Limerick primary school students compete in national chess competition
OVER 130 primary school students from nine local schools in Limerick and Tipperary gathered for a national chess competition.
Scoil Dean Cussen, in the county Limerick town of Bruff brought together chess whizzes for the Ficheall.ie primary school chess tournament.
Ficheall.ie, which is a network of primary school teachers who promote the playing of chess in schools, organised the event which was one of a series held throughout the country with four such events taking place in Limerick this year.
The participating schools included Scoil Dean Cussen, Bruff, Courtenay national school, Newcastle West, Scoil Fhionáin, Kilfinane, Lisnagry NS, Lisnagry, Scoil Mhuire NS, Murroe, Scoil Mháthair Dé, South Circular Rd, CBS Primary School, Nenagh, Scoil Íde, Corbally and Birdhill NS, Birdhill.
Teams from the schools competed with each other over six rounds on the day which was the second of the year hosted by Scoil Dean Cussen with two others hosted by Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh and Monard NS respectively in recent weeks.
The tournaments offer a fun and inclusive environment in which to play chess, while each school received a framed certificate of participation, provided by Limerick Education Centre which has supported the competition in its entirety.
Noel O’Connell, 6th class teacher in Scoil Dean Cussen, said: “The playing of chess has been excellent for the development of social skills and problem solving abilities among my students, particularly those who may not have previously been involved in extracurricular pursuits such as sport.”
Ficheall.ie provides training, lessons and activities for teachers to bring chess into their schools as well as information on upcoming tournaments and events. All such information can be found on their website.