“YOUR Green Flag will fly for evermore,” Dara Calleary, newly-appointed Minister of State, assured the proud children of St Joseph’s National School in Killala this week as they celebrated their achievement.
The school’s green coordinator, Fiona Reilly, told the Western People: “We’re so delighted to have our flag. The 12 children on our green committee meet regularly and they came up with all the solutions that have made our school a more beautiful place.”
The Green Flag is an internationally-recognised award, similar to the Blue Flag award for beaches, and was presented to the school following an intensive and detailed inspection by An Taisce. Every classroom now uses recycled materials and has its own special recycling bins. The school’s landfill waste has been reduced by 75 per cent. But there is more to being green than recycling - the school grounds are now dotted with bird-feeders and nesting boxes, and logs for insect life lie against the walls; there is an organic vegetable garden and plenty of new trees and bushes.
Joe Mellett, chairman of Mayo County Council, praised the children for caring for their “beautiful surroundings”. Mayor Michelle Mulhern congratulated the school principal, Damien McHale, and all the staff, parents and children: “What better life skill to teach our children than how to interact respectfully and responsibly with our environment?”
And Councillor Jarlath Munnelly said: “It’s a great achievement - the hard work of the staff and students is on display.”
The importance of going green was illustrated by the number of political and church dignitaries who attended the flag-raising.
Father Paddy Hoban of Killala blessed the occasion, followed by church minister Rodney Gallagher, and Senator Paschal Mooney, Councillor Eddie Staunton and MCC environmental officer Mary Ford applauded as J.J. Fleming raised the green standard on a flagpole planted proudly in the centre of the school grounds.
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