Creative Clusters

CREATIVE CLUSTERS

Creative Clusters is a two-year initiative under the Creative Youth 2023–2027 programme, part of the Creative Ireland Programme and led by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI). It supports groups of 3 to 5 schools—primary, post-primary, special education, or Youthreach—to collaborate on innovative creative learning projects that address shared challenges. Each cluster must have a lead school and a nominated Creative Cluster Coordinator, typically from the teaching or leadership team, to manage the project and act as the main point of contact. Substitution cover is provided for representatives attending workshops and meetings, with additional cover for lead coordinators.

Each school in a cluster will receive €3,000 in funding over two years (e.g., €9,000 for 3 schools, €15,000 for 5 schools), paid in two installments across the 2025–2027 school years. Schools are expected to work together to plan and implement their project and to decide collectively how to allocate the funding.

How do Schools get Involved

Schools interested in joining a Creative Cluster can apply when the next round of applications opens around January 2026. Applications are assessed by the local teacher education centre based on clear criteria, including the rationale for the project, its impact on teaching and learning, the commitment of all schools involved, and how children's and young people's voices are included.

Creative Clusters 2025-2027

 Creative Clusters 2024-2026

Creative clusters 2022/2024 report

Adamstown Raheen Music Cluster 2022-24

Coláiste Abbain (Lead School)

Raheen NS

Adamstown NS

This cluster featured very close collaboration between TY students from Coláiste Abbain who mentored pupils in two neighbouring primary schools as they learned to play the ukulele. The three schools involved in this cluster also purchased a variety of musical instruments and participated in a number of creative musical events.

Gorey Wildflower Cluster 2022-24

Tara Hill NS (Lead School)

Ballygarrett NS

Coolgreaney NS

The three primary schools in this cluster visited many local habitats to see wildflowers at first hand. The schools also arranged visits and talks from several knowledgeable experts such as Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh and Paddy Madden. Wildflower areas were cultivated in the school grounds and beautiful displays were created on school corridors.

Gorey Sanctuary Cluster 2023-25

Bunscoil Loreto (Lead School)

Creagh College

Gorey educate Together Secondary School

This Cluster was motivated by their shared aim of making each school a safe place of welcome for all students. The voice of the students was very prominent in all their projects and the collaboration between primary and post-primary students was wonderful to see.  Walls and spaces in all three schools bear witness to the creative work of this cluster.

Artificial Intelligence Cluster 2023-25

Ballyhogue NS (Lead school)

Tombrack NS

Davidstown NS

Galbally NS

Pupils from Senior Classes all four schools learned how to use AI in a positive and educational way to build on their own creativity and curiosity. This project features a welcome counterpoint to the negative portrayal of AI which we frequently encounter. The pupil-driven work which has been produced is most interesting and commendable.

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Creative Clusters 2021/2023 & 2022/2024

We are delighted to have two Creative Clusters up and running this year.  We welcome our new, year one, cluster group and wish them every success and enjoyment as they commence their journey in the 2022/2023 academic year. 

Cluster One - Year One - 2022/2024

The schools involved in this cluster are:

• Coláiste Abbain, Adamstown, Enniscorthy - Lead School
• Scoil Naomh Abbain, Adamstown, Enniscorthy
• Raheen N.S., Clonroche, Enniscorthy

Project Name:  "Building the Capacity for Performance Opportunities in the Areas of Music, Song, Dance, and Drama in the Locality".

Teachers involved in this project are: 

Rosaleen Power, Coláiste Abbain  - Lead School

Fiona Quirke, Coláiste Abbain - Lead School

Claire Kickham, Scoil Naomh Abbain

Ciara Lng, Scoil Naomh Abbain

Sarah Browne, Raheen N.S.

Risín Quigley, Raheen N.S.

We would like to wish this new cluster every success and we look forward to seeing their project progress in due course.

Thank you to Eamonn Barrett, Facilitator, for all his enthusiastic work with this cluster on behalf of Wexford Education Support Centre.

We are very happy to welcome back our second cluster group in their year two and final year in their project.  

Cluster Two - Year Two - 2021 - 2023 - Project Name: "A Musical Odyssey Through German-speaking Countries."

The schools involved in this cluster are:

• Coláiste Bríde, Templshannon, Enniscorthy - Lead School
• Presentation College, Askea, Co. Carlow
• Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

Teachers involved in this project are: 

Una Byrne, Presentation College, Askea, Co. Carlow - Lead School

Maria Whitty, Coláiste Bríde, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy

Mairead Kavanagh, Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow

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Previous Creative Clusters through Wexford Education Support Centre:

Davidstown Cluster 2020-22:  This cluster was led by Davidstown NS and included Tombrack NS, Galbally NS and Ballyhogue NS. The use of "Stop Motion" app to produce animated videos was at the heart of this project. Pupils worked initially in their own school settings and then came together to produce a collaborative video on the theme of Environmental Awareness.

CREATIVE CLUSTER  DIGITAL STORYTELLING - 2020-22

The schools involved in this cluster were:

• Davidstown NS (Lead School) 
• Scoil Eoin Baiste, Galbally 
• Tombrack NS 
• Ballyhogue NS 
• Eamonn Barrett (Facilitator)

Focus/challenge or area of development for the Creative Cluster project work: "Digital Storytelling"

Digital Storytelling: using a variety of multimedia tools to enable engagement in the creative process. Use Digital Technologies to engage in the development of expressive arts.

Added Value anticipated from Cluster Working:

• Self-esteem: developing self-esteem and resilience is inherent in creating art.
• Self-expression: art is about expression and interpretation.
• Human rights, responsibilities, the environment: art gives people the ability to express their opinions and convey messages through creativity.
• Connections: recent world events have highlighted the need for the arts, creativity and technology in our lives to aid meaningful connections with others.
• Opportunities for integration across a wide range of subject areas and skills.

This project is now completed. We would like to thank the Principals, Teachers and Pupils involved and wish them every success on their academic journeys.  We would also like to thank Eamonn Barrett for facilitating this group.

Mayglass Creative Cluster 2019-21.  The original focus of this group was on the promotion of singing in informal settings on a daily basis in class and two very useful whole-staff workshops were organised to support staff CPD in the area. Unfortunately, Covid 19 stopped singing so the cluster then pivoted to "the provision of outdoor or indoor sensory learning spaces some of which include musical instruments".

Creative Cluster 2019-21 - Drop Everything and Make Music (DREAMM) Creating a Music Sensory Garden for each school

 The schools involved in this cluster were:

• Mayglass NS (Lead School)
• Broadway NS
• St Margaret's N.S., Curracloe
• St. Mary's N.S., Tagoat NS
• Piercestown NS.

Focus/challenge or area of development for the Creative Cluster project work - DREAMM –

Added Value anticipated from Cluster Working:

• Improved teacher and pupil well-being
• Teacher wellbeing was enhanced through increased confidence as a result of CPD and professional development
• Pupil wellbeing (physical, social, emotional, intellectual) was enhanced through the sensory space leading to improved self-confidence
• Inclusion of all children including different cultures and SEN pupils

2019 - Year 1 

This year our project was called ‘DREAMM – Drop Everything and Make Music

The project involved:

• Four hours of professional development led by Mary Amond for all teachers and SNAs from the five participating schools
• Daily, informal, incidental in-class singing by all pupils in each school
• Teachers developed a repertoire of suitable material throughout the project
• It is planned that the pupils of all five schools will come together in June 2020 for a celebration of singing when they will all sing together
• Pupils' attitudes towards singing were surveyed in October 2019 and a similar survey in June 2020 will track any changes
• The overall aim was the promotion of singing as an enjoyable and beneficial activity for ALL