Daingean National School named finalists in national Our World Awards

Pupils from Daingean National School have been named a finalist in the 2025 Our World Awards.

The ceremony is set to be held at Dublin Castle on Friday, May 30.

Daingean National School is one of just 15 schools in Ireland to be in the running for one of nine prestigious Our World Awards comprising the Global Goals, Irish Aid Programme, Rising Star, Creative Star, STEM, School and Community Impact, Global Citizenship Education, an Iontráil Ghaeilge is Fearr and Outstanding School Engagement Awards, as well as the coveted School of the Year Award.

Pupils at Daingean National School have taken a creative and interactive approach to global citizenship education by designing and building their very own giant Snakes and Ladders game — with a powerful twist.

As part of their entry for the Our World Awards, the class carefully linked each square on the game board to key messages and learning points from Irish Aid’s global work. From climate action to equality and education, every step on the board reflected a real-world issue or solution that the children had explored and discussed.

The result is a thought-provoking, educational, and fun activity that not only showcases the pupils’ understanding of global issues but also encourages others to think critically about the world around them. The game serves as both a learning tool and a way to engage their school community in meaningful conversations.

And, to bring their project to life, the class also produced a fantastic video documenting their journey — from initial research to final game design. The video captures their teamwork, creativity, and growing awareness of the challenges faced by communities around the world, and how Irish Aid is working to support change.

Congratulating Daingean National School on making it to the national final, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD said:

“I am really looking forward to meeting the pupils from Daingean National School and their teacher at the national final on May 30. I know that there is a great sense of excitement around the event in Dublin Castle.

“I am also looking forward to personally thanking our primary school teachers for their continued commitment, not just to participating in the Our World Awards, but also for nurturing an ethos of global citizenship amongst our young people. It is important that as global citizens we all play an individual and collective part in making the world a better place.

“Each of the projects submitted by the 15 finalists demonstrate an impressive level of insight and understanding of what are complex global issues that have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable in our world.”

Now in their 20th year, the Our World Awards are the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s flagship programme with primary schools which, over its lifetime, has seen thousands of young people become inspired to engage with global issues and take action for a fairer, more sustainable world.

The 2025 Our World Awards National Final is taking place at the Printworks, Dublin Castle on Friday, May 30.