Whitmore keeping an eye on the poles again…
atest press release from St Catherine’s Special School, issued on 
Tuesday, June 9th 2026…
In addition to receiving the Green Flag, St. Catherine’s was also honoured with the prestigious Water School of the Year Award, recognising the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment shown by students and staff throughout the programme.
As part of the award process, representatives from the school attended a national ceremony in Dublin, where they delivered a presentation showcasing their work on the Water Theme. A key element of the project involved regular visits to the Altidore River, where students carried out water quality testing to monitor pollutants.
The school received specialist training from Adam and Rebecca of Greystones Tidy Towns, enabling students to conduct the testing themselves. Every six weeks, the results were uploaded to a national database, contributing valuable information that helps build an accurate picture of the health of Ireland’s rivers and waterways.
students customised second-hand clothing sourced from the Thrift Shop in Kilcoole, creating unique garments while helping to save more than 120,000 litres of water. Students also took part in a tie-dye workshop led by local artist Shelly Jefferys, transforming old off-white T-shirts into colourful new creations.
These initiatives, together with a wide range of water-saving measures implemented throughout the school, resulted in St. Catherine’s being named one of just eight schools nationwide to receive the Water School of the Year Award.
The achievement reflects the dedication, teamwork and environmental awareness of the entire school community, whose efforts have made a significant contribution to water conservation and sustainability.