Home School Hub

Educational television programme in Ireland

This article is about the Irish television show. For homeschooling in general, see Homeschooling.

Home School Hub

Also known as| RTÉ's Home School Hub
Genre|

* Children's television series
* Educational

Presented by|

* Ray Cuddihy
* Clíona Ní Chiosáin
* John Sharpson
* Emer O'Neill
* Will Sliney

Country of origin| Ireland
Original languages| English, Irish
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 59
Production
Running time|

* 60 minutes
(Main show)
(ISL-signed version)
* 15 minutes
(Home School Extra)

Production companies|

* RTÉ Television
* Macalla Teoranta
* (supported by) Mary I College

Original release
Network|

* RTÉ2
* RTÉ Junior
* RTÉ Player

Release| 30 March 2020 (2020-03-30) –
19 March 2021 (2021-03-19) [1]

RTÉ's Home School Hub, or simply Home School Hub, and its companion show Home School Extra, was an educational television programme which was created in response to the closure of all schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland in 2020.[2] Announced on 21 March,[3] it began broadcasting on RTÉ2 on 30 March, aimed at children attending 1st–6th class of primary school (i.e. roughly 6/7–12/13 years of age).[4] The first series ended on 19 June.[5] A new series After School Hub began on 11 October, broadcasting in the afternoon to cater for children whose parents are working from home.[6][7] The series finished on 19 March 2021.

## Format

[edit]

The hour-long main show, broadcast Monday-Friday at 11am, typically consisted of three lessons, one from each of the main presenters, (qualified teachers Múinteoirs[a] Clíona, Ray and John).[8] As is standard for primary school education in Ireland, the teachers gave their lessons bilingually through English and Irish.[9] In place of commercial breaks, the programme has smaller inserts from RTÉ-produced/commissioned educational programmes such as The Body Brothers, I'm an Animal, Pink Kong Studios' Urban Tails and Colm Tobin's Brain Freeze.[10] Comic book artist Will Sliney also presents short drawing lessons in the "We Will Draw" segment.[11]

A 15-minute-long compilation of material submitted by viewers relating to the content of recent shows, Home School Extra, narrated by Múinteoir Ray, was shown after the main show, and repeated at 4.15pm.[9]

Irish Sign Language signed version of a previous main show has broadcast at 1pm from April to July.[12][13]

## Presenters

[edit]

* Ray Cuddihy – a puppeteer, actor and voice-artist, who had previously worked with RTÉ Junior[2][14]
* Clíona Ní Chíosáin – an actress and television presenter known for TG4's Aifric[15][2]
* John Sharpson – an actor, YouTuber and teacher[2][9]
* Emer O'Neill – a physical education teacher, activist, and a former basketball player [16]
* Séamus the dog – a puppet who has worked with RTÉjr[17][18]

Cuddihy and Sharpson had previously worked together for their YouTube channel "Sharuf!", which features sketches, interviews and puppetry.[19]

Smaller segments were presented by:

* Will Sliney, "We Will Draw" teaches drawing techniques
* Phil "Scientist Phil" Smyth, "Hub Lab" teaches science experiments to do at home
* Niamh Shaw, 'Space Hub' teaches space topics about planets, science and human missions past and present[20][21][22]
* Dale McKay, beat boxing[23]

## Guests

[edit]

Guests on the show included:

* Lenny Abrahamson, director[24]
* Dermot Bannon, architect and presenter of RTÉ's Room To Improve[25]
* Thomas Barr, Olympic hurdler[26]
* Sinéad Burke, teacher, fashion-designer and disability campaigner[27]
* Eoin Colfer, author of Artemis Fowl[28]
* Marita Conlon-McKenna, author of Under The Hawthorn Tree[29]
* Gordon D'Arcy, former Irish rugby player[29]
* Kenneth Egan, Olympic silver-medalist boxer[26]
* Maeve Flynn, Dogs Trust Ireland [citation needed]
* Kellie Harrington, Amateur world-champion boxer
* Claire Lambe, Irish rower[26]
* Rae Moore, award-winning architect[30]
* Sene Naoupu, rugby player [31]
* Shane O'Donoghue, Irish national team hockey player, olympian[26]
* Dave Rudden, writer of young adult fiction[32]
* Niamh Shaw, scientist and space expert for RTE[33] with an aim to go to space as communicator and writer[34]
* Allie Sherlock, YouTuber and busker, discussed busking, and played with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as part of the final episode[35]
* Greta Streimikyte, Paralympic middle-distance runner[26]
* Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1 presenter and host of The Late Late Show and The Late Late Toy Show[36]
* Iseult Ward, co-founder and CEO of Food Cloud[citation needed]
* Sarah Webb, award-winning children's writer[29]
* Bus Éireann
* Children's Health Foundation, Crumlin
* The Dublin Fire Brigade
* Dublin Zoo
* Garda Síochána
* Irish Naval Service

## Production

[edit]

The show was produced by Dublin-Based Television and Film production company, Macalla Teoranta and shot in Scoil Lorcáin, a national school in Monkstown, Dublin.[37]

## Cúla4 Ar Scoil

[edit]

TG4, Ireland's Irish language television service launched its equivalent show Cúla4 Ar Scoil ("Cúla 4 at School") in April 2020.[38] It was recorded in Connemara, with teachers Caitriona Ní Chualain and Fiachra O Dubhghaill.[38] The service continued in September for the new school year, with Ní Chualáin, Orla Ní Fhinneadha, Micheál Ó Dubhghaill, Síle Ní Chonghaile, Caitríona McAtee and Joe Ó hEachtairn, though most schools had returned to operation.[39]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ "Múinteoir" is the Irish-language word for "Teacher", and a standard honorific for primary school teachers in Ireland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Farewell from the Home School Hub!". RTÉ.ie. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
2. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Katie (6 April 2020). "The Teachers". Irish Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2020 – via PressReader.com.
3. ^ Burne, Louise (21 March 2020). "RTE to air school live on TV as Claire Byrne Live fate confirmed". Extra.ie. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
4. ^ O'Kelly, Emma (20 March 2020). "RTÉ to broadcast 'school on TV' from Monday". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
5. ^ Jennings, Gavin (29 May 2020). "Fun activities to do this June holiday weekend". Morning Ireland. RTÉ Radio 1. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
6. ^ "After School Hub, a daily after-school show for children, to start on RTÉ next week". about.rte.ie. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
7. ^ "Macalla Teo's new children's show After School Hub start on RTÉ next week". IFTN.ie. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
8. ^ Burne, Louise (30 March 2020). "'Truly excellent' — RTE's Home School Hub was a massive hit with parents and kids". Extra.ie. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
9. ^ a b c Fennell, Hilary (11 May 2020). "This Much I Know: John Sharpson, Teacher – Home School Hub on RTÉ". IrishExaminer.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
10. ^ "Home School Hub – Podcast" (xml). www.rte.ie. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
11. ^ "#WeWillDraw: Learn how to draw with Will Sliney". RTÉ. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
12. ^ "Irish Sign Language (ISL) version of the Home School Hub to air every weekday". RTÉ.ie. RTÉ Television. 16 April 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
13. ^ @RTEjr (7 July 2020). "On #RTEHomeSchool with ISL – it's the last lesson with a special performance from @alliesherlock and @rte_co, and lots of messages from well-known faces including Bono and President Michael D. Higgins" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 July 2020 – via Twitter.
14. ^ Burke, Roisin (30 March 2020). "Cork teacher lands RTÉ role to keep kids learning during Covid-19 crisis". EchoLive.ie. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
15. ^ Nolan, Larissa (26 April 2020). "Clíona Ní Chiosáin: French bar job showed I had plenty of bottle". TheTimes.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
16. ^ "Meet Emer O'Neill, the newest member of Home School Hub". RTÉ.ie. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
17. ^ "Meet Séamus". RTÉjr. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
18. ^ Murphy, Darragh (3 April 2020). "Memory game shows just how invested parents are in RTE Home School Hub". Lovin Dublin. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
19. ^ Elkin, David. "Two out-of-work RTÉ kids presenters have started a Den-style YouTube channel from their bedroom". DailyEdge.ie. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
20. ^ "Space Hub Dr Niamh Shaw on Venus - RTÉ After School Hub". YouTube.
21. ^ "Home School Hub Space Hub, Night Sky segment, RTE TV June 2020". YouTube.
22. ^ "Space Hub Dr Niamh Shaw on Asteroids - RTÉ After School Hub". YouTube.
23. ^ Music generation Twitter
24. ^ Carton, Melissa. "Normal People director Lenny Abrahamson to give online film class for RTE's Home-School Hub". Her.ie. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
25. ^ "Dermot Bannon talks about his time in Egypt on Home School Hub". 16 June 2020.
26. ^ a b c d e "RTE Home School Hub Olympics". Irish Amateur Boxing Association. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
27. ^ RTÉ [@rte] (14 April 2020). "Tomorrow on #RTEHomeSchool. Sinéad Burke talks about her decision to become a teacher, her love of fashion and the importance of dreaming big" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via Twitter.
28. ^ "Eoin Colfer | Story Hub". Artemis Fowl Confidential. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
29. ^ a b c "Let's get reading on Home School Hub". 2 June 2020.
30. ^ "RTE Home School Hub | RTE 2 — RAE MOORE — Architect & Artist - News & Updates". RAE MOORE. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
31. ^ "Naoupu features on RTÉ Home School Hub". Leinster Rugby. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
32. ^ "Dave Rudden: There are books for everyone". RTÉ. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
33. ^ Donohue, Helen (16 February 2021). "New astronauts sought for out of this world career". RTÉ.ie.
34. ^ Macalla Productions [@MacallaTeo] (21 April 2020). "Engineer, scientist & writer @Dr_Niamh_Shaw joins the #RTÉHomeSchool Hub classroom tomorrow to tell us about her dreams of going to space! 🚀" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via Twitter.
35. ^ "Allie Sherlock plays graduation gig for Home School Hub". 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
36. ^ "Ryan Tubridy visits the Home School Hub". 2 June 2020.
37. ^ O'Connor, Siobhan (3 May 2020). "Aifric star back on TV as teacher at helm of RTE's Home School Hub". Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
38. ^ a b Wall, Eva (10 April 2020). "TG4 to launch new school programme for children in Irish language schools". Extra.ie. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
39. ^ Lynch, Richard (2 September 2020). "MIC Teams Up with TG4 for Series 2 of Cula4 ar Scoil". ILoveLimerick.ie. Retrieved 17 September 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Sharpson & Cuddihy's Sharuf!'s channel on YouTube
* Ray Cuddihy at IMDb
* Clíona ní Chíosáin at IMDb
* John Sharpson at IMDb

*[No.]: Number