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Creative Clusters 2026 - 2028 Applications Now Open

 

The Department of Education and Youth is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters. The deadline for receipt of applications is 20th April 2026.

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project 2026–2028. 

  • 3 schools would receive €9,000
  • 5 schools would receive €15,000 

In addition to financial support above each Cluster will also receive: 

  • A Creative Cluster Facilitator 
  • Teacher Substitution to attend Workshops and Meetings
  • Room hire, travel & subsistence

Please see the following link for more details: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/creative-clusters/. Applications are to be completed online using the following link: Creative Clusters 2026 - 2028 Application .

Should you need assistance, please contact your local full-time Education Support Centre (list at Appendix 1 of Guidelines document on DEY website) or use this link Appendix 1

If you have any queries, please contact your local Education Support Centre or email the programme administrators at National Arts in Education, Tralee Education Support Centre: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eligible Schools - The following schools are welcome to apply to participate in Creative Clusters:

  • Schools that have not yet participated in Creative Clusters.
  • Schools that have not yet participated in the Arts Council led Creative Schools initiative and those who will complete Creative Schools Year 2 in the 2025/26 school year. Schools cannot simultaneously participate in Creative Clusters, and the Arts Council led Creative Schools initiative.
  • Schools that will complete Creative Clusters Year 2 in the 2025/26 school year can only apply to lead a cluster of schools who have not yet participated in the initiative.
  • The local Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
  • 42 Creative Clusters will be selected nationally - 2 per Education Support Centre.

Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education and Youth, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI).

Dual Language Application Form

Teachtaireacht Nollag ó do Stiúrthóir

 

 

Agus sinn ag críochnú bliain shuntasach eile in oideachas na hÉireann—a bhfuil curaclam nua, sonraíochtaí nua, agus treoirlínte athbhreithnithe um chosaint leanaí mar mharc acu—cuirim mo ghuí ó chroí chuig pobal oideachais Chorcaí ar fad: múinteoirí, Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta, daltaí, teaghlaigh, oideoirí luathbhlianta, agus ceannairí scoile. Go dtuga séasúr na Nollag seo scíth, áthas agus am luachmhar atá tuillte go maith daoibh, leis na daoine is gaire daoibh.

 

Buíochas agus Aitheantas

 

Is pribhléid mhór dom a bheith i mo Stiúrthóir ar cheann de na hIonaid Tacaíochta Oideachais is mó in Éirinn. Táim thar a bheith buíoch as an bhflaithiúlacht a léirígh sibh dom—bhí bhur spreagadh, bhur léargais agus bhur gcur chuige comhoibríoch thar a bheith luachmhar agus mé ag glacadh leis an bhfreagracht seo.

Caithfidh mé aitheantas a thabhairt dár bhfoireann eisceachtúil agus a saineolas, a ngairmiúlacht agus a dtiomantas gan staonadh don sármhaitheas a chinntíonn go gcomhlíontar bhur riachtanais foghlama gairmiúla de réir na gcaighdeán is airde. Is é a ndúthracht chun tacú leat an bhunsraith ar a seasann ár gcuid oibre.

 

Ár dTiomantas: Soiléireacht Físe, Ionracas Cuspóra

 

Tá cuspóir morálta soiléir mar threoir ag mo cheannaireacht ar an ionad seo: freastal oraibh le hionracas, le freagrúlacht, agus le tiomantas dochloíte don sármhaitheas oideachais. Táimid ann chun droichead a chruthú idir beartas agus cleachtas—ag aistriú tionscnaimh na Roinne Oideachais agus Óige ina dtacaíochtaí bhríocha, phraiticiúla a fheabhsaíonn teagasc agus foghlaim i ngach seomra ranga ar fud ár réigiúin.

Éistimid. Freagraímid go cúramach laistigh den chreat Foghlama Gairmiúil Múinteoirí atá bunaithe ag an Roinn. Agus gníomhaímid leis an tuiscint nach ar mhaithe le comhlíonadh amháin atá foghlaim ghairmiúil ardchaighdeáin ann - baineann sé le cumhacht a thabhairt d'oideoirí chun saolta a athrú.

 

2026: Bliain na Nuálaíochta Straitéisí

 

Tá fís uaillmhianach agus cuspóireach againn don bhliain atá romhainn. Tá comhpháirtíochtaí curtha le chéile againn le cleachtóirí áitiúla den scoth, tionscadail chomhoibríocha nuálacha forbartha againn, agus eispéiris foghlama gairmiúla deartha againn atá praiticiúil, bunaithe ar fhianaise, agus infheidhme go díreach i do chuid oibre laethúla.

Molaim duit clárú dár nuachtlitir choicísiúil—i mí Eanáir 2026 beidh fógraí ann faoi chláir atá deartha go sonrach chun luach inláimhsithe a chur le do chleachtas gairmiúil agus, sa deireadh, le torthaí daltaí.

 

Ceannaireacht le Cuspóir

 

Is mór an onóir dom an t-ionad seo a threorú agus freastal ar phobal oideachais Chorcaí leis an ngairmiúlacht agus an soiléireacht mhorálta a éilíonn an ról seo. Táim tiomanta do nuálaíocht a chothú, sármhaitheas a chur chun cinn, agus a chinntiú go leanfaidh ár gcuid oibre le chéile ag feabhsú caighdeán an oideachais ar fud na hÉireann.

Go raibh maith agaibh as an muinín a chuireann sibh ionainn. Táim ag tnúth leis an gcomhpháirtíocht leanúnach a shainmhíneoidh ár gcuid oibre sna blianta amach romhainn.

Guím Nollaig shona oraibh le bhur dteaghlaigh. Go raibh maith agaibh as an bpribhléid freastal oraibh.

 

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Eamonn Ó hEosa

Stiúrthóir

Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Chorcaí


 

A Christmas Message from the Director

 

 

As we conclude another significant year in Irish education—marked by the rollout of new curricula, new specifications, and revised child protection guidelines—I extend my warmest wishes to our entire Cork educational community: teachers, SNAs, students, families, early years educators, and school leaders. May this Christmas season bring you well-deserved rest, joy, and cherished time with those closest to you.

 

Gratitude and Recognition

 

Serving as Director of one of Ireland's largest Education Support Centres has been a profound privilege. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of spirit with which you have welcomed me—your encouragement, insights, and collaborative approach have been invaluable as I have undertaken this responsibility.

I must acknowledge our exceptional team whose expertise, professionalism, and tireless commitment to excellence ensure that your professional learning needs are met with the highest standards. Their dedication to supporting you is the foundation upon which our work stands.

 

Our Commitment: Clarity of Vision, Integrity of Purpose

 

My leadership of this centre is guided by a clear moral purpose: to serve you with integrity, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence. We exist to bridge policy and practice—translating Department of Education and Youth initiatives into meaningful, practical support that enhances teaching and learning in every classroom across our region.

We listen. We respond thoughtfully within the Teacher Professional Learning framework established by the Department. And we act with the understanding that quality professional learning is not merely about compliance—it is about empowering educators to transform lives.

 

2026: A Year of Strategic Innovation

 

Our vision for the year ahead is ambitious and purposeful. We have curated partnerships with outstanding local practitioners, developed innovative collaborative projects, and designed professional learning experiences that are practical, evidence-informed, and directly applicable to your daily work.

I encourage you to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter—January 2026 will bring announcements of programmes specifically designed to add tangible value to your professional practice and, ultimately, to student outcomes.

 

 

Leading with Purpose

 

It is an honour to lead this centre and to serve the Cork educational community with the professionalism and moral clarity this role demands. I am committed to fostering innovation, championing excellence, and ensuring that our work together continues to elevate the quality of education across Ireland.

Thank you for the trust you place in us. I look forward to the continued partnership that will define our work in the years ahead.

Wishing you a lovely Christmas with your families. Thank you for the privilege of serving you.

 

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

 

Post-Primary Newsletter 24th November to 5th December 2025

Dear Principal/Teacher,

 

I know this is an exceptionally busy time in schools across Cork. With parent-teacher meetings in full swing, November assessments underway, and the festive period approaching with all its planning and preparations. As Director of Cork Education Support Centre, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous work you are doing in our schools during this demanding period.

 

I warmly invite you to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter and explore the excellent courses, seminars, workshops and events that our team has organised over the coming two weeks. We pride ourselves on listening to teacher voice and agency – understanding your specific requirements and sourcing the most talented tutors available to deliver high-quality, impactful and practical professional development that makes a real difference in your classroom practice.

 

Our programmes are designed with your busy schedules in mind, offering flexible options that provide maximum value for your time and energy. We're here to support you, not add to your workload.

 

Included below is a summary of all Teacher Professional Learning events for the upcoming week 24th November to 5th December 2025.

 

Here is a summary of some other great events/initiatives your school may be interested in: 

  • NCSE Events - Details of any upcoming NCSE Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.
  • Oide Events - Details of any upcoming Oide Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.

 

Active School Flag Post Primary (ASFPP) has launched!

This programme has now been developed to also include Post Primary schools. If you are interested in registering your school under the ASFPP, please join the ASF team at one of the upcoming information sessions on either 2nd Dec 2025 at 7pm or 3rd Dec 2025 at 4:30pm. Further information on the ASFPP can also be found on the website here

 

Interested schools are invited to attend upcoming ‘ASFPP: What’s It All About’ webinars:

Active School Flag Post Primary Webinar 2nd December

Active School Flag Post Primary Webinar 3rd December 

And/or to email Carol O'Donnell This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Find out more on https://activeschoolflag.ie/active-school-post-primary/ 

 

I encourage you to browse the opportunities below and find something that speaks to your professional interests and needs.

 

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre