Schools deliver recycling message through poetry
The celebrations were in full swing when LMFM arrived at Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire, Ardee, as part of the ‘Greener Christmas Poetry Competition 2017’.
Organised by Louth County Council, this competition serves to create awareness of waste prevention over the holiday season.
As Aisling Sheridan of Louth County Council explained ‘Christmas is a fabulous time of year, but unfortunately it is also a time when large volumes of waste are generated. From wrapping paper to Christmas cards, cardboard and packaging, glass bottles, plastic and cans, not to mention all the leftover food waste, waste can be a challenge for us all over the holiday season. The idea of this competition is to get us to think about the waste we create and to make an effort to reduce that whatever way we can.’
Joining them in the celebrations was Pat O’Shaughnessy of LMFM, as he interviewed the winners live on air, and recorded their poems as part of the ‘Greener Christmas’ advertising campaign for the festive period.
Louth Tidy Towns Togeth- er, who through their tidy towns network, actively promote waste prevention all year round, are fully supportive of this initiative. According to Larry Magnier, the Chairman of Louth Tidy Towns Together, “Tidy Towns throughout the county work hard to ensure that their communities are sustainable places in which to live. Unfortunately, Christmas is a time when waste becomes a huge challenge and we are delighted to be associated with this competition, which saw an even bigger level of response this year’.
Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire, Ardee, were the overall winners in the competition, with a poem composed by Aoife Gillan entitled ‘An Environmental Christmas’. The 4th class pupils of St. Peter’s N.S., Dromiskin, came joint second, tied with Michael Kirby of Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Kilkerley, with his composition entitled ‘I’m dreamin’ of a White Christmas’. Third place in the competition went to Bellurgan NS and Charlotte Marmion for her ‘Recycling Poem’. All the winning poems were recorded on the day and will be broadcast as radio ads over the Christmas season.
Three schools also received special category prizes, including Monastery NS for their 6th class composition entitled ‘A Greener Christmas’, Manoah Adanlete of St. Joseph’s NS, Avenue Road, Dundalk, for his poem entitled ‘Season’s Recycling’ and Sophia Johnson of Harestown NS for her composition ‘A Greener Christmas’.
As Ms, Kirby, Acting Principal of ‘Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire’, Ardee, commented ‘There is no doubt that the youth are well aware of the need for waste prevention, through their green schools programmes, and are never short of ideas for projects and initiatives. We are delighted to be the winning school here today and congratulate everyone who participated and won prizes in the competition. Congratulations and well done to all’.
On a final note, Louth County Council would like to remind everyone that V&W Recycling are open in Drogheda and Dundalk all over the holiday season and details of opening hours are available at www.louthcoco.ie.