16 schools in Sligo were awarded Green Flags at a special event held in the McWilliam Hotel in Claremorris on May 14th. A large gathering of pupils and teachers from Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo, were welcomed by Green-Schools Travel Team Lead, Lukasz Krzywon, in what was a great day of celebration. Green-Schools is a student-led environmental management programme for schools. The 16 Sligo schools awarded this week were among 756 schools nation-wide that received their flags throughout the month in the areas of Litter & Waste, Water, Travel, Biodiversity and Global Citizenship, to name a few. 

• Ballinode College, Sligo was presented with the Litter & Waste flag upon reinstating the Green-Schools programme in their school.
• St. Aiden's N.S, Monasteraden, was also recognised and received their Primary Climate Ambassador flag. This flag is awarded to schools that have already achieved 10 flags and focuses on climate actions related to waste, energy, water, transport, and biodiversity.
• Corran College in Ballymote was awarded their Global Citizenship Marine Environment flag. Furthermore, the school was recognised as the Regional Secondary School Winner for the West and North Region at the Green-Schools Marine Awards ceremony, which took place at the Hyatt Centric Hotel in Dublin, also last week.

Speaking at the ceremony, Áine O'Loughlen, Environmental Awareness Officer, Sligo County Council said Sligo County Council is committed to the Green-Schools programme. She said, "The programme provides a framework for students to apply critical thinking to create positive environmental changes within their schools and beyond. Congratulations to the students, teachers, and entire school communities for their outstanding efforts and steadfast commitment to sustainability. I’m delighted to witness schools being awarded their first flag, as well as those who have been actively participating in the programme for more than two decades. The remarkable work being carried out in schools serves as an inspiration to us all”.

Schools receiving their Green Flag were recognised under the following themes:

Litter & Waste

Ballinode College, Sligo

Water

Sligo Grammar School, Sligo

Biodiversity

Rathcormac N.S

Carn NS, Gurteen

Culfadda N.S, Ballymote

Global Citizenship Litter and Waste

Taunagh N.S., Riverstown

Global Citizenship Energy

St. Ronan's N.S, Cloonloo

St. Pauls N.S., Collooney

St. Edward's N.S., Sligo

Ursuline College, Sligo

Learn Early Montessori, Ballymote

Global Citizenship Marine Environment

Corran College, Ballymote

Global Citizenship Travel

Kilross N.S, Ballintogher

S.N. Realt na Mara, Rosses Point

Global Citizenship Food and Bio

Scoil Chríost Rí, Enniscrone

Primary Climate Ambassador 

St. Aiden's N.S, Monasteraden