SEVERAL years of dedication and effort finally paid off for the staff, students and parents of St Molaise NS in Old Leighlin when they raised their fifth green flag last week.
Under the shining sun, a huge crowd gathered to witness the raising of the travel flag by the school’s youngest and oldest pupils, Brian Roche and Michael Brophy.
“We have encouraged the pupils to walk and cycle to school, to car pool and use their bus tickets where possible,” said school principal Mandy Ryan.
“We all knew what we had to do, so we launched the Walk on Wednesday campaign, and that led to the Walking Bus from Monday to Friday. Then, to encourage cycling, we started the Cycle on Wednesday programme and we did surveys at the start of the year and at the end, and we have made huge improvements at the school,” she added.
On the special day, the entire school green flag committee was invited, the local tidy towns organisation, local residents, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Michael Doran, and Fr Tom Lalor.