School HuB
Each year on the eve of St. Patricks Day 16th March, the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s annual Flag Day takes place giving secondary schools the opportunity to celebrate active citizenship and inclusivity in their schools by raising the Irish flag and welcoming the flags of all the nationalities in their local communities. The raising of the Irish Tricolour flag symbolises a “coming together” creating a community of hope for Ireland’s future.
As a challenge partner of Gaisce – The President’s Award students can also choose to use their Flag Day activities towards earning their Bronze Award.
Students are also invited to enter the annual Awards and Scholarship programme.
Each year the Foundation publishes a classroom based pull-out supplement with lesson plans devised by the History Teachers Association of Ireland in association with the Irish Independent. These resources are available for students and teachers to use.
Annual National Flag Day
The Foundation’s annual national Flag Day takes place in hundreds of secondary schools on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day March 16th each year, giving schools the opportunity to celebrate active citizenship and inclusivity in their schools by raising the Irish flag and welcoming the flags of all the nationalities in their local communities. The raising of the Irish Tricolour flag symbolises a “coming together” creating a community of hope for Ireland’s future.
The Foundation funds and provides registered schools with flag packs to enable them to take part in all flag day and fundraising activities.
Awards & Scholarships
The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s Awards and Scholarship Programme has been running annually since 2016.
This education programme allows students from secondary schools across the State to enter the Thomas F. Meagher Awards and Scholarship Programme in association with our sponsor The Irish American Partnership.
Students have the opportunity to win one of many category awards or an overall top scholarship prize with winning students invited to attend the annual awards presentation ceremony.
Gaisce – The President’s Award
The Foundation is delighted to be Challenge Partners with Gaisce – The President’s Award since 2018 where students can combine their Flag Day activities enabling them to earn their Gaisce Bronze Award.
“At Gaisce – The President’s Award we share the same value of inclusion and equality that Thomas F. Meagher intended when he first flew, what was to become the Irish National Flag, in his native city at the Wolf Tone Club, Waterford. Our vision is an Ireland where every young person, no matter their circumstances, ethnicity, creed or gender, has equal access to participate and take on the President’s Challenge to dream big and fulfil their potential”.
Gaisce or ‘Great Achievement’ is a self – development programme for young people between the ages of 15-25 and has been in existence since 1985.
The Awards initially flourished under the patronage of former president Patrick J. Hillary and to date have been carried by incoming President’s. Over 300,000 young people have participated in the Gaisce Programme. At Gaisce our main aim is to ensure we have a programme which fits the needs of every young person who wishes to participate in the Gaisce programme and to give each participant the best possible opportunity to do so. We believe in the ability and resilience of young people and through the Gaisce programme we want them to nurture that ability and to realise their full potential.
The Foundation has devised a Sample 13 STEP PLAN using Flag Day activities towards achieving the Gaisce Bronze Award.
Teaching Resources
The Foundation publishes a classroom based pull-out supplement with lesson plans devised by the History Teachers Association of Ireland in association with the Irish Independent. These supplements and lesson plans are available for students and teachers to download and use.
