On Monday this week, model and ambassador with An Taisce, Sarah McGovern, came to Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan to launch the National Spring Clean campaign in Westmeath, which runs throughout the month of April.
Sarah was joined by pupils from transition year who are taking part in reinvigorating their Green Schools programme. The students are taking a novel approach to the litter and waste theme by rolling out the clean-up to involve a clean-up of the whole town on a regular basis. Teachers Gerard Corcoran and Dara Harper are working with the group and delighted with the progress to date.
“The reaction from local business people is very encouraging and positive,” said Ms Harper.
Mr Corcoran added, “This project demonstrates the difference that can and is being made not just within the school but within the whole community”.
Ms McGovern congratulated the students on their initiative which she said was “invaluable to rolling out the National Spring Clean campaign”.
Later that morning cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council Peter Burke officially launched the campaign for the county. “We have been delighted to see the numbers of community groups, schools, sports and youth clubs from around the county take part in this campaign each year and we would love to see a surge in the numbers of volunteers taking part in this worthwhile campaign this year,” he said.
Westmeath County Council is encouraging community groups to register for this year’s campaign and organise a clean-up in their local area. All volunteers registering for the National Spring Clean campaign are issued with a free clean-up kit which contains information, posters, colour coded refuse sacks for segregation of waste materials, protective gloves and tabards to keep participants clean. Those who wish to take part should register on www.nationalspringclean.org or by calling (01 ) 4002219.
