ONE of North Kerry's most remote primary schools has received a special honour from the State for its efforts to get to the very heart of Europe.

Knockaclarig National School, Brosna, may be located in a fairly isolated area, but due to special projects undertaken in recent years with the direction of Principal Tom Roche, the pupils there are closer to their continental counterparts than perhaps any other school in the region.

Outright winners of a massive EU schools competition in Prague last year for the strong links they cemented with a Swedish primary, Knockaclarig was back on the radar recently when Léargas — the national agency promoting European integration — presented the school with an 'e-twinning' label of excellence.

The label was presented by Léargas officer, Kay O'Regan, in recognition of the school's continuing devotion to all things European. In their e-twinning EU final win last year in Prage, Knockaclarig and their Swedish twin were celebrated for the educational, sporting and cultural links they had fostered. Through visits and special website videos, blogs and presentations, both schools shared knowledge of their locales, traditions, flora and fauna and sports.

For many, that project's culmination was the sight of Swedish school children playing Gaelic football. Now, Principal Tom Roche — recently made a special ambassador of seven nationwide for promoting the e-twinning competition — is off to Seville on Thursday to observe this year's finalists in the competition. As last year's winners, Knockaclarig are unable to contest the 2010 title as it is run on a two-year cycle.

"We're delighted with the Léargas recognition," Mr Roche said.

"The e-twinning competition has really sparked the pupils' sense of European identity and they're constantly on the internet keeping abreast of the competition and communicating with our twinned school.

"We're looking forward to competing again next year, when our emphasis will probably be on Irish music and dance.

"The football was a real clincher for our win last year, I believe, and we're looking forward to highlighting the strength and quality of our traditional music and dance culture next year," he said.

- DÓNAL NOLAN