Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i The Primary Planet

Can you believe we are already here – at the final issue of The Primary Planet for this school year? It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a year can pass. Honestly, it feels like only nine weeks ago – not nine months ago – that we finished the September issue of the 2024/25 school year. And now in the next few weeks the TPP team will be turning their attention to the 2025/26 school year! But let’s take it back to the ‘now’, as we often hear many wise men and women tell us these days! Because in this month’s issue we’ve got a jam-packed programme that hits on many topical things. As you will see on the page right next to this, we’ve taken a side step…

Record Move The number of people born in the Republic of Ireland now living in Australia has passed 100,000 for the first time – reaching 103,080 in April 2024. The number previously peaked at 96,360 in 2013, following the collapse of the Celtic Tiger (the nickname for Ireland’s boom years from the mid-1990s to late 2000s). Emigration to Australia slowed during Covid-19 but surged again afterwards. Around 26,000 people from Northern Ireland also live there, bringing the Irish-born total to 129,000. Australia’s population is 27.1 million – and 8.6 million of those were born abroad. The Irish don’t even make the top 10 immigrant groups, though. The English – with nearly a million – top the list. Sinn Féin has blamed Ireland’s housing crisis for the exodus, but Australia has…

This month in history 75 years ago The Chinchaga forest fire burned for months in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, destroying 3,500,000 to 4,200,000 acres – the largest recorded fire in North America. It was allowed to burn freely, following local forest management policy, but there were no deaths as there were so few people living in the area. It created the ‘Great Smoke Pall’, observed across eastern North America and as far away as Europe, making the sun and moon seem blue. It caused pitch darkness even at midday in many places. Rain in October finally put it out. 125 years ago On this day died Mary Kingsley, English explorer and travel writer. Inheriting money after her parents’ deaths, she travelled across West Africa on her own – which…

Play Date It was a doggy playdate like any other, with a lot of sniffing and tail-wagging and scampering around. Except that this was a two-day playdate organised by Guinness World Records and the dogs are GWR stars. He is the tallest living dog. She is the shortest. Pearl, a Chihuahua, travelled over 4000 km from Florida to meet Reginald, a Great Dane from Idaho. She is 9.1cm tall (eh, short) and he is 101.6cm tall. A photo shows her sitting in his food bowl. Owner Vanessa held Pearl safely in her hands for the initial greet-and-sniff, but Reggie behaved like a gentle giant and soon the dogs were snuggling on the sofa and roaming around the Idaho farm together. ‘He was very careful,’ Reggie’s owner Sam said. ‘He didn’t…

Maker: PorscheCountry: GermanyModel: 911Year: 2024Fuel: HybridTransmission: Manual or automaticTop Speed: 312 km/hHorsepower: 541 hp Materials: The body and chassis are made from aluminium composite panels, making the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS much lighter than most rivals. It weighs just 1,595 kg. Behind the Badge Porsche (or Dr Ing h.c. F. Porsche AG, to give it its full title) is a world-famous German carmaker, known for building luxury, high-performance sports cars, SUVs and saloons. It was founded in Stuttgart in 1931. 5 Fast Facts 1 The 911 is one of Porsche’s most iconic cars. There have been eight generations since the first model in 1963. This is the first-ever hybrid version. 2 It uses a T-Hybrid powertrain – the ‘T’ stands for turbo. It includes an electric turbocharger and motor, powered…

TPP's Book of the Month Check out The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran, our book of the month for June. Title: The Doomsday ClubAuthor: Kevin MoranPublisher: O’BrienYear: 2024 Classmates – and definitely not friends – Conan, Jack, Yash and Jerry are in detention. For fighting. And for the little matter of a fire in the boys’ bathroom … However, when a supernatural monster emerges from a swirling vortex outside their classroom window, it isn’t long before the detention takes a sinister turn. Watching the monster vanish into the garden of the eerie Mr Kilroe, an old man who lives opposite the school, the boys decide they need to find out more. Their investigation soon pulls them into a dangerous otherworldly adventure – where only friendship and understanding the past will…

Highlighting the best sporting action taking place over the next three months Euro 2025 Unfortunately, Ireland are not among the 16 teams competing for European honours in Switzerland, but that won’t stop us enjoying watching stars such as Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and England forward Alessia Russo in action. England are the defending champions, but were drawn in a tough group with France, Netherlands and neighbours Wales, who beat Ireland in a play-off to qualify. Tour de France The biggest race in cycling will see riders compete over 21 gruelling stages, racking up 3,339 kilometres. Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia won his third title in five years last summer and is again among the favourites, while Ireland’s Sam Bennett and Ben Healy are also expected to feature. The women’s race,…

Lions Ready to Roar A record number of Ireland players will travel to Australia this month for the British and Irish Lions tour. Head coach Andy Farrell has placed faith in the players who have produced the goods for him on a regular basis with Ireland, as the Lions head Down Under seeking a first series win since beating the Wallabies in 2013. Those Irish players will receive a big send-off on June 20 when the Lions face Argentina at Lansdowne Road (8 pm kick-off). It will be the first time the Lions have played on Irish soil, and they will be determined to kick-start their summer with a win over the Pumas. After Dublin, the Lions fly to Australia for a nine-match tour which includes three Tests against the…

Howdy, Ag Maggers! We’ve been blown away by the amazing response to our AG MAG reader survey – and we just want to say a massive thank-you to everyone who filled out a form, posted one in or emailed a picture of their answers. It means the world to us! As we expected, your feedback was full of brilliant ideas, kind words and clever suggestions. We loved hearing what you enjoy most – from more puzzles and posters to interviews and machinery features. It’s clear you love reading AG MAG as much as we love making it! So what’s next? Well, we’ve got great news ... WE’RE GOING BIG! Thanks to your enthusiasm and encouragement, we’re thrilled to announce that AG MAG will be growing into a full-size magazine for…

Where was Seamie last month? I’ll tell you where – just like hundreds of you rushed to tell me, he was stuck in one of Dustin the Turkey’s feather boas. An orange one, wouldn’t you know! But that was not sneaky enough for you. Oh no, it never is! But what if, in this issue, Seamie was to go the smallest and the sneakiest yet? What do you think? I say let him do his very best … and let’s see which of you are true Hawkeyes! Deal? Deal! I’m sure you don’t need to be told by now but if you manage to find him, log on to www.theprimaryplanet.ie/competitions (or scan the QR code) and leave the location, along with your name and school details, in the comment box…

Titanic Letter Sells It seems that not a month goes by without there being another news story linked to the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic, despite it now being 113 years since it tragically hit an iceberg and sank, killing over 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers and crew. However, the fascination with the Titanic continues, with a letter written by one of the passengers from on board the ship recently fetching £300,000 (around €356,447). The letter from Colonel Archibald Gracie was written from cabin C51 on April 10, 1912, the day he boarded the Titanic in Southampton. It was posted when the ship dropped anchor at Queenstown (now Cobh) in Cork on April 11, with a London postmark dated April 12, 1912. In the letter, Colonel Gracie said, ‘It is a…

Title: Red Poppy Date: 1927 Artist: Georgia O’Keeffe Nationality: American Born: Wisconsin, US, 1887 Died: New Mexico, US, 1986 Style: American Modernism Medium: Oil on canvas On display at: Private collection, housed at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, US Georgia Totto O'Keeffe’s Irish grandparents emigrated from County Cork during the Great Famine and became dairy farmers in Wisconsin, US. Her mother’s father, George Victor Totto, was a Hungarian count who also emigrated to the US. Georgia lived to the age of 98, and now is called the ‘Mother of American modernism’ because she led the way as an artist. She is best known for her paintings of natural forms inspired by the places she lived, such as New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Some of her most…

Elio Where: In cinemas from June 20 Cert: PG Starring: Yonas Kibreab as Elio, Zoe Saldaña as Aunt Olga, Remy Edgerly as Glordon, Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon, Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa and Shirley Henderson as Ooooo Directed by: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina What if the thing you were searching for … found you first? Disney and Pixar’s brand-new original movie Elio is finally landing in cinemas this month – and it promises to be a cosmic adventure like no other. Elio is an 11-year-old boy who loves books, creativity and staying indoors. But when he accidentally beams himself to the Communiverse, an interplanetary paradise that is home to intelligent life from galaxies far and wide, and is mistaken for Earth’s leader, he finds himself battling…

PLANTS What is a rainforest? Rainforests are special places where it rains almost every day – more than 2,000 mm a year! These forests grow in warm, tropical regions near the equator, including parts of South America, Africa and Asia. They're hot, humid and packed with life. The four layers of a rainforest 1. Emergent Layer The tallest trees, rising above everything else. 2. Canopy A thick roof of leaves where most animals live. 3. Understory A shady zone of shrubs and young trees. 4. Forest Floor A dark, damp zone alive with fungi, insects and fallen leaves. Incredible Plant Life Rainforests are home to some of the most amazing and diverse plants on the planet. A single hectare – about the size of a GAA pitch – can contain…

Captains Capturing Carbon From oranges to televisions, shipping containers carry around 90% of the world’s goods across the oceans. But all that movement comes at a cost – ocean shipping is responsible for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To help fix this, a team of researchers called SEABOUND has come up with a clever solution: fitting ships with containers full of pebbles. These special pebbles are made from a chemical called calcium oxide. They’re attached to the ship’s exhaust system, where they capture carbon dioxide before it escapes into the air. The carbon reacts with the pebbles and turns into calcium carbonate – also known as limestone. When the ship reaches port, that limestone is removed and can be used for building materials. Then, a fresh batch of…

Emotional Intelligence – or EI – is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, while also recognising and responding to how others are feeling. Sounds simple? Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s not. But with practice, it gets easier. There are five key parts to Emotional Intelligence: 1. Self-Awareness This means recognising your own emotions – what you're feeling and why – and noticing how those feelings affect your behaviour and the people around you. 2. Self-Regulation This is all about managing your emotions. It helps you pause, stay calm and choose how to respond, rather than lashing out or reacting on impulse. 3. Motivation This is the inner drive that helps us keep going, even when things get tough – like finishing your homework, cleaning your room or…

What can you remember? Over the past 10 issues, we’ve been serving up the basics of some brilliant sports in our Sports … in a Nutshell series. We’ve introduced you to spikes, tackles, touchdowns and tee times, and now it’s time to see what you can remember! 1. In what sport will you find a spike and rotating players? 2. How many points is a try worth in Rugby League? 3. What is a field goal worth in American football? 4. What is a spike in volleyball? 5. Where was snooker invented? 6. What is a curveball in baseball? 7. What is a tee time in golf? 8. What sport uses the gridiron area? 9. What type of golf club is used to roll the ball into the hole? 10.…

Ask your teacher for the answer! Age: 23 County: Cork Sport: Athletics Sophie O’Sullivan is blazing a trail on the track – and adding to a famous family legacy. Her mum, Sonia O’Sullivan, is one of Ireland’s greatest-ever athletes, with four Olympic appearances and a silver medal in the 5,000m at Sydney 2000. That’s a tough act to follow, but Sophie is off to a flying start. In June 2024, she won the 1,500m at the Irish National Championships and made her Olympic debut just weeks later in Paris. Her time of 4:00.23 didn’t get her to the semifinals, but it put her fourth on Ireland’s all-time list – behind Ciara Mageean, Sarah Healy and Sonia herself. Born in Melbourne, Sophie has represented both Australia and Ireland. She now runs…

GRAZING AT SHANNON AIRPORT Shannon Airport has launched a new project that involves … cattle! A herd of cows will now graze parts of the airport’s grasslands as part of an environmental plan to support biodiversity, called the Farmland Biodiversity Enhancement Project. The airport has partnered with a local farmer to bring in cattle to graze naturally on land that surrounds the runway area. This helps manage the grass in a more eco-friendly way – and creates better conditions for wildlife such as birds, bees and butterflies. Why Use Cattle? Grazing animals like cows are a natural way to manage land. Unlike machines that cut grass all at once, cattle graze slowly and gently, giving plants and insects a better chance to grow and survive. A Greener Way to Farm…

Meet the Case IH Optum AFS Connect – a high-powered tractor that’s smart, stylish and built for tough work. With precision farming features, a comfortable cab, and serious muscle under the bonnet, the Optum is perfect for ploughing, cultivating and transport work. It’s a popular choice for farmers who want technology and power working together. Check out our collection of stats, facts and figures and see what you think! SCAN ME to see more pictures of the Case IH Optum AFS Connect DID YOU KNOW? Case IH tractors like the Optum are built in St. Valentin, Austria – at a factory known for combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge automation. SCAN ME and tell us what your Tractor of the Month would be! BEHIND THE BADGE Case IH was founded in…

Sponsored By The potato harvest of 1847 was a little better than the previous year but fear of blight meant that very few potatoes were planted, so hunger and disease still stalked the land. The following year was another disaster as once again the potato crop rotted in the fields. Emigration People were now so desperate for food that they realised the only hope of survival was to leave the country and build a new life for themselves overseas. Those who could afford it boarded famine ships with the few belongings they had and set sail for Britain, America and Canada. Some landlords even paid for their tenants to emigrate. However, they could not have imagined in their wildest dreams the horrors they would have to endure as they sailed…

# 1 It’s Raining ... Spiders?! Imagine walking outside and millions of tiny spiders start falling from the sky. Sounds like a horror movie, right? Well, it really happened – in a town called Goulburn in South Australia! Locals were shocked when the sky filled with spider webs. ‘It looked like a tunnel of silk going all the way up into the sky,’ said Ian Watson, a local resident. ‘You couldn’t go out without getting covered in webs!’ Some people even found spiders in their hair and beards. Yikes! But don’t worry – there’s a cool science fact behind it all. Experts say it was a case of ballooning. That’s when spiders climb up trees or tall plants, release silky threads into the wind and float off on them like…

An Early Summer Sizzler Unless you’ve been stuck in a hole for the last month, you’ll be well aware of how the weather took a serious turn for the better in May. The factor 50 was out and the wellies were flung to the back of the press. Hup out of it, lads and lassies, there was a ball of work to be done! Day 1, 2 & 3 With the mercury hitting the 20s, my good friend Eamon decided to get mowing. I walked my own silage ground too, but the crop was too light. Suddenly, my phone rang and I went running. I love the silage and hay season, lads – I just love it! Eamon mowed the first 24 acres for hay and mowed another 42 acres…

And now for something really different for your must-do list. The clue’s in the name: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. ‘Impenetrable’ means ‘impossible to enter’, so that’s an exaggeration – but yes, it is a remote wild place that's inhospitable to humans! However, our close cousins the gorillas live there – and that is what draws people from all over the world to Uganda in east-central Africa. The park covers 321 km2. The mist-shrouded hills are covered by rainforests that date back more than 25,000 years, and the tree canopy is so thick that in parts light can hardly penetrate. The terrain is very rugged, with narrow valleys between steep hills. 60% of it is over 2,000 metres above sea level. There’s a network of streams because of frequent rainfall, and…

In our Western-centred world, the spotlight in space is usually on mighty NASA and the ISS. But while our eyes are fixed westward, China has been quietly making strides in the east. How many of us even know they have a space station? It’s called Tiangong – and it’s high time we paid it some attention. ‘Tiangong’ means ‘Heavenly Palace’. China is now giving all its space projects and spacecraft poetic, mystical names. Previously they used names related to their revolutionary history. All the Chinese lunar exploration programmes are called ‘Chang’e’, after their Moon goddess. Tiangong is one third the size of the ISS, and has only three modules, compared to the ISS’s 16. It orbits Earth at an altitude between 340 to 450 kilometres, about the same as the…

The green sea turtle can grow to an astonishing 1.5 metres in length! Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world. Its name refers to the green fat beneath its carapace (shell), due to its diet being mostly seagrass – its shell is actually olive to black, with yellowish undersides. Hatchlings have black carapaces. A certain group have darker shells and are locally called ‘black turtles’. These turtles migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding grounds and hatching beaches and always find their way back to the same beach. Females crawl out on beaches, where they dig nests and lay eggs during the night. When hatchlings emerge, they scramble to the water. Those that survive may live for up to 90 years. Adults feed in shallow coastal waters…

Campbell’s Record Throw Ireland international Megan Campbell is a record breaker! She broke the Guinness World Record for the longest distance a football has been thrown by a female footballer, sending it 37.55m. The previous record was 35m. ‘To have a certificate that says I can throw the ball really far is quite cool,’ said Campbell. ‘I'm honoured.’ Campbell was included in the Ireland squad for this month’s internationals, with back-to-back friendly matches away to the United States bringing the curtain down on their season. Ireland will play the four-time World Cup winners in Colorado on June 27 and Cincinnati on June 29. Meanwhile, the Ireland men’s team will look to extend their winning run to four matches when they also play two friendly matches this month. The Boys in…

AG MAG We’ve reached the final mini mag in our first season of AG MAG – and what a ride it’s been! From newborn lambs to monster machines, safety know-how to agri-innovation, we’ve packed each issue with farming fun, facts and advice for young farmers just like you. But here’s the big news… From June, we’re going full throttle! That’s right – AG MAG is stepping things up with a full-version magazine hitting shop shelves across the country. More pages, more posters, more real-life stories, and a whole lot more of what you told us you love – quizzes, puzzles, interviews and brilliant machines. Speaking of machines, don’t miss our Tractor of the Month – the New Holland T5 Dual Command. It’s a smooth-operating, power-packed beauty that’s built to handle…

In proud partnership with the Health and Safety Authority KEEP YOUR TWO FEET ON THE GROUND! Climbing can be dangerous and cause you to fall and hurt yourself. So, stay away from bales, ladders, pallets, tyres or anything else that you might find piled up on the farm. These can often be very wobbly and can easily fall. A falling bale or tyre could seriously injure or even kill you. So, play safe – feet on the ground, not in the air! HAVE FUN IN A SAFE PLAY AREA! Farms are brilliant places to grow up – but only if you stick to the safe zones. If there are none in place, ask your family to set up a special play area away from machinery, animals and work zones. In…

WORD SEARCH For this month’s word search, we’ve packed an extra-large grid with just some of the features you will find in the extra-large issue of AG MAG, in shops this month. As always, we’ve included a secret word not listed below. Here’s a clue: if you are not in these, you can’t win these! FARM VISITS SOPHIE’S BELL SILAGE SEASON SAFETY ZONE SCIENCE OF FARMING MACHINERY KNOW YOUR BREED FARM TO FORK TRACTOR TALK NEWBORN CALVES MASSEY AT WORK MCHALE FUSION LIVESTOCK CENSUS DUBLIN HORSE SHOW ON THE FACTORY FLOOR FARMING NEWS MODELS KATIE SAVE THE DATE READERS’ CLUB AGTIVITY CENTRE COMPETITIONS FIND THE FOOD To solve this farm puzzle, all you have to do is find the 10 hidden objects! We’ll give you just 60 seconds to find…