Kildare school wins award for promoting inclusion and diversity

St Mary's College in Naas has won a Yellow Flag award for promoting issues such as inclusion and diversity. 

St Mary's College and other schools from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Louth, Waterford, Wicklow completed successfully an application process and received a Yellow Flag for their achievements by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman.

Ciara Ryan, a teacher at St Mary's College, said: "A celebration of diversity and a recognition of everyone’s uniqueness became central to our core mission statement, but we needed to ensure that this was more than just a beautiful document.

1. Pic Student of Eliseba Tomy Thomas St Mary's College, Naas, Co. Kildare and Minister Joe O'Brien

Minister O'Gorman said: “Children and Young people often lead the way in showing us all a real model of inclusivity. The Yellow Flag programme is incredibly valuable in how it brings to the fore that inherent sense of fairness and mutual respect in such a practical way. It’s a real privilege for me today to be able to award a Yellow Flag to 14 primary and post-primary schools from all over the country, recognising their significant achievement in challenging racism and discrimination. The survey results highlighted today also reveal just how much more work is needed in spreading this positive work further – a job Government is committed to supporting.” 

Speaking at the event, Yellow Flag Coordinator, Sian Abraham Long said; ‘Over 55,000 students in Ireland were in a school which proactively adopted it, but government investment is needed to ensure schools are working to the same standards within the curriculum and with teachers supported in their efforts through training'.

Many teachers reported never having received intercultural or anti-racism training, which is also a finding among 8 in 10 teachers who took part in the survey and who entered the 2-year cycle programme in 2023.

The colourful event was MC’d by award-winning author, advocate and Traveller cultural collector Oein DeBhairduin, in a showcase ceremony focused on the power of communities to contribute to integration. The fourteen awardee schools were: 

Primary

1. St. Catherine's Senior School, Cabra, Dublin 7

2. St Ronan's National School, Deansrath, Clondalkin Dublin 22

3. St Mary’s On The Hill National School, Knocknaheeny, Cork

4. St Joseph’s Primary School, Charleville, Co. Cork,

Post Primary

1. Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle Dublin 13

2. Bremore Educate Together Secondary School, Balbriggan

3. Merlin College, Galway

4. St Oliver's Community College, Drogheda

5. Coláiste Pobail Setanta, Clonee, Dublin 15

6. St. Paul's Community College, Lisduggan, Waterford City

7. Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Waterford

8. St Mary’s College, Naas, Kildare

9. Dominican College, Wicklow 

10. St Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin Dublin 22

The Programme is partially supported since 2023 by the Department Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under the Ireland Against Racism Fund support government’s goal to foster inclusivity and promote social cohesion and integration.

What is The Yellow Flag Programme?  A whole school initiative that supports primary and secondary schools to become more inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities, celebrate diversity and challenge racism and discrimination. Following the completion of the 8-steps schools are awarded a Yellow Flag. https://yellowflag.ie/