National titles for two Mayo students

Students from 12 schools were honoured at a national awards ceremony celebrating the winners of this year’s Green-Schools Marine Spatial Planning Poster and Photography Competitions, with Lottie Billington of Sacred Heart School, Westport, and Liliana Austin of Killeen National School, Louisburgh, taking titles in two categories. 

Twelve students were awarded for depicting their vision for the future of Ireland’s ocean and coast through posters in the 'Every Sea Tells a Story' Poster competition, while three students were awarded in the 'My Sea, My Story' photography competition.

In partnership with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Green-Schools invited students to design posters illustrating how they envision Ireland’s seas being used in the future. The competition aligns with the National Marine Planning Framework, which seeks to balance the various demands on Ireland’s marine territory while protecting and conserving the marine environment. Marine planning focuses on deciding when and where human activities take place at sea, ensuring they are carried out in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. The competition was open to schools participating in the Green-Schools Marine Environment theme, which encourages students to learn about the importance of the ocean, take action to reduce marine litter, and raise awareness within their local communities about how to protect the marine environment.