Ayr Hill National School, Ramelton, Co. Donegal is the national ‘Something Fishy’ champion.

Students and staff from Ayr Hill National School visited Donegal Education Centre on Friday the 25^th October to receive the national ‘Something Fishy’ award. They won the country wide competition with their class project ‘The River Leannan - under threat from invasive species.’

The class from Ayr Hill who carried out the work with their teacher and Owen Kelly, Inland Fisheries Ireland

At the award ceremony Hilary Mc Nutt the Principal of Ayr Hill was presented with the perpetual trophy by  Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)  and a class trophy from the Mr Brendan O’Mahony (Chairman of the Board of IFI). Donegal GAA player, Mark Mc Hugh was also on hand to add his congratulations and present each student with an individual ‘goody bag’. Accepting the award Ms McNutt praised the work of the students, the Education Centre and the Inland Fisheries Ireland staff, Owen Kelly and Paul Burke whose interest and passion for their work enthused and engaged the students with the project.

Dr Ciarán Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland with Sally Bonner, Donegal Education Centre

Those addressing the attendees included Ms Sally Bonner, Director of Donegal Education Centre, Mr Pat Seaver Director of Blackrock Education Centre, both educationalists who praised the high standard of the Ayr Hill project comparing it to the work of Leaving Certificate students.

Minister Fergus O’ Dowd also sent his congratulations to the students asking them to maintain their interest and enjoyment in the environment and to help conserve it into the future.

‘The level of enthusiasm in participating in this programme has ensured the success of ‘Something Fishy’ ‘ stated Dr Ciaran Byrne, ‘ It has proved a highly successful way of encouraging young people to take an interest in Irish fish species, their local environment and habitat.’

The perpetual 'Something Fishy' trophy

‘Something Fishy’ is a project aimed at fifth and sixth classes in primary schools based on the SESE Curriculum. It aims to create awareness of the fisheries’ resource and to highlight the importance of the children’s local environment and fishery habitat. The programme explores different aspects of fish life including the life cycle of the salmon, fish species, angling methods and the conservation of our rivers and lakes. It is an activity-based educational resource and is designed to be interesting and attractive to both teachers and students. Key elements of the programme are that it promotes learning about fish and the environment in a specifically local context and promotes sustainable angling.

The Leannan River project involved preparatory class work and the students visiting 8 sites along the river from source to sea. Taking physical readings as well as looking at land use, flora and fauna and in particular looking, out for ‘alien species.’

Programme resources are available on www.somethingfishy.ie and further information is available from IFI Ballyshannon or IFI Swords national coordinator Mark Corps.

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Media enquiries: Suzanne Campion ,Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971; Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1^st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie

Photographs are available to accompany this release . Requests should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.