Excitement is building for St. Cecilia’s Environmental Club travel to Dublin today to compete in the final of the Eco-UNESCO competition, which takes place tomorrow. The club’s efforts are a testament to the power of student activism and their commitment to creating a sustainable future.

Every Wednesday after school, a group of 12 dedicated pupils from various year groups gather for the Environmental Club meeting, working tirelessly to make their school more eco-friendly. The committed members include Dara Shein Batts (Year 8), Ava Mc Gill (Year 9), Daisy Collins (Year 9), Caitlin Doherty (Year 9), Erin Wilson (Year 9), Caoimhe Wilson (Year 9), Olivia Cox (Year 10), Katie-Molly Mc Gowan (Year 10), Lilly Morrison Mc Closkey (Year 10), Ellie Gallagher (Year 13), Ava Devine (Year 13) and Anna Mc Dowell (Year 14). They lead by their teacher Ms Cheryl Rainey.

Each September, the club hosts an assembly to inform pupils and staff about their activities and to recruit new volunteers. One of their key initiatives is monitoring recycling bins throughout the school. The club members meticulously sort through the bins to remove non-recyclable materials, ensuring that waste companies can properly recycle the contents. This effort results in the collection of 20 to 30 large bags of recyclable waste each week. They have also conducted multiple assemblies to educate the school community on proper recycling practices.

In addition to their ongoing recycling efforts, the Environmental Club has been working on a project for the All-Ireland Eco-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards. Concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion, they launched the “Swap with Style” initiative. This project involves hosting termly swap shop events where students and staff can exchange gently used clothing items. Participants receive a ticket for each item they bring in and can use these tickets to acquire new preloved fashion pieces for free.

The first swap shop, held on December 6, 2023, was a resounding success, with 277 items exchanged. The high quality of the donated clothing encouraged widespread participation, reducing the stigma of second-hand shopping among teenagers. The initiative has not only promoted sustainability but also provided economic relief during the cost-of-living crisis.

Building on their success, the club organised a second swap shop on May 8, with hopes of inspiring other schools to adopt similar initiatives for Halloween costumes, Christmas jumpers, sports gear, and preloved uniforms.

The Environmental Club’s achievements since its inception in 2016 include:

  • Introducing wooden cutlery in the canteen
  • Providing reusable stainless steel water bottles to first-year students
  • Establishing battery recycling facilities
  • Installing recycling bins in every classroom

Looking to the future, the club aims to:

  • Ban single-use plastics in the school
  • Recycle markers through Terracycle
  • Develop a thriving environmental club that attends climate change rallies
  • Install a charging point for electric vehicles
  • Encourage cycling to school
  • Foster a whole-school empathy for the planet


As they embark on their journey to Dublin, the students of St. Cecilia College’s Environmental Club carry with them not just the hope of winning the Eco-UNESCO competition, but the pride of knowing they have already made a profound impact on their school and community. Their innovative projects and unwavering dedication to sustainability exemplify the positive change that can be achieved through collective action. Regardless of the competition outcome, these young environmentalists have set a powerful example for their peers and will undoubtedly continue to lead the way in fostering a greener, more conscientious future for all.