Green Limerick: Climate education for school children

THE HUNT Museum has partnered with Greensource to give hundreds of children across Limerick the opportunity to explore the pressing issue of climate change through primary school workshops.

The workshops will be linked to the museum's Night's Candles are Burnt Out exhibition which takes place until February 29.

Renewable energy firm Greensource has sponsored the initiative, ensuring access for many pupils who might not otherwise have the chance to participate in this transformative, immersive and fun, learning opportunity.

Schoolchildren from Kilmeedy, Feenagh, Ahalin, Coolcappa, and Bruff national schools have already participated in the Night’s Candles Are Burnt Out workshop programme and more workshops are planned for pupils from Adare and Bruree.

Night’s Candles are Burnt Out, the latest interactive and experiential exhibition at the Hunt Museum, aims to ignite conversations and inspire action regarding climate change drawing inspiration from Ireland's history of positive change.

The Night’s Candles are Burnt Out school workshop programme is cross-curricular and interactive, exploiting the art, technology, and storytelling displays in the exhibition.

Activities enable pupils to build on their existing knowledge of climate change while also empowering them to find simple ways to reduce their carbon footprint. They also explore the technology behind different renewable energies and the immense green energy potential that the Shannon Estuary can provide us with helping us to transition away from fossil fuels.

Maria Cagney, curator of education and outreach at the Hunt Museum, thanked Greensource for their collaboration.

"Thanks to Greensource, we can extend the transformative experience of Night's Candles are Burnt Out workshops to children across Limerick. This collaboration not only increases access to this exciting and innovative learning opportunity but helps young minds become champions for a sustainable future."

Speaking on the partnership, Greensource communications manager Nadine Walsh stated: “The Greensource team regularly works with primary schools to teach our younger generations about climate change, climate action and environmental sustainability. Over the past ten years we have been conducting tours of operating wind farms for students to help them understand how renewable energy plays a part in our world now, our future.

“For us, partnering with the Hunt Museum’s STEAM programme was a great next step for those students to further their learning on the need for us all to reduce our carbon emissions,” she added.