PICTURE: Popular Tipperary national school named Ireland’s Travel School of the Year

Cappawhite National School was named Ireland’s Travel Schools of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin on Thursday.

An Taisce Green-Schools presented the school with their award at the event honouring the winners of this year’s Green-Schools Big Travel Challenge 2024 in Haughton House of Dublin Zoo.

Four other schools were also awarded on the day for their efforts promoting sustainable and active travel modes to school.

Schools took on the Big Travel Challenge from the 4^th – 15^th of March, during which they were asked to concentrate on one or more sustainable transport modes for two weeks to see if they could achieve real, lasting change in the travel behaviour of their staff and students.

The Challenge is an initiative of the Green-Schools Travel theme, which is supported by the NTA and the Department of Transport.

Cappawhite NS, a school of 126 pupils, excelled and truly embraced the challenge.

They concentrated on encouraging students to walk / wheel to school, as well as Park n’ Stride, where possible, and saw how their efforts alleviated traffic congestion, wait times, and car idling outside the school gates.

The added feature of a ‘Special Guest’ each day also created a buzz within their quiet village each morning.

Special guests included  Local GAA Stars, The Byrnes Family from Ireland’s Fittest Family, and even St Patrick himself made an appearance on the final day before the holiday weekend.

Congratulating  Cappawhite NS and the other awarded schools on their achievements, An Taisce Education Unit Director Cathy Baxter said: “It’s so uplifting to see such enthusiasm and creativity in making the journey to school sustainable! Initiatives like these, as part of Green-Schools Travel programme, are so important in creating real sustainable behaviour change and are testament to the work of the students, teachers and whole school community, as well as our partnerships with Local Authorities, the National Transport Authority and Department of Transport.”

The top schools from each county were awarded for their part in promoting green travel modes to school as part of the BIG Travel Challenge, with a regional winner chosen from them. The Staffroom Challenge was back by popular demand as well, extending the competition to school teachers and staff to travel more sustainably, and get creative doing so.

The schools awarded on the day were:

• Cappawhite NS, Tipperary – Southern Region and National winners
• Loreto Primary Dalkey – Eastern Region winners
• Tooreen NS, Ballyhaunis – Northwestern Region winner
• Tus Nua Rehabcare, Tullamore – Midlands Region winner
• St. Joseph’s Templemore – Staffroom Challenge winner