Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, has today announced that seven primary schools in Clare have received a Research Ireland Curious Minds Award for 2026.
Funded by Research Ireland, the Curious Minds Awards recognise schools that adopt hands-on, inquiry-based approaches to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in their teaching. The initiative is open to all primary schools and supports educators and students at every stage of their STEM teaching and learning journeys, from those starting out to those adopting whole-school approaches.
Across participating schools, students are encouraged to ask questions, test ideas and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Through practical investigations and real-world challenges, pupils explore STEM topics including biodiversity, coding and programming, design-and-make projects, forces and materials, engineering challenges and problem-solving activities.
Announcing the 2026 Curious Minds Awards, Minister Lawless said: “I am delighted to announce that 337 schools across the country have won Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards this year. What makes these awards so special is their focus not just on what children learn, but on how they learn. Through Curious Minds, schools across Ireland are helping young people to ask questions, explore ideas, and develop the confidence to experiment and problem-solve.
I want to thank the teachers and school leaders whose passion and dedication are inspiring the next generation to engage with STEM in creative and meaningful ways. Their commitment is helping to foster a lifelong curiosity in our young people. Congratulations to every school recognised this year on this wonderful achievement.”
Commenting on the awards, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said: “The Curious Minds Awards showcase the enthusiasm and creativity of school communities across Ireland. The programme is built on a simple but powerful belief – that every child is born curious and every teacher can nurture that curiosity into a lifelong love of science, technology, engineering and maths. By supporting teachers and embedding these curiosity-centred approaches in everyday learning, the programme is making a real difference in helping to develop skills that will benefit students both now and into the future.”
To mark the announcement, a Research Ireland Curious Minds Awards Ceremony took place online in hundreds of classrooms throughout Ireland, hosted by TV presenters Gráinne Bleasdale and Phil Smyth, to celebrate the awardees.
The schools recognised in Clare this year are:
Bunscoil Na mBraithre, Ennis (Gold Award)
Coolmeen N.S, Kilrush (Gold Award)
Fanore N.S., Ballyvaughan (Gold Award)
Saint Mary’s N.S. Lahinh (Gold Award)
St Aidans N.S. Smithstown (Gold Award)
St John’s N.S. Cratloe (Gold Award)
Tubber National School (Gold Award)