black Rd., Newport, Co. Tipperary, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate three schools, to support a Community of Practice for teaching and learning in English. This project aims to improve the teaching and learning in each school through highly effective collaboration, maximising potential through effective feedback and assessment strategies.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Borrisokane Community College  

• Nenagh College  

• Coláiste Phobail Ros Cré  

Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont in Co. Dublin has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Grace Park Educate Together National School, Dublin, Coláiste na Mí, Meath, and DCU, Dublin to enhance student teacher professional development. This project aims to support capacity building, the formation of sustainable and effective leadership and partnership structures, and resources to support school staff and student teachers within and across all schools involved in the project.  

Parteen National School, Co. Clare has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Scoil Seanáin Naofa, Co. Clare, to introduce restorative practice to both schools. This project aims to enhance teacher capacity and collaboration by building professional skills in restorative practices among teachers and teacher leaders, while encouraging inter-school collaboration.  

Portlaw National School in Co. Waterford has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with St. Stephen’s De La Salle, Waterford, St. Ursula Primary School, Waterford and SETU Waterford, to embed Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in practice. This project aims to establish a cross-sectoral Community of Practice in the South East of Ireland, enabling teachers to enhance their skills and embed UDL approaches, enriching their approach to inclusion within their schools.  

Scoil Aireagail, Ballyhale in Co. Kilkenny has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Scoil Náisiúnta Móin Ruadh, Kilkenny, and Newmarket NS, Kilkenny, to focus on inclusive pedagogy, digital literacy and student wellbeing. This project aims to foster collaboration among schools, empowering teachers with innovative tools and strategies to create inclusive and supportive learning environments.  

Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim, has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Ardkeeran N.S., to promote meaningful integration and inclusion of autistic pupils into mainstream Mathematics classes. This project aims to build staff capacity to apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to accommodate all learners and remove barriers in the learning process, including the creation of a structured and replicable 6-week station teaching programmes for all class levels by 2026 in alignment with the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum.  

This application was received in Irish. Scoil na Maighdine Muire gan Smál, Camus, Co. na Gaillimhe, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Gaeilscoil Bharra, Dublin, Scoil Bhreandáin, Co Mayo, and DCU, to introduce creative writing in Mathematics through Irish. This project aims to create a Professional Learning Community to explore the teaching of Irish in tandem with the new Mathematics Curriculum in a creative, integrated and inclusive way.  

Solas Hospital School, CHI Crumlin, Crumlin, Dublin, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with seven schools* to support the hosting of the Hope Congress 2025, an international congress of teachers in hospital schools. This project aims to unite hospital educators from Ireland and around the world to share knowledge, practices, and insights tailored to the unique challenges of teaching children with medical and mental health needs.   

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Temple Street Hospital School  

• Linn Dara Schools  

• Children’s Ark School  

• Beaumont Hospital School  

• National Rehabilitation Community Hospital School  

• Cork University Hospital School  

• The National Children’s Hospital Special School, Tallaght,

St. Attracta’s National School, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Scoil Phádraig, Westport, Mayo Education Centre, Mayo, and Maynooth University, Kildare to focus on the new Mathematics Curriculum. This project aims to build leadership capacity, foster collaboration, and promote professional learning by implementing the new Primary Curriculum Framework with a focus on the new Mathematics Curriculum.  

St. Colman’s National School, Stradbally, Co. Laois, has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with three schools*, to facilitate the project “Our School, Our Community”. This project aims to foster inclusive practices across the four collaborating schools, who have experienced a significant increase in student population from international backgrounds, highlighting the need to create environments that celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity.  

*List of collaborating schools:  

• Rath NS  

• Fraoch Mór National School  

• Scoil Mhuire Fatima  

St. Finian’s National School, Finglas South, Co. Dublin has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with St. Oliver Plunkett’s Junior National School, Finglas to empower staff to understand trauma and undertake professional learning with Nurture International. This project aims to use the Digital Development Portrait to design bespoke assessments and create weekly wellbeing goals using this data.  

St. Joseph’s National School, Dundalk, Co. Louth, has been awarded €2,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Redeemer Boys’ National School, to establishing a Professional Learning Community focussing on the new Mathematics curriculum. This project aims to share best practices and teaching methodologies in the new Mathematics Curriculum, sharing successes and challenges of teaching in a DEIS Band 1 School.   

St. Mary’s Boys’ National School, Co. Monaghan has been awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Urbleshanny NS and Monaghan Education Centre to establish a professional learning community in the area of outdoor learning. This project aims to create inclusive learning environments that benefit all students, particularly those with diverse learning needs, by integrating sensory, risky, and nature play to enhance teaching and learning.