South Lee School Wins National Green Award for Global Sustainability Campaign

A Cork primary school has been recognised at national level for a sustainability campaign that reached from Ballyphehane to New York City, winning a prestigious award at this year's Green-Schools Daily Swaps Challenge.

South Lee Educate Together National School in Ballyphehane has received the Best Collaboration Award in the 2026 Daily Swaps Challenge, a nationwide initiative run by the Green-Schools programme under An Taisce. The award recognises schools that successfully unite students, staff, families and the wider community to maximise the impact of their sustainability campaigns.

The school's student committee promoted water and energy conservation through classroom visits, word-of-mouth engagement, and outreach via email and social media. Their efforts quickly extended far beyond Cork, with students reporting that relatives and friends around the world had joined in, including a cousin in Madrid taking part in Meat-Free Mondays and an aunt in Sydney switching to reusable shopping bags.

The committee mapped the growing reach of their campaign, which spread from Cork to Dublin, London, Madrid, Sydney and New York City. That sense of global connection became a powerful motivator throughout the initiative.

The Daily Swaps Challenge, which took place from 9 to 13 March, invited students across Ireland to take simple everyday actions, such as taking shorter showers, boiling only the water needed, or donating unused clothes, to reduce water and energy consumption. Schools from 18 counties took part, with students collectively recording 22,923 daily swaps.

Geoffrey Bourke, Head of Customer Operations at Uisce Éireann, a sponsor of the Green-Schools Water Programme, said:

"Daily Swaps shows how small, practical actions can make a real difference. By empowering students to lead sustainability campaigns in their schools and communities, we're helping young people understand the connections between water, energy and the everyday choices we make."

Tori Rickman, Green-Schools Officer for the Water Theme, added:

"South Lee Educate Together's Daily Swaps campaign is a fantastic example of how students can lead meaningful environmental action in a creative and engaging way. By running their own challenges, Green-Schools Committees build real skills in communication, teamwork and motivating others. It highlights that environmental action doesn't have to be about giving things up, it can be about challenging ourselves and our peers to make small changes together in a way that's fun and impactful."

South Lee Educate Together National School shares the Best Collaboration Award with Redeemer Girls National School in Dundalk and Gaelscoil Bhrian Bóroimhe in Swords. Each winning school receives a €200 prize, with the recommendation that the funds be reinvested in Green-Schools programmes.

Uisce Éireann has sponsored the Green-Schools Water Theme for thirteen years. Further information about the programme is available at www.greenschoolsireland.org.