Leitrim County Council awards schools for innovative pollinator projects in 'Love Where You Live' Awards

Pupils of Hunt National School and Principal Racheal Stewart with Cllr Seán McGowan, Cllr Des Guckian and Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer

placeholder image — Pupils of Hunt National School and Principal Racheal Stewart with Cllr Seán McGowan, Cllr Des Guckian and Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer

Winning Leitrim schools were Largy National School, St. Joseph’s National School, and Hunt National School

Winners of the Schools Category for the Love Where You Live Awards were presented with their prizes by Leitrim County Council this week.

Participating Schools submitted “Actions for Pollinators” Projects to Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer, Rebeccah Cogan. Rebeccah then visited all participating schools in May to engage with them on their work and judge the projects.

The winning schools were Largy National School, Manorhamilton, St. Joseph’s National School, Aughavas and Hunt National School, Mohill.

Pupils and Teachers of St. Joseph’s National School, Aughavas and Principal Seamus Tiernan with Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer and Elaine McKeon, Leitrim County Council Community Development

Pupils of Largy National School and Principal Mary Hoey with Cllr James Gilmartin, Cllr Eddie Mitchell, Cllr Justin Warnock, Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer and Elaine McKeon, Leitrim County Council Community Development

Runner up schools were St. Fatima National School, Cloone, and St. Joseph’s National School, Leitrim Village.

Winning schools were presented with a cash prize of €500, a certificate and specially commissioned trophy. Runners up were presented with a cash prize of €250 and a certificate.

Pupils and Teachers of Fatima National School, Cloone with Principal Madeline McKeon Murphy, and Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer

Pupils and Teachers of St. Jospeh’s National School, Leitrim Village, with Cllr. Des Guckian, Cllr. Maeve Reynolds, Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer and Elaine McKeon, Leitrim County Council Community Development

St Patrick's Dromahair pen emotional tribute to the late Conor Torsney

Rebeccah Cogan, Leitrim County Council Biodiversity Officer said: "I loved visiting all the schools who entered the competition to see the actions for pollinators that had been carried out to enhance biodiversity in their school grounds. The pupils were all so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about bees and other pollinating insects.

"The children realise the importance of pollinating insects and their critical role in our environment. Bees and pollinating insects are under threat in Ireland, so it was fantastic to see schools creating habitats for our pollinators to survive and thrive.

"A big congratulations to the winners in the school’s category and also well done to all the schools who took part in the competition!"

The Love Where You Live Awards are an initiative of Leitrim County Council and the Leitrim Public Participation Network. They are a unique opportunity to recognise and publicly acknowledge the positive contribution that communities, schools and individuals make to County Leitrim.

The other categories in the Love Where You Live Awards are Green Community of the Year, Estate of the Year, Diaspora, Social Inclusion and Community Achievement.

Gathering to Support Natasha O'Brien in Manorhamilton

The Awards Ceremony for these categories will take place in Lough Rynn Castle on October 10, 2024.