68 Cork County Schools Awarded Prestigious Green Flag Award for Environmental Excellence

68 schools across all eight of Cork County’s Municipal Districts have been awarded Green Flags as part of An Taisce’s Green Schools Programme. The awards recognise outstanding efforts by both primary and secondary schools across a wide range of environmental themes including litter and waste, biodiversity, energy, global citizenship, and marine care.

The Green Schools Programme, now in its 27th year, is a student-led programme with involvement from the wider community, that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole-school action for the environment. An Taisce operates Green Schools in Cork County in partnership with Cork County Council. The programme operates in 92% of Irish schools and involves a two-year process focused on each key sustainability theme. Schools must demonstrate long-term commitment and measurable impact to be granted a Green Flag.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Joe Carroll, praised the young participants, saying “It is extremely encouraging to see pupils from primary and secondary levels engaging so deeply with sustainability. Programmes like this embed habits around recycling, biodiversity, circular living and climate responsibility from a young age. These students and their teachers should be proud of their commitment and achievements. I commend the energy and enthusiasm and congratulate all 68 Cork County schools recognised.”

An Taisce Green Schools Officer, David McIlwraith commended the high standard of engagement from schools across the county, “It was an absolute pleasure for both myself and my colleagues to visit each of the schools being awarded. It was clear to us that the wonderful actions completed by the students and supported by the whole school community yield such positive progress towards sustainability. It is great to see Green-Schools continuing to be a platform for schools to engage with these topics in a fun, productive and engaging way.”

The Cork County schools were among more than 733 schools nationwide set to receive Green Flags this month. Each award reflects significant environmental progress made through teamwork, innovation, and community involvement.

For more information about Green Schools visit www.greenschoolsireland.org

Additional Info:

Green-Schools (known internationally as Eco-Schools) is an international environmental management education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole-school action for the environment.

The programme is coordinated in Ireland by An Taisce, operated in partnership with Local Authorities and is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage; Department of Environment, Climate and Communications; Department of Transport, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid, National Transport Authority, NPWS, Irish Water, Clothes Pod, Wrigley Company Limited and EirGrid.

Cork County Schools awarded Green-Flags in 2025 per Municipal District:

Kanturk – Mallow MD

1. Newmarket GNS – Litter & Waste
2. Boherbue Comprehensive School – Water
3. Ballyhass NS – Biodiversity
4. Burnfort NS – Biodiversity
5. Charleville CBS Primary – Biodiversity
6. Scoil Naomh Pádraig Kanturk – Biodiversity
7. Dromahane NS – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
8. St Anne’s Primary School Charleville – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
9. Ballyhea NS – Global Citizenship Marine Environment
10. Convent Primary School Mallow – Global Citizenship Food & Biodiversity
11. St Joseph’s Foundation Charleville – Global Citizenship Food & Biodiversity
12. Baltydaniel NS – Primary Climate Ambassado

Macroom MD

1. Ballinagree NS – Litter & Waste
2. Dripsey NS – Water
3. Aghabullogue NS – Biodiversity
4. Scoil Lachtaín Naofa Cill Na Martra – Biodiversity
5. Millstreet Community School – Travel
6. Rusheen NS – Travel
7. St Mary’s Secondary School Macroom – Travel
8. Dromleigh NS – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
9. St Joseph’s Macroom – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
10. St Lachteen’s NS Donoughmore – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
11. Vicarstown NS – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
12. Muinefliuch NS – Global Citizenship Energy
13. Scoil Abán Naofa Baile Mhúirne – Global Citizenship Energy
14. Coachford NS – Global Citizenship Marine Environment

Carrigaline MD

1. Templebreedy NS – Biodiversity
2. Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin – Travel
3. Scoil Naomh Fionán Rennies – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
4. Ringaskiddy Lower Harbour NS – Global Citizenship Energy

Cobh MD

1. Carrigtwohill CNS – Water
2. Scoil Mhuire Naofa Carrigtwohill – Biodiversity
3. Scoil Chlochair Mhuire Carrigtwohill – Global Citizenship Marine Environment
4. Bunscoil Rinn An Chabhlaigh Cobh – Global Citizenship Food & Biodiversity

East Cork MD

1. Midleton College – Biodiversity
2. Scoil Naomh Eoin Ballincurrig – Biodiversity
3. Whitegate NS – Biodiversity
4. Aghada NS – Travel
5. Park NS Youghal – Travel
6. St Coleman’s NS Cloyne – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
7. St Colman’s Community College Midleton – Global Citizenship Marine Environment

Bandon – Kinsale MD

1. Newcestown NS – Litter & Waste
2. Scoil Naomh Eltin Coinn tSáile – Water
3. Castledonovan NS – Biodiversity
4. Clogagh NS – Biodiversity
5. Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile – Biodiversity
6. Gaelscoil Dhroichead Na Banndan – Biodiversity
7. Kinsale Community School – Travel
8. Darrara NS – Global Citizenship Travel
9. Scoil Eoin Innishannon – Global Citizenship Marine Environment

West Cork MD

1. Caheragh NS – Water
2. Adrigole NS – Biodiversity
3. Coomhola NS – Biodiversity
4. Dunmanway Model School – Biodiversity
5. Skibbereen Community School – Biodiversity
6. Ballymoney NS – Travel
7. Drimoleague NS – Travel
8. Drimoleague Junior NS – Travel
9. Cahermore NS – Global Citizenship Litter & Waste
10. Scoil Mhuire NS Schull – Global Citizenship Energy
11. St Mary’s Dunmanway – Global Citizenship Marine Environment
12. Kilcrohane NS – Global Citizenship Travel

Fermoy MD

1. Ballygown NS – Litter & Waste
2. St Colman’s College Fermoy – Litter & Waste
3. St Fergal’s NS Killeagh – Litter & Waste
4. Bishop Murphy Memorial School Fermoy – Biodiversity
5. Scoil Mhuire Ballyhooly – Global Citizenship Marine Environment
6. Bunscoil na Toirbhirte Mitchelstown – Global Citizenship Trave