#Angling - Fifth and sixth class pupils from St John’s National School in Longford have been named national winners of the Inland Fisheries Ireland’s (IFI) Something Fishy competition for 2014 for their class project ‘Angling at One’.
At a prize giving ceremony held yesterday (17 October) in Carrick on Shannon Education Centre, the Longford primary pupils were awarded for their self-made interpretation of RTÉ’s Live at One, featuring quiz shows, music, dance, arts and cooking, all related to angling, rod and line fishing, as well as the role of IFI.
Joanne Bowers, Principal, St John’s NS principal Joanne Bowers was presented with the perpetual trophy by Marian Harkin MEP. “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the students of St John’s National School in Longford, who have demonstrated an extraordinary degree of creativity, organisation and technical know-how, in their creation of their winning project," she said.
“I would like to thank the staff of Inland Fisheries Ireland, who supported the delivery of the Something Fishy educational programme at St John’s, including highly engaging presentations and field trips which really made the subject of angling and conservation of rivers and lakes come to life for the students.”
The competition has been running since 2005 nationwide and this year over 130 schools took part, reaching almost 4000 individual students.
Something Fishy is an educational resource originally designed and promoted by the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, now Inland Fisheries Ireland, in conjunction with Blackrock Educational Centre.
Speaking at yesterday's event, IFI chief executive Dr Ciaran Byrne said: “Something Fishy is something that IFI is extremely proud to be a part of. In a typical year, we bring the programme to around 100 schools across the country. And every year our staff are amazed by the willingness of the children to learn, and their passion for our inland fisheries resource.”
Those addressing the attendees at yesterday's event included Anna Feely, chair of Carrick on Shannon Education Centre; Catherine Martin, director of Carrick on Shannon Education Centre; and Pat Seaver Director of Blackrock Education Centre – all educationalists who applauded the high production standards of St John’s NS’s winning project.
