Good sportsmanship - on and off the board
Getting pupils to engage in the classroom, to take part in activities that mould the mind and help them become more intelligent, is never easy.
Everybody has their pastimes, be it sport, music or art. But you will find few children who actively enjoy activities that teach them skills which will be helpful throughout their educational journey. That is where chess comes in.
The sport (and it is officially classed as a sport) is growing throughout the country, especially as an educational tool in national schools.
Its development has been brought forward by Ficheall, a group of likeminded teachers throughout Ireland who see the many benefits of getting their students engaging with the game.
Ficheall host various tournaments throughout the year, one of which was attended by The Tuam Herald.
On February 9 at the Ard Ri House Hotel, Tuam 160 students from Garrafrauns, Gortnaleam, Ballinlass, Lisheen, Newtown, Crumlin, Gardenfield, Scoil Nioclás Naofa and Educate Together Tuam National Schools came together for a day of exciting chess action.
Read the full feature in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald, on sale in shops and online here