{"id":9769,"date":"2026-09-28T10:54:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:54:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/?p=9769"},"modified":"2026-09-28T10:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:54:09","slug":"mount-st-michael-secondary-school-clairemorris-co-mayo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/mount-st-michael-secondary-school-clairemorris-co-mayo\/","title":{"rendered":"Mount St Michael Secondary School, Clairemorris, Co. Mayo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elements in Clay transformed an underused outdoor area between the Art and Geography classrooms into a vibrant, interactive space for students to create, connect, and reflect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Developed in collaboration with ceramic artist Andrew Ilsley, the project focused on creativity, sustainability, and cross-curricular learning. Transition Year students were involved in every stage, from brainstorming and design to hand-building, glazing, kiln firing, installation, and landscaping, building strong ownership and pride in their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inspired by biodiversity and climate themes, students experimented with a range of ceramic techniques and developed pieces that respond to the environment through movement, sound, and interaction with rain. Personal touches, such as hidden words of encouragement, added deeper meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The finished space is now a shared outdoor area where students and staff can sit, spend time, and engage with both art and nature, making it a calm and creative place for everyday use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9771\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/00-Before-clearing-space-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/00-Before-clearing-space-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/00-Before-clearing-space-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/00-Before-clearing-space-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01-Before-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01-Before-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01-Before-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01-Before-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9770\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/02-Process-Andrew-and-student-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9770\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9777\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/04-Students-in-classroom-working-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/04-Students-in-classroom-working-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/04-Students-in-classroom-working-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/04-Students-in-classroom-working-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05-Students-working-with-clay-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05-Students-working-with-clay-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05-Students-working-with-clay-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/05-Students-working-with-clay-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9786\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/08-Detail-of-wall-pieces-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/08-Detail-of-wall-pieces-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/08-Detail-of-wall-pieces-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/08-Detail-of-wall-pieces-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9785\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/09-Detail-of-leaves-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/09-Detail-of-leaves-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/09-Detail-of-leaves-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/09-Detail-of-leaves-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/10-Students-at-work-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/10-Students-at-work-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/10-Students-at-work-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/10-Students-at-work-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9779\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/11-Students-with-Kiln-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9779\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/13-Loading-Kiln-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9775\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/14-Kiln-Firing-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9773\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/15-Details-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/15-Details-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/15-Details-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/15-Details-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9781\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/16-Details-of-reptile-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9781\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9783\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/17-Install-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/17-Install-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/17-Install-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/17-Install-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9776\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/18-Installation-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9776\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9789\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/19-Detail-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9789\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9774\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/19a-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9774\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20-Detail-of-work-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9782\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9791\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20a-detail-rainwell-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20a-detail-rainwell-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20a-detail-rainwell-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20a-detail-rainwell-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21-Detail-rabbit-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9788\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"461\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"9792\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21a-flowers-on-wire-461x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9792\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9784\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21a.bird-and-robin-close-up-jpg-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21a.bird-and-robin-close-up-jpg-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21a.bird-and-robin-close-up-jpg-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/21a.bird-and-robin-close-up-jpg-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9787\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/22-All-hands-on-deck-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/22-All-hands-on-deck-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/22-All-hands-on-deck-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/22-All-hands-on-deck-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"474\" data-id=\"9796\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24-After-1024x474.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24-After-1024x474.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24-After-980x453.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24-After-480x222.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24a-after_9294-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24a-after_9294-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24a-after_9294-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24a-after_9294-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"461\" data-id=\"9793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24group-1024x461.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24group-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24group-980x441.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/24group-480x216.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elements in Clay transformed an underused outdoor area between the Art and Geography classrooms into a vibrant, interactive space for students to create, connect, and reflect. Developed in collaboration with ceramic artist Andrew Ilsley, the project focused on creativity, sustainability, and cross-curricular learning. Transition Year students were involved in every stage, from brainstorming and design [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9790,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9769"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9797,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9769\/revisions\/9797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}