The Blue Star Programme today celebrated its 10-year anniversary with schools across Ireland, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD. Today’s celebrations also saw schools in counties Clare, Westmeath and Dublin receive awards for 10 years of participation in the programme. The programme, implemented by European Movement Ireland (EM Ireland),  allows primary school pupils across the country to learn about Europe and the EU through creative activities and projects which complement the national curriculum. Pupils carry out projects on the history, geography, culture and creativity and Institutions of the EU.

Attending an online event to celebrate the anniversary of the Programme and Europe Week, Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne TD said,

“Blue Star is an exciting programme that allows our primary schools to learn about, and get creative on, our European identity and culture. I am pleased to see this learning and creativity, over a long number of years, being recognised with the 10-Year Legacy Award. I would like to say a big thank you to the three schools who have stayed with the programme over the last decade, and to all the schools participating this year.


“As Minister for European Affairs I am honoured to support the Blue Star Programme and have seen at first hand the enthusiasm that our young people are bringing to the programme. I want to commend the work of European Movement Ireland who manage this excellent programme and I am really hoping to visit some participating schools in person as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Noelle O Connell, CEO of EM Ireland said,

"Over the last 10 years, over 1,000 primary schools from across the country have taken part in the Blue Star Programme, but only 3 schools have taken part in all 10 years of the Programme – Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire, Co. Clare; Gardiner Street Primary School, Dublin and St. Thomas' National School, Co. Westmeath. We are delighted to present them with the 10-Year Legacy Award today to recognise all of the wonderful work they have done over the past 10 years in fostering the core values of the Programme and incorporating the Blue Star Programme as an important element of their classroom learning. It is wonderful to celebrate their achievements today while also marking the Blue Star Programme’s own 10-Year Anniversary.

“Educational initiatives such as the Blue Star Programme are so important in today’s world as they promote a sense of openness and understanding among young people, in an increasingly diverse and vibrant Ireland. This year, there are over 15,000 primary pupils from across all 26 counties taking part in the Programme. These pupils are learning all about the history, geography, art, culture and values of Europe and they are gaining an awareness that not only are they citizens of Ireland, but they are also citizens of a wider European, and international, community."

Watch the #BlueStar10 Celebration event back here now.

The Blue Star Programme is a venture of the Communicating Europe Initiative, supported by the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Education and Skills, the European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland. European Movement Ireland is the National Implementation Body of the Programme. Since it was established in 2011, there has been over 1,000 primary school registrations, covering all 26 counties, with approximately 90,000 pupils having taken part.

Comments