Offaly school honoured at prestigious An Taisce Awards
The Birr school secured top honours in the primary category for their water conservation and environmental stewardship
An Offaly school has been named a regional Water School of the Year at the prestigious An Taisce Green-Schools Awards which were held in Dublin last month.
Birr’s Gaelscoil na Laochra secured top honours in the primary category which recognised their inspiring commitment to water conservation and environmental stewardship.
At the heart of this success is a vibrant and inclusive Green-Schools committee that ensured student voices from across the school community were represented.
By encouraging participation from diverse groups of pupils, this committee fostered a strong sense of ownership, collaboration and shared responsibility for environmental action.
Their efforts delivered impressive results: the Birr school reduced its water usage by 1,407 litres, marking a remarkable 32% decrease overall. This achievement highlights the power of collective action and practical, student-led initiatives.
The wider school community also played a vital role in this journey as parents and families actively participated in engaging action days, including a riverside walk where students and parents explored local waterways together.
Another standout initiative involved students visiting a swimming pool, offering a unique, sensory experience that deepened their understanding and appreciation of water.
The school also successfully integrated water themes across the curriculum making strong connections between water conservation, water safety, science and geography.
This holistic approach ensured that students developed not only awareness but also a meaningful and lasting understanding of the importance of water.
An Taisce’s Director of Education, Cathy Baxter, praised the achievement, stating: “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.”
Baxter added: “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.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Geoffrey Bourke, Head of Customer Operations at Uisce Éireann said: “The vital work being done by Green-Schools in schools across Ireland is clearly bearing fruit in 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.”
Across the current academic year, An Taisce has engaged with 450 schools, reaching over 100,000 students and 10,000 teachers nationwide through the Green-Schools Water Flag programme.
The Green-Schools water theme supports schools at both primary and secondary levels, encouraging students to take meaningful action while developing a deeper understanding of water conservation and the importance of protecting our natural resources.