Last Friday, 26th September 2025, an exciting new video resource for the Follow Me Religious Education programme was launched at St Fin Barre’s National School, Cork. Follow Me is a Religious Education Programme for National Schools under the patronage of the Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. It is published by the Church of Ireland General Synod Board of Education and you can visit their website here. The programme consists of eight books supported by online materials.

Introducing the new video, which introduces the pipe organ in a child friendly way, Dr Jacqui Wilkinson, editor and author of Follow Me and Assistant Professor in Religious Education at Dublin City University, recalled her first conversation with Peter Stobart (Director of Music in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral) about her idea for a video to introduce children to the instrument. She said:

Many school children only see organs on church visits or hear them played at carol services or other big events. This interactive video titled ‘Pulling Out all the Stops’ introduces primary school children to the different parts of the organ and showcases the many skills of the organist. I want to thank Peter Stobart for taking my seed on an idea and bringing it to life in the wonderful video resource we have today.

The video was directed and produced by Fuchsia Fishbourne from MAINFRAME TV and features Peter Stobart (Director of Music at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral), Matthew Breen (Assistant Director of Music, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral) and children from St Fin Barre’s National School.

Those visiting the school for the launch were Dr Jacqui Wilkinson, who is coordinating the Follow Me redevelopment, Ms Carolyn Good (Follow Me Committee), Dr Ken Fennelly and Mrs Susan Ellis (General Synod Board of Education). They joined members of the school community: Ms Susan Durcan (acting principal), members of the school council and some of the children who featured in the video, Dean Nigel Dunne, Mr Peter Stobart and Mr Matthew Breen.

The video will be freely available to schools on the Follow Me website and has an accompanying lesson pack compiled by Mr Ian Packham (Kildare Place School) and Dr Jacqui Wilkinson.

You can view the video here.

Earlier in the day, everyone had visited St Luke’s National School, Montenotte to thank Karen Allsopp, SNA in the school, who was commissioned by the General Synod Board of Education to create a set of images for the new 2nd class slide decks in the Follow Me programme. As it was the day after SNA Appreciation Day, it was an appropriate time to thank Karen for sharing her talents. The pupils and staff viewed some of Karen’s artwork during assembly and Karen, Mr Eddie Pepper (school principal) and Ms Shilling were each presented with a framed print of one of Karen’s pictures.

The vibrant and engaging artwork will be featured in specific lessons about God and Easter and will also be available for schools to print as images for display in classrooms or corridors.