Kildare school named a Green-Schools 'Water School of the Year'

Scoil Mochua, Celbridge, Co Kildare was named as regional 'Water School of the Year' at the An Taisce Green-Schools awards, which were held in Dublin last month.

The school emerged as regional winners in the primary school-level category on the back of their inspirational efforts in water conservation and environmental action. 

The annual event marked the twelfth year of Uisce Éireann’s sponsorship of An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme, which supports schools working to gain a Green Flag under the water theme.  

Students from the Model school embraced the Shower Time Challenge, encouraging their families to shorten shower durations and opt for showers over baths to conserve water. This student-led initiative sparked meaningful conversations at home about the importance of everyday actions in protecting the environment. 

Scoil Mochua’s dedicated Eco Committee has led the way in making meaningful change through their Water Flag journey. Thanks to their creative and effective measures, the school successfully reduced its water bill by an impressive 35%.

A highlight of their campaign was a two-day Action Day featuring “Walks for Water.” In the weeks leading up to the event, students collected hundreds of plastic bottles, which they filled using water gathered from classroom sink basins. Each class participated in timed laps around the school yard, carrying as much water as possible, simulating the experience of water collection in communities without access to clean water. 

To prepare their peers, the Eco Committee hosted school-wide assemblies focused on water conservation and the global water crisis. The event was not only educational but also deeply impactful: students raised an outstanding €2,600 for UNICEF to support water access for families in Gaza. 

In a full-circle moment, the bottles used during the event were recycled at a local shop, with the refund further boosting their donation total.

Scoil Mochua’s efforts reflect a school community that is informed, compassionate and committed to environmental stewardship. 

Cathy Baxter, An Taisce Director of Education, said: “The Green-Schools Water Awards are one of the highlights of our year. They celebrate the creativity, commitment and teamwork of students and teachers working together to protect one of our most precious resources: water.

“These young people are leading by example and showing that real environmental change begins in our schools and communities. We’re so proud of their efforts and inspired by their impact.”  

Uisce Éireann’s Head of Customer Operations, Geoffrey Bourke, said at the ceremony:  “The vital work being done by Green-Schools in schools across Ireland is clearly bearing fruit in terms of how our young people think about water and the need to conserve and respect it. We in Uisce Éireann are proud of our long-standing sponsorship of the programme.”  

Throughout the current academic year, An Taisce has been engaging with 330 schools on the Water Flag, working with over 100,000 students and 10,000 teachers across the country.  

The Green-Schools water theme is a grassroots sponsorship that aims to foster awareness and understanding of a range of activities, tailored to students at both primary level and secondary level. In addition to developing awareness around water conservation, the sponsorship incorporates wider engagement around stewardship of our water resources.  

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