Cornamaddy NS and Athlone CC crowned winners of Arcadia climate competition

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 9 Jun 2022, 1:53 PM

Last updated: Thu 9 Jun 2022, 1:55 PM

Cornamaddy National School and Athlone Community College have been announced as the winners of the Arcadia Creative Climate Awards 2022.

The competition saw primary schools in the Midlands being asked to come up with ideas to help the environment, while secondary schools were challenged to think about what Athlone might look like in 2050, and what the contest's sponsor, Arcadia Retail Park, should do to prepare for environmental changes.

The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards project was run in conjunction with the 'Junior Mayor' initiative started by Cllr Frankie Keena, Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council.

Cllr Keena said he was delighted with the participation of nine schools in this project from the Municipal Districts of Athlone - Moate and Mullingar - Kinnegad.

"The buzz and passion displayed by both students and school staff in creating innovative ways to save our planet has been amazing and heart-warming," he commented.

Due to Covid-19, the organisers adapted the 2022 climate awards and made it into a virtual event. As part of the competition, the students were asked to build a website using Google sites in order to display their environmental projects.

The students then showcased their projects, via an online exhibition, to the three judges: Irish architect, environmentalist and media personality Duncan Stewart; Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Therese Kelly; and Noel Gavigan, a consultant in sustainability.

A virtual awards ceremony was held recently, via a Zoom call, with all of the participating schools.

The winners of the awards were announced and nearly €3,000 worth of spot prizes were given out to each of the schools.

The overall winners received the inaugural trophy, a €250 excursion, a €250 B&Q voucher, and a €100 Jolly Boys Pizza voucher for their school.

The overall winning project at primary school level was 'Econamaddy', created by two sixth class groups at Cornamaddy National School. The students showed a great knowledge and understanding of the environmental issues and challenges facing their school and their community today.

One of the two sixth class groups from Cornamaddy NS who teamed up for the winning ‘Econamaddy’ project.

They reduced the amount of single-use plastic in their school, set up eco monitors in all of the classrooms, raised awareness of the negative impact that both plastic and dumping can have on the environment, and designed an eco-friendly thermal coffee cup for the school community.

As part of their project, the Cornamaddy NS pupils helped reduce the amount of single-use plastic in their school and set up eco monitors in classrooms.

The winning project at second-level was the 'ACC Climate Caretakers' by students at Athlone Community College. This entry showed a vision for a greener and more prosperous Athlone.

The students looked at Athlone and Arcadia, the challenges they face, and how they can address issues around flooding, transport and Athlone's potential to achieve city status. Fiachra McLoughlin, Director of Arcadia Retail Park, congratulated the two winners of the Arcadia Creative Climate Awards, 2022.

"We would also like to thank each of the schools for their participation," he said.

"There was a tremendous amount of effort put in by all of the teams and their teachers. The standard of entries and work done by the students was exceptionally high."