merrion street

Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, today visited St Clare’s National School, Ballyjamesduff to celebrate their recent success in winning the prestigious European #BeActive Education Award and the raising of their newly-awarded Active School Flag. The award was part of European Week of Sport held between 10 and 18 September 2016 and highlighted outstanding examples of how young people can become more active in the educational setting.
Congratulating the school, Minister Corcoran Kennedy said “It was a fantastic achievement for St Clare’s National School, Ballyjamesduff to win this prestigious international award and I am delighted that the efforts of the teachers, the parents and, most importantly, the children involved in promoting physical activity have been recognised. This award recognises the effort made by St. Clare’s to include physical activity in opportunities that arise during normal daily routines."
St. Clare’s was one of two Irish schools, along with St. Clare’s of Harold’s Cross to be shortlisted for the #BeActive Schools award which was presented to Principal Karl McCartin and Active School Coordinator Verena Cunningham at an award ceremony in Brussels in September, during the European Week of Sport flagship event.
St Clare’s also raised their newly awarded Active School Flag which is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. The process aims to get more schools, more active, more often.
Minister Corcoran Kennedy praised the effort of St. Clare’s to include physical activity as part of everything they do commenting “St Clare’s, Ballyjamesduff is a fantastic demonstration of how a school can build fun, accessible physical activity into the school day. We know how important for physical and mental health it is for young people to be active.”
Encouraging more schools to participate in the Active School Flag is a key objective of Get Ireland Active, the National Physical Activity Plan launched in early 2016. Minister Corcoran Kennedy concluded “The school setting is one of these very important settings where children can be active, but also where they can learn how to be active and can develop an understanding of the important role for physical activity in their lives. St. Clare’s is an inspiration for other schools around Ireland. Encouraging more children to be active has many positive benefits for both physical and mental health.”