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Ficheall 2023/2024

    Ficheall.ie is the national network of primary teachers promoting chess in their schools for the social and cognitive benefits it has for primary school students. Ficheall teachers use chess as a tool to teach through and an opportunity for their students to develop new skills and values, as well as representing their school at Ficheall tournaments called Féile Fichille (chess festival).

    The Ficheall.ie website contains many excellent resources created by fellow primary school teachers such as:

    Ficheall Summer Course

    Carrick on Shannon Education Support Centre have hosted the Chess for Social Skills summer course previously with great success. Upon completion of this course teachers can play chess (most attend the course having never played chess before) and can teach the basics of chess to students in their class while also teaching key SPHE curriculum objectives from 1st to 6th class (all of this without worksheets).

    Féile Fichille Chess Tournaments

    Féile Fichille tournaments are non-competitive chess tournaments organised annually in Term 2. No medals, prizes or trophies are presented. Instead, the day is a celebration of the students learning chess and social skills as well as their teachers’ leadership skills to introduce the initiative in their school. For many students it is their first opportunity to wear their school jersey and represent their school. More details about Féile Fichille Tournaments can be found here (including a checklist to ensure students are ready for the Féile Fichille)

    Féile Fichille Timeline

    • September: Registrations Open
    • October: Registrations Close
    • November: Schools informed of tournament date and venue
    • January/ February/ March: Féile Fichille tournament will be scheduled in term 2. Registered schools will be allocated one Féile Fichille tournament to attend. Schools are required to be at the venue at 9.30am with the event concluded by 2pm

    Contact Us

    If you have any queries regarding the Féile Fichille Tournaments please contact Ficheall using the Contact Us link here.

    Ficheall is the network of primary school teachers in Ireland who promote the playing of chess in schools for the social and cognitive benefits it has for students. Carrick on Shannon Education Support Centre is proud to partner with Ficheall in 2023/2024 so that your school has the opportunity to participate in a one-day chess tournament called Féile Fichille (chess festival)

    Féile Fichille Chess Tournaments

    As a focus for students learning chess for social skills in term one, Ficheall organise fun and friendly, non-competitive chess tournaments for schools called Féile Fichille or Chess Festival in term two each year. The one-day tournaments typically involve 8 schools and 150 students playing chess in a large hall. There are no prizes at the end of the one-day tournament so there’s no pressure to be a grandmaster. Students learn the basics and come to meet and play with students from other schools. Best of all, chess teams attend Féile Fichille in their school jerseys/colours. More information on tournaments is available here. The deadline to register for tournaments in 2023/2024 is Friday 20th October 2023.

    Register for Féile Fichille Chess Tournaments Here

    Free Beginner Lessons

    Ficheall volunteer teachers have created 10 beginner lessons for any teacher to use in their classroom from 1st to 6th class. The beginner lessons feature videos designed by primary school teachers in Ireland, PowerPoint slides and lesson plans. The Chess for Social Skills lessons are uniquely linked to the SPHE lessons and are designed to develop students’ understanding of respect, accepting defeat, planning ahead, etiquette, teamwork, decision making, patience, safe and unsafe, resilience and practice. If you think your students could benefit from these lessons they are free to access:

    Access Free Ficheall Beginner Chess Lessons Here

    Other Opportunities

    • Join the Mailing List - Join the Ficheall mailing list here to receive the Ficheall newsletter every two months
    • Resources as Gaeilge - Conas Ficheall a Imirt? YouTube playlist of videos as gaeilge designed by Ficheall volunteer teachers
    • Summer Courses - Ficheall organise summer courses for teachers to learn how to play chess and use the Ficheall resources called Chess for Social Skills. Keep an eye on the Ficheall CPD page for updates.
    • YouTube Channel - with 9 playlists featuring 82 videos created by volunteer Ficheall teachers, you’ll be sure to find something helpful here
    • Teacher Chess Club - Join the online teacher chess club which is available weekly. More information and sign up here.
    • Chess & Numeracy - Get set for Maths Week with some chess-based numeracy activities available here
    • Get in touch - send your queries to Ficheall here.