Cork Student Takes Top Prize in National Environmental Competition

• Young artist from Ballinhassig recognised for outstanding poster celebrating water conservation

A talented student from Ballyheada National School in Ballinhassig has made County Cork proud by claiming victory in a prestigious national environmental competition. Amy O'Regan was named winner in the senior primary category of the Green-Schools Poster Competition, beating thousands of entries from across Ireland.

The awards ceremony took place over two days at Wood Quay in Dublin, celebrating students who participated in the Green-Schools Water Programme during the 2024-25 academic year. Amy's winning entry was created around this year's theme of 'Water is Life', which challenged students to design posters highlighting water's essential role in sustaining all life on Earth.

The response from schools nationwide was remarkable, with organisers receiving a record-breaking 4,300 entries across junior primary, senior primary and secondary categories. The exceptionally high standard made judging particularly challenging, according to organisers.

Amy joins eleven other regional winners who each received a €100 voucher and had their artwork professionally framed. Three overall national winners were also announced during the ceremony, marking another milestone in what has become Ireland's most successful environmental education programme.

Geoffrey Bourke, Uisce Éireann's Head of Customer Operations, praised the record participation levels:

"The Green-Schools awards are always a wonderful occasion and this year, the quantity and quality of the submissions across the various categories has been truly incredible. 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."

The competition forms part of An Taisce's broader Green-Schools programme, which has been supported by Uisce Éireann for twelve consecutive years. This grassroots initiative now engages with 330 schools nationwide, reaching over 100,000 students and 10,000 teachers.

Cathy Baxter, An Taisce Director of Education, highlighted the programme's impact:

"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."

Beyond developing awareness around water conservation, the programme encourages broader stewardship of Ireland's water resources. Secondary school students also had the opportunity to enter a video competition on the same theme, with winners announced alongside the poster competition results.

The success reflects growing environmental consciousness among Ireland's young people, with schools increasingly embracing sustainability initiatives. For Amy and her classmates at Ballyheada National School, this recognition validates their commitment to environmental protection and water conservation.

The programme continues to expand its reach, demonstrating that environmental education remains a priority for schools across Ireland as they work towards achieving Green Flag status under the water theme.