ESB and National Concert Hall Announce New Three-Year Partnership to Support ‘Quavers to Quadratics’ Schools Programme  

Over 7,650 students have taken part in the programme since the collaboration began in 2020  

The National Concert Hall (NCH) and ESB are proud to announce a new three-year partnership to support Quavers to Quadratics, an innovative programme that explores the intersection of music and science for primary school students and their teachers.

Developed in partnership with University College Dublin (UCD) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and supported by the Research Ireland Discover Programme, Quavers to Quadratics engages children in 3rd to 5th class from DEIS and Gaeltacht schools in enquiry-based learning through hands-on workshops led by university students. Together, they explore questions such as “How do musical instruments make sound?” and “What’s the difference between music and noise?”  

Since its inception in 2015—and with ESB’s support since 2020—the initiative has grown significantly, engaging an increasing number of primary school students each year. Over the past five years, participation has soared, with more than 7,650 students taking part in the programme.  

Thanks to ESB’s ongoing support, the programme has also expanded in reach and accessibility, with delivery as Gaeilge for those in Gaeltacht communities, with increasing numbers of students engaging in the programme in recent years.

The impact has been far-reaching: many participants have gone on to study science at third level, while others have pursued careers in education. Remarkably, some early participants have even returned to the programme as university facilitators. To date, over 600 university students have contributed to delivering the workshops.  

A Unique Approach to Learning 

Quavers to Quadratics challenges the traditional divide between music and science, using an interactive, enquiry-based co-teaching model to engage young minds. University student tutors, specialising in music education and science, facilitate the workshops, supported by class teachers, gaining valuable teaching and interdisciplinary skills essential for future educators.  

“We are delighted to partner with ESB to continue this vital programme that lies at the heart of our mission to inspire and engage young people through the arts,” said Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall. “This partnership has enabled us to bring the magic of music and the curiosity of science to thousands of children across Ireland. Together, we are not only enriching young minds but also building a legacy of creativity, exploration, and opportunity for future generations.”  

ESB’s support aligns with its long-standing commitment to fostering STEAM* education and community engagement. “At ESB, we believe in empowering young people through education. Quavers to Quadratics is a fantastic initiative that allows students to explore STEAM subjects in a way that’s fun, opening up new possibilities around science and learning.” said Sarah Sharkey, Corporate Reputation Manager, ESB.  

Programme Delivery and Key Dates  

Quavers to Quadratics is available in multiple formats, ensuring accessibility for schools across Ireland:  

• In-person workshops at the National Concert Hall: 9th - 20th June, with preand post-school visits (booking via NCH Box Office).  

• Irish-language workshops (Idir Cheol agus Chearnaic: Ceardlanna Ceoil agus Eolaíochta): 9ú & 10ú Meitheamh 2025 (booking via NCH Box Office).  

• In-school workshops: Delivered by facilitators over two days in classrooms, selected via an application process.  

• Online programme via Seesaw: Available for remote participation.  

• Gaeltacht school visits: Taking place between 4ú – 7ú Meitheamh 2025  

In-school and online programmes are ongoing.  

This partnership between ESB and NCH, with the support UCD/TCD Schools of Education and the Research Ireland Discover programme, ensures that Quavers to Quadratics will continue to inspire young minds and encourage greater STEAM participation over the next three years.  

For more information or to register for the Quavers to Quadratics programme, please visit www.nch.ie  

*STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics

ENDS  

Media Queries: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall 087 17755334 or Roisin Dwyer, PR & Publications Executive, National Concert Hall 085 7129628.  

About the National Concert Hall

Located in the heart of Dublin beside the beautiful Iveagh Gardens, the National Concert Hall (NCH) has been Ireland’s leading cultural institution for music since 1981. Home to the National Symphony Orchestra and resident ensembles like Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Baroque Orchestra, and Crash Ensemble, the NCH plays a pivotal role in Irish music and culture. Looking forward, the NCH’s ambitious redevelopment under Project Ireland 2040 will further elevate its contribution to the arts and the musical landscape of Ireland for generations to come. 

 

Comhpháirtíocht Nua Trí Bliana fógartha ag ESB agus ag an gCeoláras Náisiúnta chun tacú le Clár Scoileanna 'Quavers to Quadratics'  

Tá os cionn 7,650 mac léinn tar éis páirt a ghlacadh sa chlár ócuireadh tús leis an gcomhoibriú in 2020. 

Tá an Ceoláras Náisiúnta (NCH) agus ESB bródúil as comhpháirtíocht nua trí bliana a fhógairt chun tacú le Quavers to Quadratics, clár nuálach a dhéanann iniúchadh ar thrasnú an cheoil agus na heolaíochta do dhaltaí bunscoile agus dá múinteoirí. 

Forbraíodh Quavers to Quadratics i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath (UCD) agus Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath (TCD), agus le tacaíocht ó Chlár Fionnachtana Taighde Éireann, rannpháirtíonn Quavers to Quadratics leanaí i rang 3 go rang a 5 ó scoileanna DEIS agus Gaeltachta i bhfoghlaim bunaithe ar fhiosrúchán trí cheardlanna praiticiúla faoi stiúir mic léinn ollscoile. Le chéile, déanann siad iniúchadh ar cheisteanna ar nós "Conas a dhéanann uirlisí ceoil fuaim?" agus "Cad é an difríocht idir ceol agus torann?" 

Ó bunaíodh é in 2015—agus le tacaíocht ESB ó 2020—tá fás suntasach tagtha ar an tionscnamh, agus tá méadú tagtha ar líon na ndaltaí bunscoile gach bliain. Le cúig bliana anuas, tá méadú mór tagtha ar rannpháirtíocht, agus ghlac níos mó ná 7,650 mac léinn páirt sa chlár. 

A bhuíochas le tacaíocht leanúnach ESB, tá leathnú tagtha ar an gclár ó thaobh sroichte agus inrochtaineachta de, le seachadadh as Gaeilge dóibh siúd i bpobail Ghaeltachta.  

Bhí an tionchar forleathan: tá go leor rannpháirtithe tar éis dul ar aghaidh chun staidéar a dhéanamh ar eolaíocht ag an tríú leibhéal, agus tá daoine eile tar éis gairmeacha san oideachas a dhéanamh. Go hiontach, tá roinnt rannpháirtithe luatha tar éis filleadh ar an gclár fiú mar éascaitheoirí ollscoile. Go dtí seo, chuidigh os cionn 600 mac léinn ollscoile leis na ceardlanna a chur ar fáil. 

Cur chuige uathúil i leith na foghlama 

Tugann Quavers to Quadratics dúshlán don deighilt thraidisiúnta idir ceol agus eolaíocht, ag baint úsáide as samhail chomh-mhúinteoireachta idirghníomhach, bunaithe ar fhiosrúchán chun intinn óga a mhealladh. Éascaíonn teagascóirí mac léinn ollscoile, a dhéanann speisialtóireacht in oideachas ceoil agus eolaíocht, na ceardlanna, le tacaíocht ó mhúinteoirí ranga, ag fáil teagaisc luachmhar agus scileanna idirdhisciplíneacha atá riachtanach d'oideachasóirí sa todhchaí. 

"Tá ríméad orainn dul i gcomhpháirtíocht le ESB chun leanúint leis an gclár ríthábhachtach seo atá i gcroílár ár misean daoine óga a spreagadh agus a mhealladh trí na healaíona," a dúirt Robert Read, Príomhfheidhmeannach an Cheolárais Náisiúnta. "Chuir an chomhpháirtíocht seo ar ár gcumas draíocht an cheoil agus fiosracht na heolaíochta a chur ar fáil do na mílte leanbh ar fud na hÉireann. Le chéile, ní hamháin go bhfuilimid ag saibhriú intinn óga ach ag tógáil oidhreacht cruthaitheachta, taiscéalaíochta agus deiseanna do na glúnta atá le teacht." 

Tá tacaíocht ESB ag teacht lena thiomantas fadtéarmach d'oideachas STEAM agus do rannpháirtíocht an phobail a chothú. "Ag ESB, creidimid i gcumhachtú daoine óga trí oideachas. Is tionscnamh iontach é Quavers to Quadratics a ligeann do mhic léinn ábhair STEAM* a iniúchadh ar bhealach atá spraoi, ag oscailt féidearthachtaí nua maidir le heolaíocht agus foghlaim," a dúirt Sarah Sharkey, Bainisteoir Clú Corparáideach, ESB. 

Seachadadh an Chláir agus Príomhdhátaí. 

Tá Quavers to Quadratics ar fáil i bhformáidí éagsúla, rud a chinntíonn inrochtaineacht do scoileanna ar fud na hÉireann: 

1. Ceardlanna pearsanta sa Cheoláras Náisiúnta: 9^ú - 20^ú Meitheamh, le cuairteanna réamhscoile agus iarscoile (áirithint trí oifig na dticéad an NCH). 
2. Ceardlanna Gaeilge (Idir Cheol agus Chearnaic: Ceardlanna Ceoil agus Eola^ochta): 9u & 10u Meitheamh 2025 (áirithint trí oifig na dticéad NCH).  
3. Ceardlanna in-scoile: Cuirtear ar fáil iad ag éascaitheoirí thar dhá lá i seomraí ranga, roghnaithe trí phróiseas iarratais. 
4. Clár ar líne trí Seesaw: Ar fáil le haghaidh rannpháirtíocht iargúlta. 
5. Cuairteanna scoile Gaeltachta: Ar siúl idir 4ú - 7ú Meitheamh 2025 

Tá cláir inscoile agus ar líne ar siúl. 
 
Cinntíonn an chomhpháirtíocht seo idir ESB agus NCH, le tacaíocht do Scoileanna Oideachais UCD/TCD agus an clár Research Ireland Discover, go leanfaidh Quavers to Quadratics ag spreagadh intinn óga agus ag spreagadh rannpháirtíocht níos mó STEAM sna trí bliana amach romhainn. 
 
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil nó chun clárú don chlár Quavers to Quadratics, tabhair cuairt ar www.nch.ie 

CRÍOCH

Fiosrúcháin ó na Meáin: Sinéad Doyle, Bainisteoir Margaíochta agus Caidrimh Phoiblí, Ceoláras Náisiúnta 087 17755334 nó Roisin Dwyer, Feidhmeannacht Caidrimh Phoiblí agus Foilseachán, An Ceoláras Náisiúnta 085 7129628. 

Maidir leis an gCeoláras Náisiúnta 

Lonnaithe i gcroílár Bhaile Átha Cliath in aice le Gairdíní álainn Uíbh Eachach, is é an Ceoláras Náisiúnta (NCH) príomhinstitiúid chultúrtha ceoil in Éirinn ó 1981. Tá ról lárnach ag an NCH i gceol agus i gcultúr na hÉireann agus ensembles cónaitheacha ar nós Cór Aireagail na hÉireann, Ceolfhoireann Bharócach na hÉireann, agus Crash Ensemble. Ag breathnú chun cinn, cuirfidh athfhorbairt uaillmhianach an NCH faoi Thionscadal Éireann 2040 lena rannchuidiú le healaíona agus le tírdhreach ceoil na hÉireann do na glúnta atá le teacht.