Innovative Ennistymon pupils pitch for environmental award

GREEN-minded young people from Ennistymon Vocational School competed with schools from across Connacht at the innovative regional dragon’s den style ‘ECO-Den’ held by ECO-UNESCO at the Claregalway Hotel this month.

The group pitched their project to the panel of expert judges to convince them that their group should attend the final ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012 showcase and ceremony in the Mansion House in Dublin on May 8.  The North Clare pupils competed in the Connacht ECO-Den instead of travelling to Cork for the Munster leg. The Ennistymon group inspired the judges, Elaine Nevin, ECO-UNESCO director; Sharon Cameron, environmental awareness officer, Mayo County Council; Sinéad Ní Mhainnin, environmental awareness officer, Galway County Council and Marion Parker, environmental education officer Roscommon County Council; with details of their project The Riverboys, which promoted the local natural amenity of River Inagh by developing a new riverside walkway with new information boards and installation of recycled benches.
The Ennistymon Vocational School group outlined to judges their work to date as well as their plans for the future and explained where they had sought help locally. The group is also hoping to replace the riverside information board with one that will promote such diverse topics as the types of fish and wildlife in the region, a hardwood and softwood tree-spotter’s guide and a history of The Falls Hotel. When it is completed, The Riverboys hope to have a fully defined walkway that both locals and tourists can utilise.
The innovative group comprises pupils Eileen Hayes, Noreen Hayes, Cathal Hane, Alan O’Connor, Sinéad Collins, Orla Heuston, Aoife Casey, Sean Nagle, Jessica Power and John Dillon.
“We are really impressed with the standard of this year’s projects, which are more innovative and creative projects than ever before. We’re really looking forward to what promises to be Ireland’s biggest celebration of young people taking environmental action,” commented Elaine Nevin, national director of ECO-UNESCO.
The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards is Ireland’s biggest all-island celebration of youth ECO-Action. Since 1999, the awards have recognised and rewarded the environmental actions of thousands of young people aged 12 to 18 who are working to protect, conserve and enhance our environment through local action projects, making a difference to their lives and the lives of others, locally and globally. The programme offers an exciting way to empower young people to become better citizens, to build awareness of environmental issues in their locality and promote simple actions and lifestyle changes to improve the environment for all.
As well as the chance to be shortlisted for the final gala showcase and awards, the Ennistymon Vocational School project is also in the running for the prestigious People’s Choice Award 2012, which opened on Wednesday. To support the inspiring youth-led ECO-Action across Ireland, simply log onto www.ecounesco.ie and vote for your favourite project.
The Galway den was supported by Galway, Mayo and Roscommon County Councils and the Claregalway Hotel.