Together, we shape the learning experiences that shape futures.

Dear Principal/Teacher/SNA,

Included below is a summary of all CPD events for the upcoming week beginning 19th January 2026 aswell as some other highlights for the rest of January 2026 and beyond.

You can also review all of these Teacher Professional Learning events in either the Primary or Post Primary courses section of the centre website. https://www.cesc.ie/

Here is a summary of some other CPD events/initiatives you may be interested in: 

• NCSE Events - Details of any upcoming NCSE Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.
• Oide Events - Details of any upcoming Oide Teacher Professional Training and how to register can be found here.

🌐 ITEN.ie – Supporting Teacher Learning All Year Round

ITEN.ie, our asynchronous CPD platform, has now been empowering educators for over a year. It offers practical, expert‑led courses you can dip into anytime and revisit as needed. Each module focuses on real‑world strategies that make an immediate difference in the classroom. Feedback from Cork schools continues to highlight how valuable it is for both new and experienced staff to access meaningful, flexible professional learning in one place.

2026 National Conversation on Education - This survey is part of Ireland’s conversation about the future of our education system.

Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools - The DEY has publish this Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools to support the teaching and learning of Irish in primary and post-primary schools that teach through English. The action plan will be implemented within a two-year period, 2025 to 2027.

As your local Director, I want to take this moment in mid‑January to acknowledge the incredible dedication shown across our Cork catchment entire school community—teachers who continue to inspire learning, school leaders who guide with vision and steadiness, SNAs who provide essential support with compassion, and every member of staff who contributes to creating safe, vibrant, and inclusive learning environments. Your commitment shapes the daily experiences of children and young people, and it strengthens the fabric of our Irish education system in ways that matter deeply. Thank you for the work you do, the care you give, and the professionalism you bring to every day. I look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead.

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

🌿 Attention, care, and growth

As we move into February, Seamus Heaney’s writing offers a helpful way of thinking about this point in the school year — not as a time of sudden change, but of quiet testing and renewal. Early spring, in his work, is when the thaw begins slowly, almost unnoticed, and hope returns with patience rather than urgency. It is a moment when the land, like ourselves, starts to remember what it can become after winter. In The Cure at Troy, Heaney reminds us to “believe that further shore is reachable from here,” a line that resonates strongly with the steady, reflective work of learning, teaching and assessment. As an educational community, we carry that sense of possibility into the weeks ahead, continuing our professional learning through shared practice, care, and commitment.

Creative Clusters

We are pleased to confirm the link for the Creative Clusters Guidelines has now gone live on the Gov.ie website: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/creative-clusters/ and details available on the centres website also https://www.cesc.ie/projects-cesc.html

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

FÓGRA | NOTICE:

Cruinniú Ginearálta Bliantúil Choiste Bainistíochta Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Chorcaí.

6.30pm, Dé Céadaoin an 5 Samhain 2025.

Annual General Meeting of the Management Committee of Cork Education Support Centre.

6.30pm, Wednesday 5th November 2025.

Tionólfar Cruinniú Ginearálta Bliantúil Ionad Oideachais Chorcaí Dé Céadaoin, an 5 Samhain, 2025 ag 6.30pm. Tá fáilte roimh mhúinteoirí Bunscoile agus Iar-bhunscoile uile ár gceantar. Iarrtar ort clárú roimh ré más mian leat freastal ag This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fáilte roimh chách freastal agus tacú le hIonad Tacaíochta Oideachais Chorcaí chun tacú lenár scoileanna.

The A.G.M. of Cork Education Centre will be held Wednesday, 5th November 2025 @ 6.30pm. All Primary and Post Primary teachers are welcome in our catchment. You are requested to register in advance if you wish to attend at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All welcome to attend and support Cork Education Support Centre to support our schools.

A Chairde,

I am honoured to write to you for the first time as Director of Cork Education Support Centre, following my appointment by the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee. I officially took up the role on 1st September 2025, and I am very much looking forward to working with you all in the months and years ahead.

Many of you will know me from my time at Christian Brothers College, Cork, where I served as Assistant Principal I and Geography Teacher, with particular responsibilities for Digital Learning and School Self-Evaluation. Having also been a member of the CESC Management Committee, I have seen first-hand the incredible work carried out by the Centre to support teachers, SNAs, school leaders, and those working in the early childhood care and education sector.

It is a true privilege to now lead this work. I am eager to collaborate with the dedicated team here in the Centre and to continue working hand in hand with the Management Committee, whose vision and commitment have been instrumental in the Centre’s growth and success. I also look forward to deepening our connections with colleagues across the national network of Education Support Centres of Ireland (ESCI). Together, we will build on these strong foundations to provide professional learning opportunities that are inclusive, innovative, and of the highest quality.

I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Seán Horgan, who has led CESC with distinction over the past five years. Seán’s steady leadership, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, has left an enduring legacy of resilience, collaboration, and innovation. His deep appreciation for Irish history, particularly the Civil War era and the foundation of the State, brought a rich dimension to his work. Seán ran our very successful local history summer courses, which were always fully booked and a highlight for many, combining great fun with valuable learning. On behalf of us all, I extend our warmest wishes to Seán, Lorraine, and their family for continued success and happiness in the future.

As I begin this new chapter, I look forward to engaging with you all, listening to your ideas, and building strong partnerships that will enhance the professional lives of educators within our Cork catchment, and beyond.

Is mór an onóir dom scríobh chugaibh don chéad uair mar Stiúrthóir ar Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Chorcaí, tar éis dom a bheith ceaptha ag an Aire Oideachais, Helen McEntee. Thosaigh mé go hoifigiúil sa ról ar an 1 Meán Fómhair 2025, agus táim ag tnúth go mór le bheith ag obair libh go léir sna míonna agus sna blianta amach romhainn.

Beidh aithne ag go leor agaibh orm ó mo thréimhse i gColáiste na mBráithre Críostaí, Corcaigh, áit ar fhreastail mé mar Phríomhoide Cúnta I agus mar Mhúinteoir Tíreolaíochta, le freagrachtaí ar leith as Foghlaim Dhigiteach agus Féinmheastóireacht Scoile. Ós rud é go rabhas im bhall de Choiste Bainistíochta Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Chorcaí (CESC) chomh maith, chonaic mé go pearsanta an obair dochreidte a dhéanann an tIonad chun tacú le múinteoirí, le Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta, le ceannairí scoile, agus leo siúd atá ag obair in earnáil chúram agus oideachas na luath-óige.

Is fíor-phribhléid é an obair seo a threorú anois. Táim fonnmhar comhoibriú leis an bhfoireann dhíograiseach anseo san Ionad agus leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair lámh ar láimh leis an gCoiste Bainistíochta, a bhfuil a bhfís agus a dtiomantas ríthábhachtach i bhfás agus i rath an Ionaid. Táim ag tnúth chomh maith lenár naisc le comhghleacaithe ar fud líonra náisiúnta Ionaid Tacaíochta Oideachais na hÉireann (ESCI) a dhoimhniú. Le chéile, tógfaimid ar na bunchlocha láidre seo chun deiseanna foghlama gairmiúla a sholáthar atá cuimsitheach, nuálach agus den chaighdeán is airde.

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas ó chroí a ghabháil chomh maith leis an Uasal Seán Horgan, a bhí i gceannas ar CESC le clú le cúig bliana anuas. D’fhág ceannaireacht sheasta Sheáin, go háirithe le linn dhúshláin gan fasach phaindéim Covid-19, oidhreacht bhuan athléimneachta, comhoibrithe agus nuálaíochta. Thug a mheas domhain ar stair na hÉireann, go háirithe ré an Chogaidh Chathartha agus bunú an Stáit, gné shaibhir dá chuid oibre. Reáchtáil Seán ár gcúrsaí samhraidh staire áitiúla rathúla, a bhí lán i gcónaí agus a bhí ina mbuaicphointe do go leor, ag nascadh spraoi iontach le foghlaim luachmhar. Thar ceann gach éinne, guím rath ó chroí ar Sheán, Lorraine, agus a dteaghlach go leana séan agus sonas iad amach anseo.

Agus mé ag tosú ar an gcaibidil nua seo, táim ag tnúth le bheith ag obair libh go léir, ag éisteacht le bhur smaointe, agus ag tógáil comhpháirtíochtaí láidre a fheabhsóidh saol gairmiúil oideoirí laistigh dár gceantar i gCorcaigh, agus níos faide anonn.

Le gach dea-ghuí

Edmond Hussey

Stiúrthóir | Director