Leitrim school awarded regional water conservation award
Leitrim school takes the regional prize at the Water Awards
Scoil Naomh Bríde in Drumkeerin has been named a regional Water Schools of the Year at the An Taisce Green-Schools awards.
The awards, which were held in Dublin last month, are given to schools that have outstanding success in reducing water consumption.
Scoil Naomh Bríde emerged as regional winners in the primary school-level category on the back of their efforts in water conservation and environmental action.
The Leitrim school has promoted a whole-school culture of water conservation through diverse and engaging learning experiences that involve the entire community.
Throughout the school year, pupils engaged in hands-on learning through river visits with heritage experts, biodiversity workshops, and a dedicated water-themed digital resource for all classes.
This Green-Schools team carried out water conserving projests in the school by repairing major leaks and installing a rainwater harvesting system.
Their standout initiative, “Walk for Water Day,” saw the entire school walk up to 6km carrying water, raising awareness of global water challenges. This was supported by follow-up activities such as quizzes and designing water harvesting systems.
The school also promotes sustainability through eco-friendly workshops, collaboration with Tidy Towns, visiting speakers, and active community engagement, proudly showcasing their efforts through social media and their Green Flag.
“The vital work being done by Green-Schools in schools across Ireland is clearly bearing fruit in terms of how our young people think about water and the need to conserve and respect it,” Said Geoffrey Bourke, Uisce Éireann’s Head of Customer Operations, who was on hand at the award ceremonies.
Cathy Baxter, An Taisce Director of Education, said: “The Green-Schools Water Awards are one of the highlights of our year. They celebrate the creativity, commitment and teamwork of students and teachers working together to protect one of our most precious resources: water. These young people are leading by example and showing that real environmental change begins in our schools and communities. We’re so proud of their efforts and inspired by their impact.”
Throughout the current academic year, An Taisce has been engaging with 450 schools on the Water Flag, working with over 100,000 students and 10,000 teachers across the country.
The Green-Schools water theme is a grassroots sponsorship that aims to foster awareness and understanding of a range of activities, tailored to students at both primary level and secondary levels.