Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental education and management programme for schools. It encourages long-term, whole-school action to help protect the environment, with students at the heart of the initiative and active involvement from the wider community.
The programme is run by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, Ireland’s member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Its mission is to protect and care for our planet – the home we all share.
Taking part in Green-Schools has a lasting impact on our students. It builds their awareness of environmental issues, helps them understand the importance of sustainability, and empowers them to make positive changes in their daily lives. Through hands-on projects and teamwork, students gain valuable skills and a deeper sense of responsibility for the world around them.
At Scoil Pól, Kilfinane, we are very proud of our long-standing commitment to the Green-Schools programme and delighted to be working towards achieving our 6th flag (Global Citizenship – Litter & Waste).
Further information can be found at the following link: https://greenschoolsireland.org/
GLOBE Ireland – How Spongy is Our School?
During the 2023/2024 academic year, a group of our Transition Year students participated in the GLOBE Ireland initiative “How Spongy is Our School?”. As part of this project, students recorded daily rainfall on our school grounds using a rain gauge, mapped areas where excess water collected, and explored ways to reuse this resource more sustainably.
After analysing their findings, the group proposed the purchase of a rainwater barrel for our school, allowing collected rainwater to be used for watering plants and crops in our school’s polytunnel. They also explored the potential of harvesting rainwater on a larger scale for uses such as washing the school buses.
Their project was presented online alongside submissions from schools across Ireland and beyond, and it was successfully shortlisted. The students were awarded a €500 LAWPRO grant to support their idea. With this funding, we upgraded our school’s polytunnel and installed a rainwater barrel, which now provides a sustainable water source for the plants grown there.
This initiative has not only enhanced our facilities but has also provided valuable opportunities for students to develop their skills, knowledge, and awareness in the areas of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and green living.
TY Sustainability Trip – Woodlands Hotel, Adare
Our Transition Year students recently visited the Woodlands Hotel in Adare to learn more about how businesses can operate sustainably. The trip gave students the opportunity to see real-world examples of renewable energy, resource efficiency, and eco-friendly practices in action.
During the visit, students were shown the hotel’s impressive solar panel system, which currently supplies around 65% of its energy needs. They also explored the Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit, a highly efficient system that simultaneously heats the hotel and generates electricity using gas. Seeing these technologies in place gave students valuable insight into how large-scale operations can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
The group also toured the hotel’s polytunnel and gardens, where much of the fresh produce used in the restaurant is grown on site. This highlighted the benefits of reducing food miles and providing guests with high-quality, homegrown vegetables. Another highlight of the visit was the hotel’s beehives, which not only produce honey but also play a vital role in supporting biodiversity and pollination in the surrounding area.
Overall, the trip to the Woodlands Hotel was an eye-opening and inspiring experience. It demonstrated how sustainable practices can be successfully integrated into everyday business operations, and it encouraged our students to think creatively about how they can apply similar ideas in their own lives and school community.
Community Involvement:
Our Green Schools team actively supports the local community by taking part in a range of environmental initiatives. Students regularly join forces with the Tidy Towns group to carry out litter picks in Kilfinane, helping to keep our surroundings clean and welcoming. They also assist by sweeping leaves and maintaining shared spaces, showing their commitment to caring for both our school grounds and the wider community.
Green flags awarded to date
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Litter & waste
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Energy
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Water
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Travel
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Biodiversity
- Global citizenship- Litter and Waste
