Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan to help schoolchildren celebrate World School Milk Day
Grace Wickham (left) of Presentation School, Maynooth, with double Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan at the launch of the National Dairy Council’s World School Milk Day celebrations.
Primary schools across Ireland are being invited to celebrate the 27th World School Milk Day.
A special live webinar hosted by the National Dairy Council (NDC) on Wednesday, September 30, will mark the event.
Presented by John Sharpson through the National Dairy Council's Moo Crew educational platform, the webinar will feature double Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan alongside National Dairy Council nutritionist Aoife Burns.
Pupils and teachers will hear about Mr O’Donovan’s training and nutrition, see footage from recent school farm visits, and enjoy cookery demonstrations from home economics teacher Neasa Egan, author of the Folens textbook .
Recalling his own experience of school milk, Paul O’Donovan said: “I have great memories of getting school milk during my primary school days in Lisheen. It was always one of the highlights of the day…
"After spending time running around the yard, especially on a sunny day, there was nothing better than a fresh carton of milk. It was incredibly refreshing and a great way to rehydrate.”
Read More
As an elite athlete, dairy continues to form part of Mr O'Donovan's diet, and he will speak to pupils about his training and nutrition.
CEO of the National Dairy Council, Emma Walls, said: “World School Milk Day is a wonderful opportunity for schools to celebrate the role of school milk programmes while helping children learn more about nutrition, farming, and where their food comes from.
“Through the EU School Milk Scheme and our Moo Crew resources, we want to give pupils engaging and practical opportunities to learn about healthy, balanced diets.
"The National Dairy Council is delighted to welcome Paul O’Donovan, John Sharpson, and Neasa Egan to this year’s webinar, which promises to be an informative and enjoyable event for classrooms throughout Ireland.”
World School Milk Day is celebrated internationally on the last Wednesday of September each year, recognising the benefits and achievements of school milk programmes. First held in September 2000, it has become an annual event promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Schools can register in advance for the webinar or watch it live on Wednesday, September 30, at 11.30am by visiting the Moo Crew website and following the webinar link on the homepage.
The EU School Milk Scheme has operated in Ireland since 1982. Its purpose is to reconnect children with agriculture and encourage healthy eating habits by distributing milk to pupils alongside supporting educational activities.
The NDC operates the scheme in Ireland in collaboration with the department. Since 2017, the scheme has been delivered through the NDC’s Moo Crew educational platform.
Available to primary and secondary schools, the scheme provides participating schools with a daily supply of milk at discounted rates for pupils. It is supported by educational resources highlighting the nutritional value of milk and dairy as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Further information about the Moo Crew programme is also available online.
