Blue Star Programme

Primary school pupils around the country are being challenged to get creative in how they learn and think about Europe through the Blue Star Programme!

The Blue Star Programme teaches primary school pupils about European cultures and the EU through creative activities and projects which complement the national primary curriculum.

The idea is simple: to foster better understanding and knowledge of Europe and how it affects the lives of Irish citizens among Irish primary pupils in a curriculum friendly manner.

Since the first year of the Programme in 2011-2012, the Blue Star Programme has had just over 1,000 primary school registrations across the country, as the Programmes grows from strength to strength!

In 2011/12

The Blue Star Programme piloted with 30 schools involved. Since then, over 1,000 primary school registrations and approximately 80,000 children have participated in the Programme and gained a better understanding and knowledge of other European cultures, the EU and how it affects their lives.

In 2013/14

The Blue Star Programme teachers received the Citizens’ Prize from the European Commission, which is an award given to citizens or organisations for having contributed to promoting better mutual understanding and closer integration between citizens of the Member States

In 2016/17

The Blue Star Programme received the Altiero Spinelli Prize from the European Commission and European Parliament, for spreading knowledge and outreach when communicating the EU.

In 2022/23

254 schools are currently participating in the Blue Star Programme, with every county in Ireland represented for the ninth year in a row.

Follow @bluestarprog

The Programme is designed to be as curriculum-friendly as possible so it can fit in with lesson plans already in place. Each class carries out projects suitable for their age group on History; Geography; Culture and Creativity; and Institutions of the EU. While we offer advice and suggestions for projects and activities, teachers have flexibility to be creative and to tailor their Action Plans for the needs of their class. Classes have written and acted out plays; made traditional food from all over Europe; and talked to relatives in other EU countries over Skype, amongst many other creative activities. One class even recreated the painting of the Sistine Chapel by painting the underneath of their classroom desks.

Teachers, parents, carers and the whole school are encouraged to get involved in these projects. In this way, the Blue Star Programme creates awareness of the EU that reaches far beyond the school walls and out into the wider community.

Get Involved

For more information on the Blue Star Programme and to find out how your school can participate visit:

EM Ireland is the national implementing body for the Blue Star Programme. The Programme is a venture of the Communicating Europe Initiative, supported by the Office of the Minister of State for European Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Education and Skills, the European Commission Representation in Ireland and the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland.