Querrin National School join Coastcare group

STUDENTS at Querrin National School have recently become an official Coastcare group. The school has signed up to the national network of 121 other Coastcare groups. This project fits in very well with the school’s strong environmental ethos.

Aidan Gray from the Coastcare section of An Taisce recently visited the school and escorted the students and teachers on an educational trip to their local beach at Barr na Loch. The purpose of the day was to look at the coast and also to educate the pupils about conserving it. Aidan Gray also pointed out the importance of appreciating the coast and the wide diversity of life that lives there.
The day started with a coastal talk, which focused on living things in and out of the water, especially shellfish. He brought a collection of domestic and international seashells which the children examined.
The class then set off to the local beach at Barr na Loch. Once there, they participated in a beach clean-up followed by races and a sand art competition.
The Coastcare group hopes to organise future events focusing on environmental education in the coming months. The first event, a beach clean-up, will be held on Sunday at Barr na Loch to mark the national Coastcare week. These events will be funded by a Coastcare grant and a supply of litter pickers, gloves, sharps box and a first aid kit.
Meanwhile, Querrin National School was presented with its third green flag at an award ceremony held at the Galway Bay Hotel recently.
The theme of this year’s flag was water. During the year, teachers and pupils reduced water usage by a staggering 50% over a six-month period. This was achieved by using various strategies including turning off taps, checking for leaks and a general awareness of water wastage.
The junior room made their own water filters and carried out experiments on sinking and floating. Eamon Nunan, project manager from Chemifloc Ltd in Kilrush, visited the school and gave an illustrated talk on water evaluation. Officers from the Shannon Region Fisheries Board also spoke with the children in February on the importance of caring for national lakes and rivers. Seán Hartigan, education officer with An Taisce Green Schools guided and helped the children and teachers achieve their goal. Sixth-class pupils Chloe Marrinan, Rose Marrinan, Stef Wright-Cole and Conor Brew accepted the flag from Michael John O’Mahony, green school manager, An Taisce.