School Submissions

2026 School of the Year Award : St. Joseph's N.S., Dundalk, Co. Louth

A highly impactful whole-school initiative, and one of the winners of the Rising Star category, showcasing strong pupil voice, creativity, and engaging activities including art, drama, outdoor learning, visual imagery, and a large-scale installation. The theme, “Our World, Our Choice: Actions Speak Louder than Words,” demonstrates how small actions can lead to meaningful change, while the creative elements highlight powerful pupil engagement and shared understanding across the school community.

School group wearing black tee-shits and yellow signs standing in front of a display for Irish Aid

School group on stage with hands in the air cheering with their teachers and Minister Richmond

Boy in red sweater presenting his project to a group of other pupils

Pupils behind their stand showcasing all their elephant and board games

Pupils on stage with their arms raised holding their plaque

Pupils explaining their project to a man in a suit

Creative Star Award: Wicklow Educate Together N.S., Co. Wicklow

The 5th class project demonstrates exceptional creativity through games, models, and textiles, supporting deep and engaging learning. Strong links to Irish Aid and thoughtful exploration of Mozambique, including the Yao people, demonstrate meaningful global understanding and pupil engagement. Congratulations on a vibrant, imaginative, and impactful project.

Pupils outside holding their huge SDG banner made of coloured fabric

3 pupils behind a desk with mannequins wearing hats and decorations

Group on stage in their school uniforms - navy with white shirts and red ties. Receiving their plaque from Minister Richmond wearing a dark suit

Active Citizenship Award: St. Patrick's N.S., Curtlestown, Co. Wicklow

The 5th and 6th class pupils from St. Patrick’s Curtlestown, with their amazing teacher Donna Fallon, made costumes and a huge banner for their local St. Patrick’s Day parade, becoming the SDGs. The project showed creativity, critical thinking, community engagement, local radio involvement, and newsletter contributions. Congratulations!

Girl on stage with white tee shirt performing a rap with her class mates in a row behind her wearing pink and blue hoodies

Class group on stage with arms in the arm receiving their award from Minister Richmond

Group of girls in pink and blue hoodies outside in a group on lawn with their teacher

Active Citizenship Award : Scoil Mhuire, Mount Sackville, Dublin

The 6th class pupils and their teacher Heidi Crean submitted an innovative, resourceful project exploring fast fashion and sustainability. They surveyed retailers, interviewed local nursing home residents, and ran a school upcycling competition to highlight the harmful effects of fast fashion. Congratulations on this meaningful and creative work!

Children in blue uniforms pose for photo on stage after receiving their award

Picture form back of the auditorium showing the pupils on stage with the crowd in front of them

Close up of some of the pupils on stage performing wearing their blue school uniform

Global Goals Award : Inver N.S., Co. Donegal

Inver National School, Co. Donegal, with their teacher Wendy Boyd, submitted a creative and engaging entry. Their pupil-written song provided an accessible and memorable way to learn about and communicate the Global Goals, showing great global awareness through learning about Irish Aid’s work in Sierra Leone, Laos, and Mozambique.

Happy pupils on stage receiving their award from Minister Richmond

Girl n red t-shirt at her project stand explaining her entry to 2 adults

Girl in red tee-shirt explaining her project to a man in a suit

Global Goals Award : Balbriggan Educate Together N.S., Co. Dublin

Through the unwavering guidance of their teacher Cecelia Gavigan, the 5th class pupils showed excellent understanding of SDG 13: Climate Action. Their creative activities, including drama, games, poetry, and quizzes, clearly engaged pupils and supported meaningful learning. Congratulations on a thoughtful, inspiring, and impactful project!

Pupils outside in their playground showing their large colourful mural

2 girls in navy uniforms facing camera smiling in front of their display. One girl with her back to the camera

Large group of pupils in navy uniforms on stage cheering receiving their award form Minister Richmond

Outstanding School Engagement Award : Dunboyne Senior Primary School, Co. Meath

The 4th, 5th and 6th class pupils, with their teachers Caitríona Lordan, Caoimhe Ní Bhric, MacDara de Paor and Cliodhna Murphy, showed creativity through their Heritage Mural and Elephant Rap. Their work with Irish Aid, Tidy Towns, and other organisations demonstrated collaboration, communication, and unique sustainability partnerships.

Pupils in their classroom holding art work of wooden pieces on a board to make the face of an elephant

Pupils working on their display with their teacher in their classroom- starting to draw out the pieces on wood

7 students in unfiroms standing in their school hall with their school banner, their wooden elephant piece and their trophy

Rising Star Award: Scoil Bernadette, Cork

Scoil Bernadette, Cork, focused on conservation and learning about Mozambique, particularly elephants. Their work was brought to life through a high-quality wooden display, demonstrating deep engagement, creativity, care, teamwork, and pride. Congratulations on a thoughtful, meaningful, and impressive project.

School pupils in red sweaters in a group holding their instruments in cases outside O'Reilly Hall, UCD

3 pupils on stage singing their song playing concertinas and button accordion wearing red sweaters

Full class group in red sweaters receiving their award on stage from a lady called Paula Ferro

An Iontráil Ghaeilge is Fearr : Scoil Mhuire, Corr na Móna, Co. na Gaillimhe

Chuir an múinteoir Angela Ní Fhlatharta agus daltaí rang 3-6 tionscadal iontach isteach. Dhírigh siad ar Mhílte Bia, ag fiosrú torthaí coitianta in ollmhargaí agus bealaí chun an lorg carbóin a laghdú. Comhghairdeas as tionscadal fiúntach, suimiúil agus spreagúil!

Group of pupils in pale blue uniforms with lemon colour t-shirts outside the doors of O'Reilly Hall, UCD

Class group on stage with their teachers and Paula Ferro with bamboo plaque award

Pupils in light blue uniforms explaining their project to visitors to the stand

An Iontráil Ghaeilge is Fearr : Gaelscoil Bhrian Bóroimhe, Baile Átha Cliath

Rang a 5, agus a múinteoirí Niamh Ní Mhurchú agus Caoimhe Ní Mhóráin, rinne siad taighde fairsing ar Laos, Mósaimbíc, an Afraic Theas agus an tSiombáib. Chuir siad cluiche Monopoly cruthaitheach le chéile as Gaeilge, ag léiriú foghlaim dhomhain agus samhlaíocht iontach. Maith sibh go léir, agus comhghairdeas!

Girl in grey uniform receiving her awards from lady. Another girl in same uniform arriving on stage

3 girls in grey uniforms standing at their display with someone taking a photograph of them

Group of girls in grey uniform with their teacher receiving their award from a lady - Paula Ferro

STEM Award : St. John the Baptist Girls School, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

The 6th class pupils and their teacher Natasha O’Brien designed an imaginary sustainable town called Corrib Town, bringing the Sustainable Development Goals to life through creative, practical planning. They included renewable energy and aquaponics, showing a strong understanding of sustainability in action. Congratulations girls on a fantastic project!

Large group of pupils in their school hall with their award and gifts.

school boys at their desk creating a display from Lego

3 Girls in classroom crouching on the floor while their project is on the table on a board with red strings across the board

STEM Award : Limerick East Educate Together N.S., Limerick

A group of two 6th classes, with their teachers Maggie Landers and Catherine Kelly, produced an excellent entry which, according to the judges, covered all the SDGs and integrated their sub-projects with STEM, Lego, art, model-making, animations, and creative problem-solving, demonstrating teamwork, creativity, innovation, and outstanding pupil engagement.

Small group of pupils on stage standing and smiling accepting their award with their 2 teachers and Minister Richmond

Children at their stand speaking to a man with a ponytail

Small group on stage with their hands in the air cherrig as they receive their award form Minister Richmond

Irish Aid Programme Award : Kilcooley N.S., Co. Galway

The 4th class pupils, with their teacher Carmel Hannon, showed whole-school impact by learning about the Global Goals and actively teaching others, demonstrating leadership and peer-to-peer learning. Surveys helped measure learning progress and engagement over time, particularly in relation to Sierra Leone and Mozambique. Congratulations!

4 girls in navy uniforms behind their table at their project display looking into the distance

Full class in navy uniforms on stage receiving their award from Minister Richmond

Girls in navy uniform at a table from the Irish Aid centre with a lady in white tee shirt speaking to them.

Irish Aid Programme Award : Mercy Convent Primary School, Naas, Co. Kildare

The 3rd class, with their teacher Cora Allen, demonstrated excellent creativity and integrated learning through activities such as the sock safari, recycled fabric map, and bracelet-making. These brought global citizenship to life in an engaging, hands-on way, with strong Irish Aid links evident through their Our World magazine. Congratulations!

4 boys in navy uniform with red tee-shirt playing a game where one boy is throwing a red ball into the air

Large group of boys on stage receiving their award from Minister Richmond

Large class group of boys in dark uniforms with red stripe smiling outside on lawn

Irish Aid Programme Award : Togher Boys N.S., Cork

The 5th class boys, with their teacher Ruairí O’Sullivan, focused on the importance of education through a lively debate for their first podcast dedicated to the Our World Awards. Pupils actively engaged with global issues and shared informed viewpoints. Some great future debaters are clearly emerging!

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"The programme encouraged great discussion, creativity, and teamwork in the classroom, and the pupils really enjoyed engaging with the different themes and activities. It helped build awareness and empathy in an age-appropriate and meaningful way.".

Cliodhna Murphy, Dunboyne Senior Primary School, Co. Meath

"We chose to participate due to its strong links with the Green Flag programme, and found it highly motivating for both pupils and staff. The project provided excellent curricular links while promoting empathy, creativity, teamwork and a shared sense of responsibility. We would highly recommend other schools to take part."

Wendy Boyd, Principal, Inver National School, Co. Donegal

"The main benefit of the programme was of course the learning involved but that it was such an inclusive project. As we could submit such a huge variety of options for the project it meant that no matter what it could suit every single child. It is such a wonderful project and I can’t wait to do it again”

Mercedes Douglas, Wicklow Educate Together N.S.

"There are a lot of supports available to teachers who wish to engage in the lessons but also lots of freedom to explore areas that might suit your class and context. It's also a valuable experience for the pupils to see how other pupils are engaging in projects related to global citizenship - it brings to life that all our small actions can have a big impact".

Cecelia Gavigan, Balbriggan Educate Together N.S., Dublin

"5th and 6th class got involved in the Our World Awards because they wanted to do something good for the world. They learned about the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Our World Awards website is a great place for teachers to find resources to facilitate these future leaders."

Donna Fallon, St. Patrick's N.S., Curtlestown, Co. Wicklow