Students and Lions Club grow their green legacy

Transition Year students at Mount St. Michael Secondary School and St Colman’s College in Claremorris recently rolled up their sleeves to take part in a meaningful community project in partnership with the Claremorris and District Lions Club. The annual tree-planting initiative, now firmly established on the local calendar, is part of the Lions' wider environmental campaign and aligns closely with the schools’ Green Schools programme.

The planting event took place in McMahon Park and brought together students, teachers, forestry officials, and Lions Club members in a joint effort to improve the town's biodiversity and raise awareness about sustainability. Native trees, donated by local forester Kevin Heneghan, were planted by the students under the guidance of their teachers and environmental professionals. Last week, certificates of participation were presented to the students at ceremonies in both schools.

The project forms part of the wider Green Schools programme and for Mount St Michael students Ava Hession, Holly Fallon and Fiona Ryan, the experience was both rewarding and meaningful.

“We were there for about two hours,” Ava Hession told the Western People. “It was a really good experience - interesting, definitely, and something different.” 

Ava explained that while she couldn’t remember ever planting a tree before, the group was already involved in a number of environmental projects through their school’s Green Schools Committee.

“We do a lot,” she added. “We collect batteries and do different environmental things. This tree planting tied in really well with that.” 

Her classmate Holly Fallon also found the experience enjoyable - and familiar.

“I did something similar before, back in primary school in Ballindine,” Holly said. “Every year we used to plant a tree that would be left there when we moved on, kind of like something to represent our class. It was nice to do something like that again.” 

Fiona Ryan, from Hollymount, echoed those sentiments.

“It was a lovely day and a good thing to be part of,” Fiona said. “We planted trees and it’s good for the environment, so we felt like we were doing something worthwhile.” 

For the students, the tree planting event wasn’t just about the physical act of putting trees into the ground - it was part of a broader environmental ethos promoted by their school. Mount St Michael has received five Green Flags in recent years and is known for championing sustainability and climate awareness. Projects like this one offer TY students the chance to take those values outside the classroom and into the community.

The event also provided the students with valuable experience they can reflect on as part of their TY portfolio. 

“We keep a folio during the year, so we’ll write about the tree planting in that,” Ava said.

While none of the girls have decided what they want to do after school, they’re unanimous in their appreciation of being part of something positive for the town - and for the planet.

“I suppose we got a bit of a break from school,” Fiona smiled, “but more importantly, we got to do something that matters.” 

Mount St Michael Transition Year Co-Ordinator, Maureen Commons, explained that the project plays a vital role in reinforcing the school's commitment to environmental responsibility.

"This is part of our school's Green Flag programme,” Ms Commons told the Western People. “We have five Green Flags already, and initiatives like this are a chance to tie in classroom learning with real-world action. We also run projects focused on waste management, litter reduction, brown bin use, and energy conservation, so tree-planting complements what we do throughout the year."

Ms Commons said the students thoroughly enjoy the day each year, not only for the hands-on nature of the work but for the chance to learn directly from experts.

"They love nature, and they get so much out of talking to the forestry experts and Lions Club members. It's a fun and educational way to instil a long-term respect for the environment."

James Preston of the Claremorris and District Lions Club reflected on how the initiative has evolved since it began in 2006.

"Originally, we used to sell trees at SuperValu and Tesco to raise awareness and funds,” Mr Preston said. “During the Covid lockdowns, we had to change our approach and started working directly with schools. That’s when we invited TY students to plant the trees themselves."

He admitted he was unsure how schools would respond to the new format.

"I was sceptical at first. I wasn’t sure if we’d get the buy-in. But the reaction from the students has been phenomenal. They’re genuinely enthusiastic, and it’s been a huge success for both the Lions and the schools."

Each student receives a certificate acknowledging their participation, which they can add to their Transition Year portfolios.

"When I walk through McMahon Park now and see the trees growing from the past few years, it makes me proud of what we’ve all achieved together."

The initiative also has broader community benefits. Bronagh McLoughney, the Transition Year Co-Ordinator at St Colman’s College, spoke about the importance of giving back and helping young people connect with a cause bigger than themselves.

"Our TYs are helping to create something lasting for their town,” Ms McLoughney said. “The trees they plant today will contribute to biodiversity, offer habitats for wildlife, and improve spaces used by locals for recreation and wellbeing."

Ms McLoughney said that engaging young people in sustainability efforts was essential to shaping future habits and attitudes.

"We want our students to understand that they have a role to play in tackling climate change and protecting the planet. This is their environment, their future, and we are giving them tools to care for it."

The project is just one of many local efforts supported by the Claremorris and District Lions Club, and its continued success is thanks to strong collaboration between community groups, schools, and individual volunteers.

"It’s a real team effort," Ms McLoughney said. "And it’s something we hope continues for many years to come."

Melissa Walsh is the current President of Claremorris and District Lions.

“Before Covid, we used to sell trees for planting at supermarket outlets,” Ms Walsh explained. “But not everyone had the space to plant the trees at home, but they still wanted to support the initiative. We brought the Transition Year students in and it has been a great success. It’s grown into something really special. The response from schools has been fantastic.

"It’s a hands-on, practical way to make a positive difference in their own community — and they come back to do it year after year.” 

The Lions Club has also worked closely with local national schools. Each year, six schools take part in a poster competition to raise awareness about different community themes. This year’s topic focused on how young people can support the elderly and improve the quality of life for older residents. In previous years, environmental themes were explored.

“We try to keep it fresh and relevant,” Ms Walsh said. “It’s not just about drawing posters - it’s about starting conversations at a young age about responsibility, community, and compassion.” 

Other Lions projects include the ‘Message in a Bottle’ emergency response initiative, mental health awareness campaigns, and community-based litter collections.

“We’ve seen brilliant involvement from both local secondary schools and from sports clubs across the area. We aim to include young people in as many of our activities as possible," added Ms Walsh.