Water Way to Go: Limerick students take home award for water conservation efforts

A LIMERICK school has been crowned national winners for their “inspirational efforts in water conservation and environmental action”.

Mungret Community College were named as national Water School of the Year at the An Taisce Green Schools awards.

They emerged as winners in the second-level category.

The annual event marked the twelfth year of Uisce Éireann’s sponsorship of An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme, which supports schools working to gain a Green Flag under the water theme.

Mungret Community College established a student-led Green-Schools committee of over 40 members, supported by 10 teacher mentors.

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Peer education is a core element of their work.

Uisce Éireann’s head of customer operations, Geoffrey Bourke, was on hand at the award ceremonies and said that the record number of entries was evidence of the Green-Schools Water Programme going from strength to strength around the country.

“The Green-Schools awards are always a wonderful occasion and this year, the quantity and quality of the submissions across the various categories has been truly incredible,” he said.

“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. We in Uisce Éireann are proud of our long-standing sponsorship of the programme.”

Their initiatives included ‘Bin It Or Flush It’ experiments and a tip sheet for water-saving at home.

Annual Action Days such as Blue Day, combined fun with purpose through themed games, bake sales, face painting and awareness stations.

Proceeds have gone to organisations like Self Help Africa to plant trees.

With water surveys and a ‘Water Think-In’ planned with local schools, Mungret Community College led by example in whole-community sustainability education.

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 directly with 330 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 and secondary level.

In addition to developing awareness around water conservation, the sponsorship incorporates wider engagement around stewardship of our water resources.