Tinahely National School have been awarded the Creative Schools Award for the years 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 (with merit). The Creative Schools Award was run by the ACAE (Association of Creativity and Arts in Education), with Michael D. Higgins as its patron. Its aims were to enable, via the medium of the Arts, encouragement of children to use their voice, to encourage teacher refection and to facilitate and give merit to the creative process. During our years taking part, our classes used an array of themes and media, for example, making hats and showcasing them in a millinery fashion show, creating a video filmed in Tinahely based on local folklore, filming an infomercial on mental health, creating a ‘Chill Area’ in the yard, working with a local artist to create an outdoor ceramic installation and much more. In fact, RTE came down to our school twice to film the great creative work we had been doing. Even more amazing that that, the president’s wife, Sabina Higgins came to officially unveil our outdoor ceramic installation! Taking part in the Creative Schools Award has not only added to the creative child-centered aesthetic of the physical environment in our school, but also had a far-reaching effect on the children who took part, encouraging problem-solving, strong teamwork skills, an outlet to express themselves artistically and so on. Unfortunately the Creative Schools Award is no longer running since the end of the academic year 2018.