Castleisland Community College Going for Fourth National Title – In a Row

Katelyn Brennan trying out one of the donated bicycles while promoting the Castleisland Community College campaign to collect unwanted models for a Chernobyl charity last November. Included are: Teacher, Doreen Killington with: Ann Marie Callaghan and Gemma Burke, Castleisland; Julianne Murphy, Farranfore; Siobhán O’Donoghue, Cordal and Kyle O’Connor, Ballymacelligott. ©Photograph: John Reidy 20-11-2019

Putting the final touches to ‘The Train’ – Steam Locomotive 90 – the original of which was built in Inchicore for the Castleisland Railway Company in 1875. The project is a joint venture between Castleisland Tidy Towns and Castleisland Community College marking over a century of railway service in Castleisland from 1875 to 1977. Kneeling from left: Anne Marie Callaghan, Gabriele Voveryte, Gemma Burke, Kyle O’Connor, Katelyn Brennan, Joan Segura Santori, Hubert Turkiewicz, Aridas Budrys and Brandon Allen. Standing from left: Hannah Trautvetter, Alannah Butler, Joanna Browne, Siobhán O Donoghue, Laura Twomey, Miriam Bohlert, Julianne Murphy, Kelsey Horan, Robbie Carroll, Leah O Connell, Donnacha McSweeney, Sheila Hannon, Castleisland Tidy Towns and Aidan Joy, teacher. ©Photograph: John Reidy 26-2-2019

Castleisland Community College has reached the national finals of the Eco Unesco Environmental Competition and it hopes to win it for the fourth year in a row!

This is an All-Ireland environmental awards programme that recognises and rewards young people who raise environmental awareness and improve the environment.

The Global Gang

The self titles ‘Global Gang’ – from the college’s fifth year – wanted to show people what we can all do in our everyday lives to combat climate change.

They focused on the importance of recycling, biodiversity and buying Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) products.

They raised awareness of the importance of recycling by making up shoe boxes for the Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal and they made wooden toys from scraps of wood left over from exam projects.

Clothes and Toys Donated

The Castleisland community donated clothes and toys that were still in good condition but no longer needed. Every door in the school was decorated with Christmas wreaths using recycled items.

Football boots were collected and donated to the Kenyan Education Project. Unwanted bicycles donated from the community were sent to Chernobyl Children’s Project.

The ‘Gang’ collaborated in projects with Gortbrack Organic Farm and Castleisland Tidy Towns.

Air Bee and Bee

This resulted in planting pollinator friendly plants on school grounds and they also made Air Bee and Bees for the river walk located in Castleisland town.

They also worked with Kerry County Council and made a model train for Castleisland town. The train was made using FSC wood and recycled items.

FSC household items were promoted in Garvey’s SuperValu and Castleisland library and, finally, they worked with FSC International.

FSC License – A First in Ireland

“Castleisland Community College is the first school in Ireland to receive an FSC promotional licence,” said teacher, Doreen Killington.

“As a result of their efforts, all Kerry ETB schools have now switched to FSC paper and the students began the project in Transition Year but continued to work on it this year.

“The national winners will be announced at the end of May and they will be judged on the video they produced outlining their achievements along with their online submissions. Go n-éirí libh! – said Ms. Killington.

For more about FSC products you can click on the link here: https://www.printbureau.ie/fsc-certified-forest-paper/