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Inspire learning beyond the classroom at Turlough Park with the autumn/winter 2026 schools programme

The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, Castlebar, is inviting teachers to spark curiosity and inspire hands-on learning with an engaging new programme of free curriculum-linked tours and workshops. With both primary and post primary level options, the autumn/winter 2026 schools programme spans a broad range of topics and all activities are offered free of charge to schools.

Students can discover traditional Irish life through the Top10 Highlights Tour of the National Folklife Collection, explore biodiversity on a Seasonal Nature Tour, or step back in time with an online Time Travellers workshop about researching your family history.

Turlough Park also celebrates Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition with Winter Folk Tales, while creative seasonal workshops such as Traditional Christmas Decorations explore customs and crafts inspired by Museum collections. Irish-language schools can also enjoy dedicated guided tours through Irish.

STEM learning takes centre stage with an innovative Maths Week workshop about binary numbers and patters while Science Week sees the return of the popular online Tour of the Solar System, led by scientist Declan Holmes.

Set in a beautiful heritage landscape in the heart of Co. Mayo, Turlough Park offers a unique opportunity for pupils to learn through exploration, discovery and hands-on participation. With expert facilitators, inspiring collections and free admission, it’s the perfect destination for an educational day out.

 

All Primary Level Workshops

All Post-Primary Level Workshops

How to Book

Visit museum.ie or select a workshop or tour below and use the ‘Book Now’ button to access the online bookings system. Teachers can also contact BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone (094) 90 31751.

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Application Deadline: 10th May 2024

Applications for BLAST are now open.

Minister for Education Norma Foley, TD, has invited primary, post-primary, special schools and YouthReach to apply for the BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers – arts in education initiative 2024/25.

Minister Foley is delighted to confirm that BLAST will be running in 2024 for the fourth time. The 2024 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

BLAST aims to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional artist/creative practitioner on imaginative and joyful projects. BLAST is a key Department of Education initiative of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 which aims to foster creativity in schools focus and to provide young people with opportunities to learn and develop the key skills and competencies of collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

Innovative BLAST residencies are designed and developed between the artist/creative practitioner, teacher, students and the school community under the coordination of the 21 full-time Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network.

Minister Foley said: “I am extremely proud to announce the launch of BLAST 2024, which builds on the great success of the BLAST 2021, 2022 and 2023 Programme.”

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 apply online here: LINK

 

The Big Idea

Deadline: Open 

The Big Idea have created a full 14-week creative programme of learning resources for your Transition Year or Leaving Cert Applied students.  Each teacher and tutor will receive a teaching pack to support in-class activities regardless of their school context. You will also join their B!G Teacher community with exclusive offers from their partners.

All resources are digitally formatted with two lessons per week. The adaptable format can be used for either a 40-minute class or a 1-hour class with teacher prompts and lesson plans included as well as built-in assessment structures and additional class materials.

Their national and international network of professional experts will share knowledge directly with your students, supporting them in their project development. Student teams will be matched with Big Idea industry Mentors giving them the opportunity to gain advice on next steps, ask questions to get students thinking, ask them things to consider or offer resources to explore.

There will be a free B!G Idea Learning Pack given to every student, which includes all the materials needed to engage in the programme.

Visit the link for more information and to apply for your school https://thebigidea.ie/teachers/

 

Irish Film Institute School Programme 2022/23

The Irish Film Institute is delighted to offer a brand new programme of films selected for students across primary and post-primary levels, available in-cinema at IFI Dublin or regional venue and online through IFI@Schools. This year includes exciting collaborations with the Irish National Opera, IMMA, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland/BAI and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta/COGG.

IFI@Schools supplements the in-cinema programme, offering further ways of incorporating film into your teaching, including rewatching key scenes or choosing from a wider range of content for other subjects such as history, geography, music, art, Gaeilge, English and more.

Screenings for the French language selection include Mes Fréres et moi (My Brothers and I) and King in partnership with the Ambassade De France en Irelande. Screenings for the German language selection includes Der Pfad (The Path) and Klammer in partnership with GEOTHE Institut.

Details of the full programme list and regional venue screenings can be found here.

To book tickets visit the Irish Film Institute at Irish Film Institute (ifi.ie) or contact Amy Louise or Holly at schools@irishfilm.ie

 


!!!! Turlough Park – Autumn/Winter 2026 programme of free curriculum-linked tours and workshops.

Inspire learning beyond the classroom at Turlough Park with the autumn/winter 2026 schools programme

The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, Castlebar, is inviting teachers to spark curiosity and inspire hands-on learning with an engaging new programme of free curriculum-linked tours and workshops. With both primary and post primary level options, the autumn/winter 2026 schools programme spans a broad range of topics and all activities are offered free of charge to schools.

Students can discover traditional Irish life through the Top10 Highlights Tour of the National Folklife Collection, explore biodiversity on a Seasonal Nature Tour, or step back in time with an online Time Travellers workshop about researching your family history.

Turlough Park also celebrates Ireland’s rich storytelling tradition with Winter Folk Tales, while creative seasonal workshops such as Traditional Christmas Decorations explore customs and crafts inspired by Museum collections. Irish-language schools can also enjoy dedicated guided tours through Irish.

STEM learning takes centre stage with an innovative Maths Week workshop about binary numbers and patters while Science Week sees the return of the popular online Tour of the Solar System, led by scientist Declan Holmes.

Set in a beautiful heritage landscape in the heart of Co. Mayo, Turlough Park offers a unique opportunity for pupils to learn through exploration, discovery and hands-on participation. With expert facilitators, inspiring collections and free admission, it’s the perfect destination for an educational day out.

 

All Primary Level Workshops

All Post-Primary Level Workshops

How to Book

Visit museum.ie or select a workshop or tour below and use the ‘Book Now’ button to access the online bookings system. Teachers can also contact BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone (094) 90 31751.

!!!! BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 Applications Are Now Open

Department of Education: BLAST Initiative

Application Deadline: 10th May 2024

Applications for BLAST are now open.

Minister for Education Norma Foley, TD, has invited primary, post-primary, special schools and YouthReach to apply for the BLAST – Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers – arts in education initiative 2024/25.

Minister Foley is delighted to confirm that BLAST will be running in 2024 for the fourth time. The 2024 programme will enable 425 new arts in education residencies in schools over the course of the year.

BLAST aims to provide pupils in schools all over the country, time and the space to work with a professional artist/creative practitioner on imaginative and joyful projects. BLAST is a key Department of Education initiative of the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 which aims to foster creativity in schools focus and to provide young people with opportunities to learn and develop the key skills and competencies of collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.

Innovative BLAST residencies are designed and developed between the artist/creative practitioner, teacher, students and the school community under the coordination of the 21 full-time Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI) network.

Minister Foley said: “I am extremely proud to announce the launch of BLAST 2024, which builds on the great success of the BLAST 2021, 2022 and 2023 Programme.”

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/288286/7c65be23-c08f-4dc0-9837-141b6345ad6c.pdf

BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 apply online here: LINK

 

!!!! Opportunity For Teachers: Teaching Creative Skills Programme by The Big Idea

The Big Idea

Deadline: Open 

The Big Idea have created a full 14-week creative programme of learning resources for your Transition Year or Leaving Cert Applied students.  Each teacher and tutor will receive a teaching pack to support in-class activities regardless of their school context. You will also join their B!G Teacher community with exclusive offers from their partners.

All resources are digitally formatted with two lessons per week. The adaptable format can be used for either a 40-minute class or a 1-hour class with teacher prompts and lesson plans included as well as built-in assessment structures and additional class materials.

Their national and international network of professional experts will share knowledge directly with your students, supporting them in their project development. Student teams will be matched with Big Idea industry Mentors giving them the opportunity to gain advice on next steps, ask questions to get students thinking, ask them things to consider or offer resources to explore.

There will be a free B!G Idea Learning Pack given to every student, which includes all the materials needed to engage in the programme.

Visit the link for more information and to apply for your school https://thebigidea.ie/teachers/

 

!!!! IFI Schools Programme 2022/23

Irish Film Institute School Programme 2022/23

The Irish Film Institute is delighted to offer a brand new programme of films selected for students across primary and post-primary levels, available in-cinema at IFI Dublin or regional venue and online through IFI@Schools. This year includes exciting collaborations with the Irish National Opera, IMMA, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland/BAI and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta/COGG.

IFI@Schools supplements the in-cinema programme, offering further ways of incorporating film into your teaching, including rewatching key scenes or choosing from a wider range of content for other subjects such as history, geography, music, art, Gaeilge, English and more.

Screenings for the French language selection include Mes Fréres et moi (My Brothers and I) and King in partnership with the Ambassade De France en Irelande. Screenings for the German language selection includes Der Pfad (The Path) and Klammer in partnership with GEOTHE Institut.

Details of the full programme list and regional venue screenings can be found here.

To book tickets visit the Irish Film Institute at Irish Film Institute (ifi.ie) or contact Amy Louise or Holly at schools@irishfilm.ie