733 schools across Ireland receive Green Flags for sustainability
Over 700 schools across Ireland are set to receive Green Flags in honour of the sustainability goals they've worked on in recent years.
733 schools were awarded Green Flags in recognition of the sustainable practices they've introduced in their schools acorss themes such as water, energy and biodiversity.
Now in its 27th year, the Green Schools Programme, which is organised by An Taisce and hands out the Green Flags, is a long-term, whole school, action-based programme and award scheme for both primary and second-level schools that covers a whopping 92 per cent of Irish schools.
The programme kicked off its award season today at the Clayton Hotel in Galway today, in the first of 12 ceremonies taking place in nine locations throughout the month of May.
At each ceremony, schools will be awarded Green Flags for their work on 10 themes in the Green Schools programme, and the various projects they've developed in their schools.
First, each school must work on five themes: Litter & Waste, Energy, Water, Travel and Biodiversity. They then move on to Global Citizenship themes of Litter and Waste, Energy, Marine Environment, Travel and Food and Biodiversity. Each theme needs to be worked on for two years before the school can be awarded a Green Flag.
If the hundreds of successful schools wasn't impressive enough, this year 15 schools are being recognised as Primary Climate Ambassadors, having completed all ten themes over the course of at least 20 years.
The number of schools awarded for each theme were:
Litter & Waste: 57
Energy: 1
Water: 77
Travel: 97
Biodiversity:116
Global Citizenship Litter & Waste: 112
Global Citizenship Energy: 75
Global Citizenship Marine: 70
Global Citizenship Travel: 70
Global Citizenship Food & Biodiversity: 42
Primary Climate Ambassadors: 15
Speaking about the initiative, Joanne Scott, Manager of the Green-Schools Programme, said: "Green-Schools is just one part of the global Eco-Schools initiative of more than 60,000 schools in 82 countries. That's school children around the world working towards a common goal.
"So every journey to school on foot instead of the car, every tree planted, every reusable water bottle makes a huge difference when looked at on a global scale. These actions are just inspiring to see."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
22 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point
When we think about creating beautiful outdoor spaces, our minds often jump to colour schemes, planting plans, or hard landscaping. But one of the most powerful tools in a garden designer's toolbox is something quite simple: the focal point. A garden, like a good painting, benefits enormously from a strong composition. And every good composition needs something to draw the eye, a centrepiece that invites you in and gives meaning to the space around it. It could be a tree, a water feature, or a well-placed bench. But increasingly, I'm drawn to the character and charm of sculpture, especially when it speaks to our landscape, our heritage, and our imagination. Over the years, I have found that one of the most exciting sources for this kind of focal point is local auction houses. Sourcing garden focal points from auction houses ensures your piece of statuary is unique, not forgetting often highly collectable, sustainable and durable within your garden space. One particular auction that comes to mind is the annual Summer Garden Sale, hosted by Cavan-based Victor Mee Auctions. Victor Mee's yearly garden auction has become something of a fixture on the calendar for designers, collectors, and garden lovers alike. And for good reason, as the catalogue is always full of personality, ranging from grand classical pieces to the delightfully unexpected smaller statues and useful garden items. This year, there's a particularly enchanting theme running through the sculptural line-up: traditional Irish woodland and farm animals. We're talking everything from a proud parade of sheep and a pair of pigs mid-snuffle to a flurry of hares in full motion. There are geese, life-sized horses, and even a dramatic sculpture of a horse and jockey clearing a fence, all of which are full of energy and storytelling potential. These garden focal points do more than simply decorate a space. They become part of the garden's soul. Animal sculptures, in particular, have a unique ability to connect us with the land. They reflect the rhythms of Irish life, from the fields to the farms, and they carry with them a sense of nostalgia and folklore. A bronze hare mid-leap can remind us of the flash of movement through a dewy meadow. A grouping of cast-iron sheep brings a sense of calm and familiarity, especially in more urban settings. And a pair of pigs can make even the most formal garden feel grounded and playful. These kinds of focal points do something quite magical in a garden. They catch the eye, spark curiosity, and bring humour and heart into the space. They give you a second to pause, and for me, that's what a great garden is all about. It's not just about plants and paving, which of course are so important, but it's also about creating a place that draws you in and asks you to look again. The beauty of a piece from auction houses like Victor Mee's Garden Sale is in its individuality. Every item is chosen with care, and in Victor Mee's case, many items were held back throughout the year to make this sale a true event. Whether it's a traditional stone urn, a whimsical bronze fox, or a reclaimed wrought-iron bench, each item brings a distinct voice to the garden. And when you build your design around a piece with this kind of presence, the rest of the garden naturally falls into rhythm. It's a trend I'm seeing more and more — garden owners wanting not just style, but story. They want their outdoor spaces to reflect who they are and where they come from. Of course, placing a sculpture well is just as important as choosing the right one. Think about framing it with planting, whether that be tall grasses for movement, wildflowers for contrast, or clipped hedging for formality. Let it surprise people around a corner or make it the centrepiece of your view from the kitchen window. A garden focal point doesn't need to be big to be bold, it's about presence, not size. It should invite interaction, whether that's contemplation, a smile, or even a selfie! The Victor Mee Summer Garden Sale doesn't just offer antiques and oddities; it offers the chance to bring a piece of the story into your space. So this summer, if you're thinking of refreshing your garden or starting from scratch, begin with the focal point. Let it be something that brings joy, sparks a memory, or simply makes you stop and smile. Because that, to me, is what gardening is all about. Victor Mee Auctions' annual Summer Garden Sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10 and 11, live and online from the Co Cavan family-run auction house. Public viewing will take place on location at Victor Mee Auctions, Cavan auction rooms on June 7 and 8 from 12pm-5pm and on June 9 from 10am-5pm. Read More Six ways to use mirrors in your garden or outdoor space
Irish Independent
15 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Wexford's ‘secret garden' may be getting an extension as council called upon to purchase adjoining lands
Wexford People Today at 21:00 One of Co Wexford's best kept secrets may be getting an extension after calls were made to purchase some of its adjoining lands. Located in the middle of Rosslare Harbour, Kirwan's Garden (also known as The Secret Garden) has been developed and maintained by the local environmental group who have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag for their work there. The small woodland and park area, which features a pond, a hobbit house, and picnic benches, faces out onto approximately two-and-a-half acres of unused land; and at the May meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) cathaoirleach Jim Codd asked whether that land could be purchased so that the garden could be extended. 'I have visited The Secret Garden and it's an absolute credit to the group, it's the most fantastic woodland, you could only feel better in yourself after walking through it,' said Councillor Codd. 'I know Wexford County Council (WCC) has assisted the group down there previously, but I understand there's a couple of acres at the back of it – it's Office of Public Works (OPW) land. "Could we write to the OPW and try to secure it? Community groups like this must be supported. To have a forest like that in the middle of a built up area is simply fantastic.' Environmental engineer Rory O'Mahony also visited the garden recently and remarked that the OPW did not appear to be 'particular interested' in the land in question. Director of services with the RMD, Lynda Lacey, offered some further hope as she promised that she would 'investigate and see what potential there is to purchase' the land in question. Separately the Rosslare Harbour/Kilrane Environment Group (RHKEG) has made a submission to the RMD asking that it purchase the land on its behalf. 'We are very conscious of the impact of climate change and the need to do our part in rewilding and giving back to nature,' wrote chairman of the RHKEG, Micheál Delaney. 'Our area is becoming more residential and industrial and we should be planning on developing biodiversity corridors where we can. An opportunity now exists and we strongly recommend that it be given fair consideration. 'There is a two-and-a-half acre site owned and currently unused by the OPW in the customs compound that borders our wetland/ biodiversity pond area. This is part of an overall 17 acre site. We understand that this entire facility will be moved to the port area within the coming years and that the land will become available for future development. "The two-and-a-half acres that border the gardens could help to develop an extensive woodland area of native trees and shrubs with added opportunity for restoration and protection of biodiversity. It will support the idea of a biodiversity corridor that allows nature to live and thrive amongst us. This is an opportunity for us to do something really beneficial for future generations. To have a seven-acre Village Park and Gardens within the confines of an expanding Rosslare Harbour and Kilrane would be wonderful.'
Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Diary of a Gen Z Student: Finding a decent bikini in 2025 is no mean feat
Any time I use a changing room in a clothes shop, I find myself asking the same question: Does the person that designed the changing room actually want to sell clothes to the public? I'll leave the changing room with my head drooping low. Feeling like I've just completed a high-intensity exercise class, cheeks flushed, hyperventilating, my hair reaching levels of frizz I never knew to be possible. I hand all of the clothes back to the member of staff bearing witness to my distress. I consider everything that is going wrong in the modern changing room. The curtains that don't close all the way, fluorescent overhead lighting, the miniscule amount of space, the distinct lack of air circulating, the funhouse mirrors. You'll stand in front of the mirror, new blemishes appearing by the second. You may feel rested, but that lighting means your under-eye bags tell a different story. Your pale skin loses all sense of vitality. The clothes may fit, but it'll still look like there's something off. You're not alone in this experience, for two reasons: Firstly, the person in the next changing room is likely suffering a similar crisis of self- confidence; secondly, the curtain has remained slightly open for the entirety of your fashion show, so innocent bystanders have shared in this emotional rollercoaster. It's a painful experience any time of year, but especially as we come into the summer months: As brave women across Ireland embark on the perilous journey to purchasing swimwear. This week, I have been one such woman. Finding a decent bikini in 2025 is no mean feat. You see, bikinis are not what they used to be. The numerous triangles that you tied around yourself five years ago have undergone some change. For one thing, they've significantly shrunk in size. Now, I'm no prude. I'm about as perky as I'll ever be and if you can't get the cheeks out when you're in your 20s, when can you? But there's a time and place. If I'm going to the beach with my family, I'd like to avoid giving anyone a fright. It's probably got to be something to do with my Irish upbringing. No matter how hard I try, ye old Catholic guilt and shame persists. My bikini choice should be distinct from my morality. But there I was, sweating in a changing room, wondering if the church has brought in an online booking system for confession yet. As if the coverage of the bikini wasn't enough to grapple with, the fit must also be considered. What does one do when the top and bottom come in a set of one size? Maybe I shouldn't be admitting to this, but what about us imbalanced folk? We spend our lives being told about good, strong, child-bearing hips. Not so much about trying to fit those hips into the bikini bottoms that correspond with the size of your top half. Some of us were not blessed with perfect proportions. Dear bikini manufacturer, do we not deserve bikinis? Even if you manage to find a halfway decent bikini in the changing room, you've only won a battle. The war begins when you attempt to wear that bikini on the beach or for a dip in the sea. If you make it through a beach trip without an accidental flashing, then, and only then, have you won the war. It is a rare bikini that will carry you (literally and figuratively) through such an excursion. I do wonder, why should we be so worried about the odd nip slip? If it's not a problem on a beach in France, why should we be stressing about it in Portmarnock? Sure, the second it hits 14 °C here, men refuse t-shirts. As a society, we seem to have accepted that. I like to think we're progressive enough that having nipples shouldn't be a scandal. Maybe this is a conversation to be having in the girls' group chat, but it can be difficult to put things into perspective when you're running your daily struggles past the girls. It's too easy for them to relate; things tend to dissolve into a frenzy of shared experience. We're all too traumatised by the changing rooms and the nip slips to be dishing out advice. They'll just remind me how easy it is for a tampon string to dangle out of a bikini bottom (not helpful). Really, I'm grand, but if anyone knows of any good support groups, or bikinis, my Instagram DMs are always open.
