Success with Chess- Regional Fícheall Tournament
Following three successful tournaments in the Cavan/ Monaghan region, teams from three primary schools from County Cavan competed in a regional Ficheall tournament in the Longford Arms Hotel on the 12th of April. The tournament was an opportunity for the best players and teams from local tournaments to test their chess skills against players from schools further afield. The event was enjoyed immensely by all who took part. Any teachers interested in introducing chess to their schools are invited to apply for the Ficheall Chess for Social and Cognitive Skills summer course in Monaghan Education Centre which is scheduled to take place from 1-5th July.
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:
- A series of 10 beginner chess lessons (with optional integration to the SPHE curriculum)
- List of CPD chess courses for teachers (summer, evening and online courses)
- Chess numeracy puzzles
- Ficheall newsletters with chess updates
- Online Teacher Chess Club
- 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