Kilcoole School Wins 1st Prize For Rubbish Film

The winning Colaste Craobh Abhann team…

atest press release from Wicklow County Council, issued on Friday, June 13th 2025…

Let’s give a bualadh bos to our Wicklow Schools this year for their outstanding work in environmental education programs, including Green Schools, ReLove Fashion, and the Rubbish Film Festival awards.

Once again both primary and secondary schools accepted their well-deserved Green Flags at The Helix in Dublin. These flags were awarded in recognition of the excellent work undertaken by students as part of the Green Schools program delivered by An Taisce. Awards covered themes such as Litter & Waste, Energy, Water, Travel, Biodiversity, Global Citizenship and the Marine Environment.

Of special note, Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir in Arklow was awarded a regional prize for their efforts focused on the Water theme. Additionally, Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara in Brittas Bay received a regional award for their outstanding work on the Global Citizenship Marine Environment theme and also secured a national award under the Marine Institute’s Explorer’s Education Programme. Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara is one of only 32 European schools selected for the recently launched EU Blue Lights program.

Edena Foot & Stephen

Loreto Bray Secondary School, along with other Wicklow secondary schools, participated in ReLove Fashion. This year, Edena Foot, a third-year student, won the national award for Best Evening Dress. With a growing focus on sustainable, slow fashion, Edena created a stunning evening dress from old denim jeans found in a local charity shop. The dress features beautiful hand embroidery and was inspired by aquatic life and the pollution caused by fast fashion.

The Rubbish Film Festival is a creative Transition Year program that provides a platform for students to explore and research Sustainable Development Goal No. 12, Responsible Consumption.

Arklow’s Scoil Inbhir Mhoir

The short, one-minute films created by student teams were full of well-researched topics, focusing on themes such as fast fashion, habitat destruction, water conservation, and even AI! Coláiste Craobh Abhann took home the county’s best prize back to Kilcoole, while Coláiste Raithin won county first prize for the best impact film, which was presented in Gaeilge. Additionally, St David’s in Greystones was awarded second place for the best film award.

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Paul O’Brien commented, “We extend our thanks and appreciation to the teachers and schools who contribute so much to the next generation. Without them our environmental education programmes including Relove Fashion, The Rubbish Film Festival and An Taisce’s Green Schools, would fail to deliver essential learnings, and positive action at a local and county level. They are helping us to make Wicklow a better, more sustainable place to live, work and play”.

Theresa O’Brien, Director of Services Climate, Environment, Recreation and Amenity was full of praise by the creativity, passion and expertise at a young age and said: “The youth of County Wicklow are concerned about Climate Change and are engaging in building a more sustainable future for all of us.

“Wicklow County Council will continue to support our schools in delivering education for sustainability through our Climate Action Plan, and our environmental awareness programme.”

You can find out more about Wicklow County Council’s Green Schools right over here.