Minister Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht launched 1, 2, Spraoi! 2025, featuring a compendium of creative mathematical stories written by young writers from Scoil Bhreandáin, Gaelscoil Bharra, and Scoil na Maighdine Muire Gan Smál.

1, 2, Spraoi! is an innovative project that aims to connect mathematics education with creative writing through Irish. It’s a collaborative effort between CASTeL member Dr Lorraine Harbison DCU Institute of Education, Fighting Words, and the Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-Medium Education (COGG).

This project aimed to create a Professional Learning Community to explore the teaching of Irish in tandem with the new Mathematics Curriculum in a creative, integrated, and inclusive way.  It would not have been possible without the financial support from the Teaching Council and the Department of the Gaeltacht. 

Through creative writing, pupils were given the opportunity to think mathematically, develop their language skills, and collaborate with one another.

Read on to find out if the Ninja will succeed in overcoming the mathematical challenges to open the bank vault!

Will Oisín the Eighth manage to enter the horse race in the Wild West of Connemara?

Is it possible to escape from the witch Caoimhe’s maths school in the Magical World of Shapes?

You’ll also encounter the Planet of Shapes, car races, Renagh Roinnte (Division), and Mícheál D. Ó Heicseagán and lots, lots, more!

https://www.fightingwords.ie/publications/1-2-spraoi-2025 

Photo credits © Brian Cregan