Ballygarrett National School, Co Wexford win “Something Fishy”

Press Release October 12th, 2012

Ballygarrett National School. Co, Wexford is the national winner of the “Something Fishy” education programme. The school beat 125 other schools nationwide with their project ‘Fishylympics’, a quirky blend of the Olympics, the X Factor and well known public figures, and today receive their award and cheque for €500 from Minister Fergus O Dowd at Wexford Education Centre, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Presented on DVD, Fishylympics is a dramatisation of the obstacles our native fish have to overcome to survive and win in the ‘Fishylympics’.

Mary Doyle, class teacher St. Maryâs N.S. Ballygarrett , Fergus OâDowd TD, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources and Environment, Community & Local Govt; Serena Lysaght, classroom assistant, and Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development in Inland Fisheries Ireland.

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Left to right: Mary Doyle, class teacher St. Mary’s N.S. Ballygarrett , Fergus O’Dowd TD, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources and Environment, Community & Local Govt; Serena Lysaght, classroom assistant, and Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development in Inland Fisheries Ireland.

The competition has been run over the last 7 years nationwide and this year over 120 schools took part, reaching over 5000 individual students. “Something Fishy” is an educational resource originally designed and promoted Inland Fisheries Ireland, in conjunction with Blackrock Educational Centre. “Something Fishy” is aimed at fifth and sixth class students at primary level. Originally based on the life cycle of salmon it allows students to explore, water, fish, fish stocks, angling, invasive species, conservation of rivers and lakes and fish as part of the food chain. Something Fishy now covers all fish species and invasive species. As well as class based work Fisheries Officers take students into the ‘field’ to get hands on experience of their work.

‘I am convinced that wonderful learning experiences have been achieved and solid work produced on the basis of what I have seen, you have demonstrated imagination and an extensive level of understanding’, stated Minister O Dowd, ‘ I wish to congratulate all the participants, your teacher, and IFI staff who worked with you on winning this Something Fishy award for your school’.

4 time All-Ireland winner Wexford Camoige All star and member of the 3 in a row team Catherine O Loughlin was on hand to present each child with a goody bag. Catherine noted Wexfords two in a row victory in the ‘Something Fishy’ competition and urged other schools in Wexford to take up the challenge set by Minister O Dowd to go for 3 in a row.

All involved in “Something Fishy” would like to thank the teachers, children, co-coordinators and fishery officers who help make this years competition so successful. Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Blackrock Educational Centre hope that the interest and standard of entries for the 2013 competition will be just as high.

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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: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to Editor

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 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.
The “Something Fishy” program is continuing for the 2012/2013 year and packs are available in both English and Irish. The packs are supported by an interactive website: www.somethingfishy.ie .
Schools taking part in the program are asked to produce a class project based on any part of ‘Something Fishy.’