Congratulations to DDLETB DFEI Student Daniel Byrne on his win at The National Student Media 2021 Award last night. Daniel’s film ‘Life in Lockdown’ won the TV Production of the Year award at the “Smedias”.

The Smedias allow students to showcase their work in journalism, radio and TV production, broadcasting and writing to prominent figures from the Irish media industry to judge.

This year’s judges include award-winning director and screenwriter Robbie Walsh, social media star James Kavanagh and various editors and producers from Ireland’s leading media organisations and high profile presenters such as Angela Scanlon, Maura Derrane, Muireann O’Connell, and Richard Chambers.

Ciara Mahon, manager of Oxygen.ie. said: ‘We are delighted to have another successful year of the Smedia’s, even in an unprecedented situation that we are all living in today.

This year’s standard was phenomenal and we were so impressed with the hard work of these students this year, especially as there was a big jump in entry submissions. “I applaud each and every one of you who participated in the Smedia’s 2021.

This year’s Smedia Awards took place virtually via a YouTube and Facebook live stream celebrating the hard work and efforts of over 240 nominees in 43 highly contested categories.

Despite a global pandemic, the awards went ahead for the 21st year with great enthusiasm and a 60% increase in student applicant entries.

IGNITE is a super programme for people aged 18–24 years old with an interest in Sport. It’s a full-time course, Monday – Friday and a training allowance is provided. It takes place at Brookfield Youth & Community Centre in Tallaght, Dublin 24.

IGNITE is designed to engage young people by combining the key elements of sport, youth work and education. The programme will enable participants to gain the skills and confidence to return to education or further training or progress to employment by learning new skills that will help them progress on this pathway. It will also empower the young people to become more involved in sporting opportunities in their own local communities.

On completion of IGNITE young people will receive accreditation from at least five sporting bodies in a variety of sports, complete a QQI level 3 module in interviewing skills & have an increased awareness of key skills including communication, problem-solving & teamwork.

The young people participating in this programme will have an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe but challenging environment within their own community

Elements of IGNITE include:

Coaching Certificates

• Soccer FAI – PDP-1
• Mountaineering Ireland
  – Rock Climbing Indoor Assistant Cert
• Leinster Rugby – Prime Coaching Cert
• Kayaking skills- Level 2 Cert
• Badminton – International certificate
• Leinster Cricket – Coaching Certs
• GAA – Foundation Cert
• Orienteering Ireland Instructor Cert

Other Certificates

• Sports First Aid
• Child Protection Training
• Disability Inclusion
• QQI Module: Researching Interviewing Skills

Workshops

• Mindfulness
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Introduction to Fitness

To find out more about the exciting opportunity in sports development, Contact
Darren Bruton,
Sports Officer
DDLETB Youth & Sport
Development Services
Mobile 087 218 0941

It’s an exciting time to be young in Fingal!

The Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board has partnered with Fingal County Council and Music Generation to improve music education opportunities available to children and young people in the county. Fingal is the latest area to commence participation in Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme which strives to transform children and young people’s lives by giving them opportunities to create, play and perform music in their own communities. ‘Music Generation Fingal’ will be established as part of the programme’s journey towards nationwide expansion, meaning that ultimately children and young people in every city and county in Ireland will have access to high quality, subsidised performance music education.

New Opportunities

Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board and Fingal County Council serve Fingal’s youth population through their respective education services and over the coming years Music Generation Fingal will enrich these services by offering new opportunities for children and young people to participate in dynamic and diverse performance music education programmes.

Planning for the roll-out of Music Generation Fingal is underway. The next immediate step is to recruit a new Music Generation Development Officer with specific expertise to oversee programme development. Advertisements for the role are now live on the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB)website (www.ddletb.ie) and Fingal County Council (FCC) Arts Office website (www.fingalarts.ie)

Initiated by Music Network in 2010, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs). Locally, Music Generation Fingal will be led by DDLETB in partnership with FCC and local youth education services. Its formation in Fingal follows a commitment by DDLETB and FCC to provide quality arts and cultural experiences and a commitment by Government in 2017 to support the nationwide roll-out of Music Generation as part of ‘Creative Youth’ – a Creative Ireland plan to enable the creative potential of every child and young person.

Commenting on the programme, Caitriona Murphy, CEO of DDLETB said: “We are delighted to be the lead partner on such an exciting venture with Music Generation and Fingal County Council. We look forward to working collaboratively with all partners to implement this wonderful programme as we open the door to performance music education for our children and young people.”

A New Era

The Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor David Healy, said: “This signals a new era for music education in Fingal and is much needed following the challenging year children, young people and musicians have experienced. Providing access to high-quality music education in underserved communities is imperative as we strive to embed the arts in our everyday life. We look forward to a bright and musical future in Fingal.”

The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “Following a year of research and development Fingal are delighted to publicly announce this unique and meaningful initiative that is set to enhance the lives of many children and young people in the county. It builds on all that we in Fingal have achieved to date and provides new opportunities to grow Fingal’s cultural capacity by ensuring access to quality music education for Fingal’s youth, and by retaining and attracting music practitioners to live and work in the county.”

Since its establishment in 2010, Music Generation has grown to reach 25 areas of Ireland. Currently, it creates some 67,000 opportunities annually for children and young people to access music tuition, and 400 employment opportunities for skilled musician educators. Since March 2020, Music Generation programmes nationwide have been adapting and innovating to find safe, inspiring ways to connect with children and young people through music, on- and offline.

Rosaleen Molloy, National Director of Music Generation, said: ‘’Fingal has demonstrated enormous ambition and great commitment in setting out its vision for performance music education in local communities. I’m thrilled that Fingal will now be joining Music Generation, and I’m looking forward to working with all partners to realise their vision, which will bring about truly transformative outcomes for the county’s next musical generation.”

The Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science Simon Harris paid a virtual visit to Collinstown Park Community College today. The Minster met with learners – Claire, Luke and Amanda – who shared their learning journey. He was particularly interested in female participation in IT, lifelong learning, Traineeship and future careers in growth industries. Staff from Collinstown and DDLETB joined the call and detailed the relationship with Microsoft Ireland which led to the establishment of the first Microsoft Data Centre Academy in Europe.

We are very grateful to the Minister for taking the time to visit Collinstown Park.