Today at the Green-Schools Water Awards schools from cities and towns across Ireland were recognised for their work on the Water theme of the Green-Schools programme. The awarded schools reduced their water consumption; spread awareness of water conservation and involved their community in the theme. The Green-Schools programme is coordinated by An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit and is proudly supported and sponsored by Irish Water.

Dedication & innovation

The Green-Schools Water School of the Year Awards recognise the dedication and innovation shown by schools that have been working on the Water theme and that are receiving the internationally recognised Green Flag for Water this year. Midleton CBS Secondary School and St. Lorcan’s Boys National School, Palmerstown, Dublin were announced as the national Water Secondary School and Primary School of the Year respectively. Six other schools: three primary, two secondary and one special, were also named the regional winners of the Irish Water Green-Schools of the Year Award (listed below).

12 winners of the Green-Schools ‘Global Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation’ Poster Competition were awarded at the ceremony for their colourful depictions of the global goal message on the need for global access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation. View the winning posters here.

Ambassadors

Five Green-Schools Regional Water Ambassadors were also announced at the ceremony following a programme which involved training days delivered by Green-Schools in partnership with Irish Water. The new Ambassadors have shown their capability in spreading awareness of specific water conservation issues in their schools and wider communities.

Speaking at the awards was Green-Schools Manager Cathy Baxter: “This is our fourth year of the Water awards, an event that always inspires us. The students from our winning schools have shown the change that can be achieved through following the seven steps of the Green-Schools programme along with the vital support of the wider school community. Without the teachers, caretakers and support staff the savings made by these schools would be impossible – well done!”

Also at the awards was Eamon Gallen, Head of Customer Operations at Irish Water: “This is the fourth year of Irish Water’s partnership with An Taisce on the Green-Schools Programme and each year we try to develop new ways of educating young people on the importance of water conservation and protecting one of our most valuable natural resources. As part of its support of the Water Awards, the poster competition and the Water Ambassador programme Irish Water staff have the opportunity to meet and interact with children and young people across the country and through this interaction we see amazing work taking place in schools. I would like to thank all the children involved for the enthusiasm and dedication they show in protecting their natural resources and spreading the word on water conservation.”

Winners: Green-Schools Water School of the Year Awards

Overall Winners

  • Dublin Primary: St. Lorcan’s BNS, Palmerstown, Dublin
  • Southern Secondary: Midleton CBS Secondary School, Cork

Dublin region:

  • Dublin primary winner: St. Lorcan’s BNS, Palmerstown, Dublin
  • Dublin special school winner: Scoil Mochua, Clondalkin

Southern Region:

  • Southern primary: Mount Bruis NS, Tipperary
  • Southern secondary: Midleton CBS Secondary School

Western Region:

  • Western primary: Rathcormac NS, Sligo
  • Western secondary: Gairmscoil Chu Uladh, Donegal

Eastern Midlands Region:

  • Eastern Midlands secondary: Newtown Dunleckney, Carlow
  • Eastern Midlands Secondary: Confey College, Kildare

Green-Schools Water Ambassadors:

  • Oonagh Delargy and Senan Delargy, Stratford College, Rathgar
  • Jordan Keohane, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney
  • Tom Murray and Lauren Frain, St. Nathy’s Secondary School, Roscommon