The winners of the first-ever Re-turn Awards were announced today at a special awards ceremony at Croke Park, hosted by Today FM presenter Ian Dempsey.
The awards celebrate schools using the Deposit Return Scheme to support sustainability and fundraising initiatives.
More than 300 schools from across Ireland entered the awards, leading to 16 winning schools being recognised across a range of categories, including innovation, participation, sustainability, and community involvement.
The ceremony saw over 250 students and teachers gathering at Croke Park, celebrating the schools that have gone above and beyond to “Re-turn it Right”.
Special guests included members of the judging panel, including former Irish rugby international Donncha O’Callaghan, Chief Marketing Officer at Re-turn Dermot Mulligan, educational consultant and primary school teacher Fiona Maguire, and former Vice President of the Union of Students in Ireland, Barry Clohessy.
Notable winners on the day included Pelletstown Educate Together National School in Dublin, which won the top prize of €5,000 for their child-friendly Monster and Lion bins.
“Every Friday is Re-turn Friday,” explains Clare Kennedy, Chairperson of the Parent Teacher Association. “The bins go outside the main door of the school, and children all come along with the bottles and cans from their houses and put them in the bins.”
“The children were asked how we could encourage more people to donate,” she adds, “so they suggested it be more child-friendly, which is how the character bins came about.”
Judges were impressed by the school’s whole-community approach, involving pupils, staff, parents, the PTA, local businesses and the wider community in making recycling part of everyday life.
Through posters, classroom visits and the Junior Re-turn committee, the project helped to raise funds for a sensory pod, garden projects, graduation activities and wider school celebrations, while also encouraging long-term positive recycling habits.
“There’s been a red carpet and a sit-down meal,” Principal Caitríona Ní Cheallaigh said, speaking from the awards ceremony at Croke Park. “It’s been all very official, they love it! It’s lovely for the children to see their efforts rewarded.”
“As Principal, I just want to say that I’m really grateful to the parents at the school, who initially came up with the idea as well as the ones who are on a rota for returning every Friday,” she continues. “It’s the parents leading this and keeping it going.”
Full list of Re-turn Award Winners
Overall Re-turn Award Winner: Pelletstown Educate Together National School, Dublin
Judges’ Commendation Award: St. Malachy’s BNS, Dublin
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Large School): Scoil Angela, Ursuline Primary School, Tipperary
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Medium School): St. Joseph’s National School, Cork
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Small School): Kilmore Central National School, Cavan
Re-turn Student Achievement Award: St Aengus National School, Donegal
Re-turn Heroes Award: Kildorrery National School, Cork
Re-turn Leadership Award: Mary Queen of Angels, Dublin
Re-turn Creativity Award: Nagle-Rice Primary School, Kerry
Re-turn Ingenuity Award: St Patrick’s National School Greystones, Wicklow
Re-turn Awareness Campaign Award: Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Limerick
Re-turn Fundraising Award: Loreto Primary School, Dalkey, Dublin
Re-turn Teamwork Award: St. Anne’s and St. Joseph’s Primary Schools, Rathkeale, Limerick
Re-turn Social Impact Award: Libermann Spiritan School, Dublin
Most Returned Award: St. John’s Special School, Waterford
Re-turn Sustainability Education Award: Queen of Angels Primary School, Dublin