Cash grant will help Scoil Náisiúnta Dar Earca bring its transatlantic communications heritage to life for a new generation of pupils
The RISE Community Fund has awarded a cash grant to Scoil Náisiúnta Dar Earca on Valentia Island, County Kerry, to support an innovative educational project that aims to reconnect two communities on opposite sides of the Atlantic, 160 years after they helped transform global communications.
The grant will support the school’s ambition to establish an educational link with a school in Heart’s Content, Newfoundland, Canada, celebrating the historic connection between the two communities through the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866.
Supporting technology investments that enhance digital learning and maximise the benefits of high-speed broadband connectivity, the RISE Community Fund is backed by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) and partners involved in the delivery of the Government’s National Broadband Plan, including KPMG, DreamDev Technologies, TLI Group, Entegro, Obelisk and Circet.
Valentia Island occupies a unique place in the history of global communications. In 1866, the successful laying of a transatlantic telegraph cable between Valentia and Heart’s Content revolutionised the way people communicated, making it possible to transmit messages between Europe and North America in minutes rather than weeks.
Now, 160 years later, Scoil Náisiúnta Dar Earca hopes to bring that remarkable history into the classroom, using modern digital connectivity to build new relationships between children in the two communities.
The proposed project would see pupils exchange letters and emails, develop transatlantic pen-pal friendships and collaborate on shared heritage projects exploring the history of communications. The school also hopes to introduce supervised video links between classrooms, allowing children to share their experiences and learn about life on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Paul O’Connor, Principal of Scoil Dar Earca, said: “160 years ago, Valentia Island helped connect Europe and North America through the transatlantic cable. Today, we want our pupils to build on that remarkable legacy by connecting with children in Heart’s Content, Newfoundland. Through pen-pal friendships, exchanging letters and emails, collaborative heritage projects and live classroom links, we hope to bring this extraordinary history to life for a new generation.
“We are incredibly grateful to the RISE Community Fund and NBI for supporting our ambition. As a small island school, having access to modern digital technology opens up extraordinary opportunities for our pupils to learn about the world and connect with others.
“The first transatlantic cable connected two continents. Our ambition is to connect two classrooms, creating friendships, shared learning and opportunities that reach far beyond the Atlantic Ocean.”
Established by David McCourt, the RISE Community Fund has awarded over 200 cash grants nationwide to rural schools, community groups, farms, small businesses and social enterprises seeking to use technology to scale the positive impact of their work.
David McCourt, Chairman of National Broadband Ireland and founder of the RISE Community Fund, commented: ” The transatlantic cable changed the world by connecting people across an ocean. Today, through the National Broadband Plan, we’re continuing that tradition of connection, bringing world-class digital infrastructure to rural communities right across Ireland.
“What Paul and his team are proposing at Scoil Dar Earca is a wonderful example of why this matters. Broadband isn’t simply about faster internet speeds. It’s about the opportunities that connectivity creates, whether that’s helping businesses grow, enabling people to work remotely or, in this case, allowing children in a small island school to build friendships and learn alongside pupils thousands of miles away.
“That’s exactly why we established the RISE Community Fund: to help communities turn connectivity into real opportunities. We’re delighted to support this initiative and look forward to seeing how it develops.”
The proposed educational initiative also builds on the longstanding relationship between Valentia Island and Heart’s Content, whose shared communications heritage is the subject of ongoing efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage recognition.
National Broadband Ireland is encouraging all Kerry residents to visit nbi.ie and check their Eircode to see if they are ready to connect and to find out more about placing an order. Further information about the RISE Community Fund is available at riseglobalfoundation.com.
