The Eyrecourt Examiner is a monthly newspaper produced by the senior classroom in Eyrecourt National School. Founded in 2011, the newspaper celebrated a major milestone by publishing its 100th issue in June 2026.
At the beginning of each school year, Ms Treacy advertises a range of roles within the newspaper team. Pupils apply in writing, submitting a sample of their work for positions including reporter, assistant editor, sales and distribution assistant, and editor. The successful applicants form the newspaper team, and their application pieces are featured in the first issue of the year.
Each month, the editors hold a planning meeting where news stories are assigned. Reporters then research and write their articles before submitting them by email ahead of the deadline. The editors review each story, providing feedback where necessary before beginning the layout of the eight-page newspaper.
Once the newspaper has been designed, the entire senior class takes part in a group editing session. Guided by the class teacher, pupils work together to improve spelling, punctuation and vocabulary, ensuring every article is as accurate, engaging and enjoyable as possible.
The finished newspaper is then printed in school and sold for €2 per copy. Each edition costs €0.64 to print, with these costs paid back to the school. The sales and distribution team folds the newspapers, delivers them to local shops, and keeps detailed profit and loss accounts, giving pupils valuable experience in budgeting and financial management.
At the end of the school year, the newspaper team uses its profits to enjoy a well-earned educational trip or activity. Over the years, pupils have taken part in kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding in Meelick. In 2026, the team travelled by train to Dublin, where they visited Arbour Hill, Collins Barracks and Kilmainham Gaol. Newspaper profits covered the cost of train and Luas travel, and each pupil also received €15 in spending money.
The Eyrecourt Examiner has earned recognition well beyond the school community. The team has presented at the CESI Conference and collaborated with Dr Anne Dolan of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. Through this partnership, the newspaper began producing special supplements, including a 1916 Commemoration supplement that was featured in the Irish Independent. The team also served as the main reporters at the ExCited Conference in 2015, and Ms Treacy has written about the newspaper’s writing process for InTouch, the INTO teachers’ magazine. The Eyrecourt Examiner has also been featured in the Irish Times, the Connacht Tribune, and the Athlone Topic.
We invite you to browse the Eyrecourt Examiner archives and enjoy the excellent writing, creativity and teamwork of our pupils.