Mayor praises green Gaelscoil students

CORK’S Lord Mayor heaped praise yesterday on the city’s only school to win a green flag this year.

Cllr Michael Ahern visited Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa in Ballyphehane to hoist the flag and he saluted their huge environmental efforts.

Since last September, the school has cut its waste output in half.

The 225-pupil mixed school used to present two wheelie bins full of rubbish every fortnight — they now present just one bin for collection.

The children have also been encouraged to take all their own ‘brúscar’ home and they recycle all their plastics and paper.

After a new extension was built onto the 1958-built school two years ago, pupils set about transforming an open plot of land into a wonderful garden.

They planted new trees, plants, and shrubs, they have nurtured a new herb garden, and they have set up a compost bin and wormery.

Fertiliser from both goes straight back into the garden.

Five children are involved in the school’s Green Schools Committee which coordinates all their efforts.

James Ó Conaill, who is in Rang 6, Rang 3 pupil, Ciara Ní Cheitinn, Rang 2 pupils, Antóin Trindle and Jessica Ní Arrachtáin, and Sineadín Ní Chábha, who is in Rang 4, all worked with coordinating teacher, Elaine Ní Mhaoláin, to ensure the school achieved the highest environmental standards.

Principal Máirín Tobin and Rang 4 teacher, Sean Ó Fathaigh, also played key roles in the project along with the school’s other teachers.