St Brigid’s NS Meath Hill named Ireland's Travel School of the Year

Sally Harding

Published: Wed 26 Apr 2023, 4:14 PM

Meath Hill school St Brigid’s National School was named Ireland’s Travel School of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin on Tuesday.

An Taisce Green-Schools presented the school with their award at the event honouring the winners of this year’s Green-Schools BIG Travel Challenge 2023 in Haughton House of Dublin Zoo. Eleven other schools were also awarded on the day for their efforts in individual categories promoting sustainable and active travel modes to school.

During February schools undertook the Big Travel Challenge, which asked them to concentrate on one sustainable transport mode for two weeks to see if they could achieve real, lasting change in the travel behaviour of their staff and students. The Challenge is an initiative of the Green-Schools Travel theme, which is supported by the NTA and the Department of Transport.

St Brigid’s, a school of just 84 pupils, excelled and embraced the challenge. They concentrated on encouraging students to park ‘n’ stride to school, and saw a fantastic uptake of more than 75% of students choosing to park ‘n’ stride over the two week period. The committee got the whole community involved and had guest striders from intercounty footballers to government ministers join in on different days.

Congratulating St Brigid’s and the other awarded schools on their achievements, Green-Schools Travel Manager Ciara Norton said: “My team and I have been so inspired by the many ways schools approached the Big Travel Challenge this year. The winning schools created incredible change in a short period of time, showing the desire among young people to travel to school independently, actively and in a mode that is mindful of our climate and local environment. Well done to all!”

Eleven other schools were awarded for their part in promoting green travel modes to school as part of the BIG Travel Challenge. These are:

Piper’s Hill College, Walking School of the Year 2023, Secondary

St. Mark’s Junior School, Walking School of the Year 2023, Primary

Adamstown Community College, Cycling School of the Year 2023, Secondary

St. Aidan's National School, Cycling School of the Year 2023, Primary

Scoil Naomh Gobnait, Carpool School of the Year 2023, Primary

St. Brendan’s College, Carpool School of the Year 2023, Secondary

St Brigid's National School, Park ‘n’ Stride School of the Year 2023, Primary

Loreto Secondary School, Park ‘n’ Stride School of the Year 2023, Secondary

St. Joseph’s Special School, Special School Sustainable Travel Award 2023

St. Cecilia’s School, Special School Sustainable Travel Award 2023

Scoil Mhuire, Big Travel Staffroom Challenge Winners 2023