Interview with Aoibhinn Ni Suilleabhain

Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain
Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain at Feilte 2018 in Limerick.

Aoibhinn Ni Suilleabhain is currently a member of the School of Mathematical Sciences in University College Dublin researching and lecturing in Mathematics Education. She has also done work as a broadcaster after he success in the Rose of Tralee.


Jack and Amy spoke to her about how teachers can help students engage more in Maths and the importance of having girls take up more jobs in STEM. She also spoke about the advice that she would give to her Leaving Cert self and the opportunities that her involvement in the Rose of Tralee gave her. As a public figure she has successfully managed the balance between her public and private life and she shared how she manages this as well as sharing her favourite memory from her time in education so far.

[Interview by Jack and Amy, Youth Media Team.]

Interview with Sarah Jayne Carey and Lorcan Tuohy

Roisin and Amy interviewed Sarah Jayne Carey, a computer science teacher in Colaiste Bride in Clondalkin, and Lorcan. a sixth year student from Borrisokane Community College. Sarah Jayne and Lorcan were part of a panel discussion on the 21st Century Classroom today at Feilte.

They spoke about the role of technology in the classroom from both a student and teacher perspective.   Lorcan then spoke about the distinction between being a digital native and digitally literate.  Sarah Jayne spoke about teaching adults and teenagers  and the difference in their digital skills.

 

Roisin,Cara and Amy

Youth Media Team

 

Interview with Harry McCann

Amy and Jack interviewed Harry McCann at #FEILTE.

Harry was part of a panel entitled ‘The 21st Century Classroom:
the impact of technology on today’s learners.’ We asked him about his thoughts on the digital age of consent which he has been quite vocal about recently.  We also spoke to him about his involvement with the documentary ‘Making Ireland Click’ and why it was important to focus on the older generation andhow they use technology. Harry also gave a TED talk in February 2017 and he told us about that.

 

Amy and Jack

Youth Media Team

Interviews with some of the showcases at Feilte

Denis and Roisin interviewed Kate from Make, Create, Innovate today at Feilte. She spoke about what she is showcasing today at Feilte and the importance of teachers coming together to share ideas.

Denis and Roisin interviewed Leona Forde, a teacher from  Kinsale Community School. She spoke about their new collaborative projects in the school for teachers.

Cara and Roisin interviewed Marese Murphy a teacher showcasing about how she incorporates STEM into the classroom from a young age.

Denis, Cara and Roisin

Youth Media Team

 

Interview with Davy Fitzgerald

Davy Fitzgerald is a former Clare hurler turned manager. He managed the Waterford senior hurling team from 2008 to 2011 and from there he took over as Clare manager from 2011 to 2016. After this he moved to Wexford and has been managing their team ever since. As both a player and manager he has won Munster and All Ireland titles. . He is also a mentor on Ireland’s Fittest Family.

He spoke to Amy and Denis about how bullying in school made him the person he is today and and the importance of dreaming and always working towards a goal. He talked about the difference between preparing for an All Ireland as both a player and manager and how the role of a manager involves being responsible for a lot more people!! Finally he shared his favourite memory in sport which the 1995 Munster Final. The interesting thing was his passion for the importance of family in that occasion for him …

Denis and Amy
Youth Media Team

Interview with Lynn Ruane

Lynn Ruane  is a Senator  for the University of Dublin constituency in Seanad Éireann. She is an activist and campaigner on issues of justice and equality.

In our interview she talks about the need for belonging regardless of  the stage of education the person is at and how school and colleges can support this need.

Lynn talked to us about her experience with the education system and what prompted her to return to education. She also spoke openly about the barriers she encountered in education and how she persevered none the less and who inspired her.

Lynn talked about the the importance of young people having a role model they can relate to and also how important it is to have events like Féilte. We also asked her about the impact she hopes to make as senator.

Anna and Cara ,

Youth Media Team

Sabina Higgins Shares Her Message for Young People


The Youth Media Team talked with Sabina Higgins, wife of the President of Ireland. Sabina shared her important message for the young people of Ireland.

Sabina said, “Now is the most crucial and important time in the world. Because it’s the first time ever– because of what mankind has done in the last 200 years–that the planet is in danger of not being in existence”.


Sabina pointed out that people are doing a lot of work on these problems. “In the United Nations, and then in Paris, 200 countries signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals. These are 17 little goals there. They’re no poverty, no hunger, good health and well being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, clean and affordable energy, decent work, and it finishes up with action for climate change in land and in sea”.

The Paris Accords were a big deal. According to Sabina, “It was the first time in the world that countries across the whole world had one agenda.”

Sabina talked about how as young people we have access to all this information and that its a very exciting time for all this positive change to be happening. It’s a promising time. But it is also one filled with challenges. “You are the people that will bring those changes”, Sabina said. “So whatever area you’re interested in, know that you’re working, not just for yourself here, but for the world, the planet and that we’re all the same in the planet. And that we can do it.” Sabina reminded us that we “are the people who have the most exciting task. And whatever area you’re in, it’s all connected, it’s reaching to others.”

Sabina enjoyed the Feilte Exhibition. “There is nothing like the knowledge that you can have now,” Sabina said. “You know, when I was a girl, they didn’t even teach us about evolution!”

Anna and Cara
Youth Media Team

Guard of Honour from St Michael’s Infant School

The Youth Media Team met with St Michael’s infant school who formed a guard of honour for President Higgins on his arrival at #FÉILTE. The students happily recounted their experience after their personal meeting with President Michael D Higgins.


[Interview by Anna and Denis.]

Interview with Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins

The Youth Media Team had the honour of interviewing our President Michael D. Higgins at #Feilte.

We started our interview with a few words as Gaeilge and asked him what we as young people can do to be proud of our native language particularly with this year being Bliain na Gaeilge.

We also asked the President, after his many years of experience in the political sphere, if he has any advice for us young people and how we can use our voice and find our voice in the world of politics here in Ireland and abroad.

Finally we asked President Michael D. Higgins to tell us about his most important educational influence on his life so far.

As a team it was both a pleasure and an honour to meet our President. Interviewing Mr. Higgins was a great experience, one which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Thank you to President Higgins for taking the time to speak with us!

Lorcan, Roisin, Cara, Jack, Amy, Anna and Denis
Youth Media Team

Interview with Taragh Loughrey Grant

Anna, Amy (and Lorcan on camera :)) interviewed Taragh Loughrey Grant from RTE at the School Digital Champion showcase. Taragh spoke about her work as the Digital Editor for Lifestyle for RTE, which involves looking after the Lifestyle section of the RTE website and the RTE NewsNow app, looking after the RTE social media accounts, presenting a parenting series, a podcats called the Hourglass Series and so much more!! She shared the opportunities that mobile journalism provides and spoke to us about how important it is for us to have female role models in STEM. Finally she shared some of her role models who include Countess Markievicz, Aine Lawwlor, Rachel English, Audrey Carville, Claire Byrne to name but a few! Taragh’s enthusiasm was infectious!

Anna and Amy
Youth Media Team