Frequently Asked Questions

How does Teachers Inspire work?

Teachers Inspire Ireland is an initiative that recognises and celebrates the contribution that teachers make to our society, in all sorts of ways, not just in the classroom.

Each year, members of the public are invited to share their stories about the teacher who made a difference in their lives.

From those entries, a shortlist of inspiring stories is drawn up and shared here on the Teachers Inspire site. Four teachers are given the Teachers Inspire Desmond Award.

Who were the awardees for Teachers Inspire 2021?

Claire Duffy, a retired teacher who taught at Skerries Community College, Skerries, Co. Dublin

Una Smith, who teaches at Virginia College, Co. Cavan

Liz Kett, a retired teacher who taught at Grennan College, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny

Donna Fitzgerald, who teaches at St. Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla, Co. Clare

Who were the awardees for Teachers Inspire 2019?

Seamus Cassidy, a retired teacher who taught at Tuam CBS, Co. Galway

Nora Duffy, a retired teacher of St. Joseph’s Co-Ed, East Wall, Co. Dublin

Sinead O’Mahony who teaches at the Mid-West School for the Deaf in Limerick

Kelly Loughran of Beech Hill College, Monaghan

When does Teachers Inspire 2022 begin?

Teachers Inspire 2022 will launch in October 2022.

What's the closing date for entries?

We've extended the closing date to January 20th, 2023.

I have a query about Teachers Inspire that isn’t answered here. Who can I contact about it?

Please email us at teachersinspire@dcu.ie and we will attempt to answer any other questions you may have.