A ringfort in Inch, Co Clare, has been adopted by the pupils in the neighbouring national school, as part of the Heritage Council's Adopt a Monument scheme.
The monument is an earthen ringfort which was once the homestead of farmers who lived in the early Christian period.
Adopting the monument means Inch National School is getting access to expertise, mentoring and support to help them to protect the ringfort for future generations and promote their local heritage.
Principal Conor McKenna said the community was always aware of the ringfort, but for the children, "it was probably just a place where footballs and sliotars got lost".
"It's only in the last few years as we've been collaborating with Inch Tidy Towns committee that we've been exploring the place a bit more and appreciate the value of the monument that we have on the school grounds," said Mr McKenna.
The ringfort has sparked great curiosity among pupils, who are exploring its historical significance within their local area. The school also plans to use the site as an outdoor classroom, and the children are eager and enthusiastic about the chance to step beyond the traditional classroom and bring their learning to life outdoors.
"We as students actually helped to draw up the plans," said sixth-class student Amy O'Connor, "so first we went up and it was all cleared up which was amazing. Then we were picturing what it was like in the past.
"Then we decided what kind of chairs and tables would be nice here because we wanted to keep it like a fairy fort, so we were thinking wooden chairs, tables and maybe a blackboard."
Congella McGuire is Heritage Officer with Clare County Council. She said it's wonderful that the local community, Inch Tidy Towns and Inch National School have taken on the project to showcase the ringfort right in the heart of the community.
"They're going to explore the history, how people lived back in the early medieval period, how they survived and what kind of activities took place in the ringfort," she said.
"In the early Christian period, this area would have been densely populated, and ringforts are our most common field monuments," she explained.
Ms McGuire also believes fairies have played a role in protecting ringforts thanks to the stories and mythologies that have developed around the forts.
"The fairies have helped to protect ringforts because people believe that if you interfere with a ringfort that it will bring you bad luck," explained Ms McGuire.
Following a call for applications earlier this year, a large number of community groups applied to adopt a monument in their locality. Eight sites were chosen following a selection process that also involved the National Monuments Service, The Heritage Council, The Discovery Programme, a community archaeologist, and Abarta Heritage.
Chosen alongside Inch Ringfort this year are Glenkeen Church and Graveyard, Tipperary; Donoughmore Church and Graveyard, Cork; Ballyboro Tower House, Castleboro Demesne, Wexford; Kilbride Church and Graveyard, Leitrim; Doonane Sweat House, Tipperary; Annagelliffe Church and Graveyard in Cavan; and Kilshannig Church and Graveyard, Kerry.
