MEP Seán Kelly Celebrates Two Flag Awards at Loughfouder National School

This big, happy photograph includes: Seán Kelly MEP; Principal Liz Lane, Emer O Shea, teacher and project co-crdinator and Ben Brosnan, chairman of the school’s board of management and all the pupils who worked so hard to earn the flags for their school.

MEP Seán Kelly visited Loughfouder National School to celebrate and help raise both the Active Schools Flag and the Blue Star Flag which were recently awarded. 

The cuckoo could be heard in the distance as proceedings began in the idyllic rural setting in the heart of Sliabh Luachra.

Mr. Kelly said it lifted his spirits to hear the cuckoo on his first visit to a school in Ireland since the Covid 19 pandemic began fifteen months ago and he was delighted to be invited to share in the celebrations.

Two Years’ Hard Work

This was the third Active Flag for Loughfouder N.S. Active Schools co-ordinator and teacher, Emer O’Shea, said that the staff, pupils and families of Loughfouder had worked really hard over the

past two years to achieve this flag.

“They maximised their physical activity both at home and at school under the guidance of the Active Schools Committee comprised of: Millie Fuller, sixth class; Lukey Cotter, fifth class; Daniel Collins, fourth class; Chloe Curtin, second class and Ryan Collins from first class,” said Ms. O’Shea.

Don’t Sit, Get Fit

The Active School slogan for the flag campaign was: Don’t Sit, Get Fit and this was created by fourth class pupil Lauren Collins.

The school staff members encourage physical activity both inside and outside the classroom by partaking in all the different PE curriculum strands. This comprises of a variety of sports during three play time breaks throughout the day.

The school also partakes in Fit Fouder Runs which are active breaks where the pupils run laps of the basketball court as a break from all the learning.

Activities at Loughfouder NS

Pupils described all the activities available at Loughfouder NS such as: basketball, football, soccer, hockey, volleyball, tag rugby and swimming classes which all pupils attend at Ballybunion Leisure Centre.

Ryan Collins from first class told Mr. Kelly how he keeps fit by cycling to and from school.

Active School member Lukey Cotter talked about the Active School events such as the school sponsored walk to a local bog land and the annual 5k runs. He also told Seán Kelly that this is not the first award in the area of sport and fitness for the school.

Cumann na mBunscol Award

He spoke about Loughfouder’s achievements in football where they were county champions of the Cumann na mBunscol football in 2016 and 2019 and the girls team won the district league in 2019.

In 2017, Loughfouder was presented with the Cumann na mBunscol School of the Year Award.

Seán Kelly highly commended the work and physical activity of all the pupils.

In his speech he encouraged pupils to keep active all through life no matter what sport it is.

Ninth Green Flag

He also remarked on how the school is working towards its ninth Green flag and how fantastic it is

to see the children involved in sustainable travel by walking and cycling to school.

He raised the Active Schools Flag with pupils Ryan Collins and Lauren Collins before he moved to raising the Blue StarFlag.

Sixth class pupil, Evelyn McEligott said the programme involved learning about the how the EU works, its history and foundations and facts about EU countries.

Project Work in Lock-Down

Pupils John Healy and Seán Crean talked about their project work at home during lockdown on different European countries, project work on MEP Seán Kelly and their study of World War II.

Ms. O’Shea told Seán that the pupils’ work featured on the Blue Star Twitter account and newsletter on several occasions.

Mr. Kelly then spoke about the importance of the EU and the benefits of being a member country. He highly commended the work and achievements of such a small school and noted that good things do indeed come in small parcels.

Musical Conclusion

Pupils Evelyn McElligott, Millie Fuller and Ellie Curtin raised the flag with with him and the event ended on a high note with some traditional musical entertainment by the senior class pupils accompanied by their teacher.

Seán Kelly danced his way out of Loughfouder National School while singing the praises of the whole school community.

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