Portlaoise school wins national award

A PORTLAOISE school has been named Ireland’s Sustainable Travel School of the Year, after a remarkable effort by students and staff.

Scoil Chríost Rí was among only four schools nationwide to receive awards at the 2025 Green-Schools Travel ceremony, which was held in the beautiful surroundings of Dublin Zoo on 3 April.

The judges said that the all-girls school with 850 pupils in Portlaoise was a deserving regional and national winner, as the students ‘excelled and truly embraced the challenge’.

An Taisce Green-Schools presented the award at an event honouring the winners of this year’s Green-Schools Big Travel Challenge, which was held in Haughton House at Dublin Zoo.

Schools took on the Big Travel Challenge from 4-14 February, when they were asked to focus on one or more sustainable transport mode for two weeks, to see if they could achieve ‘real, lasting change’ in the travel behaviour of staff and students.

A record number of students actively took part in the challenge at Scoil Chríost Rí and managed to double ‘park and stride’ numbers, with almost half the school walking or wheeling.

They also organised a 'Galentines' WOW (Walk on Wednesday) Day, linking in their walking with friendships, positive relationships and healthy habits.

Congratulating Scoil Chríost Rí and three other award-winners at the ceremony, Green-Schools Travel programme manager Allison Phillips said: “It was truly inspiring to see students from across the country taking on the challenge to ‘love our health, love our planet’, by supporting active and sustainable travel to school. Your work is testament to the collaborative work of students, teachers and the whole school community.” 

Other initiatives around the country included best carpool karaoke, most creative classroom workshops and best social media post. 

The Challenge is an initiative of the Green-Schools Travel theme, which is supported by local authorities, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport.