Minister honours Community College with youth award

THE Minister for State Pat Breen presented Castleisland Community College with the Tidy Town Youth Award.

Castleisland Tidy Towns also received a €1,000 bonus as part of the overall award. The Castleisland Tidy Towns Committee was set up in 1987 and this year the town increased its points total by nine over the previous year.

“This is truly a testament to the dedication of Sheila Hannon, Mary Walsh and their cohort of volunteers. They have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to improve Castleisland town and they have also invited schools and their pupils to become involved in generating pride in their community,” said community college teacher, Doreen Killington.

“Castleisland Community College began working with Castleisland Tidy Towns in order for students to learn about what they can do for their local community.

“Last year the Transition Year students undertook activities that involved the River Maine.

“These included testing the water purity, a clean-up of the river, learning about the geography of the river and water pollution.

“Their hard work was rewarded as they won the regional youth award. These Transition year students are now in fifth year and the activities are certainly helping them in their subject areas such as Geography, Chemistry and Biology.

“The advantages of the ‘handson’ approach cannot be underestimated in how it benefits students in understanding and learning for their Leaving Cert.

“In addition to this it has also benefitted our local community and has hopefully passed on to the next generation a sense of pride in Castleisland town. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine,” Ms Killington concluded.

Photo by Arthur Ellis. At the Fáilte Ireland Mid West and South west Region Tidy Towns Youth Awards Ceremony were: Niall O’Callaghan, SuperValu; with Castleisland Community College students: Mark O’Donoghue, Eamon Nolan and Kevin Keane being presented with the award by Pat...