St. Mary’s National School, Ballygarrett, are the national winners of the ‘Something Fishy’ education programme.

The school beat 125 other schools nationwide with their project ‘Fishylympics’, and a cheque for €500 was presented by Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State for the New Era Project.

The competition is organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland in collaboration with Co. Wexford and Blackrock Education Centres.

The programme was introduced to the pupils by Michael Kennedy, the national co-ordinator for the ‘Something Fishy’ project.

Fisheries officers visited the school and spent time educating the children on the danger of invasive species to native habitats.

The highlight of the programme was a visit to the local river, the Owenavarragh, where the children were able to handle salmon, trout and other native fish as well as investigating the flora and fauna.

The Principal at Ballygarrett National School, Seamus Kennelly, thanked Michael Kennedy for his advice and assistance, the members of the local Inland Fisheries Board, and Paul Carolan, Director of the County Wexford Education Centre.

Full story in THE GOREY ECHO on Tuesday.