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<\/p>\nMore than 250 students,\u00a0teachers\u00a0and school representatives from across Ireland gathered at Croke Park on Tuesday 3rd June for the inaugural Re-turn Awards.<\/p>\n
Hosted by Today FM \u2018s very own\u00a0Ian Dempsey, the awards marked the first nationwide recognition of primary\u00a0schools using the Deposit Return Scheme in creative and impactful ways\u00a0to promote sustainability, community\u00a0engagement\u00a0and fundraising.<\/p>\n
The initiative attracted more than 300 entries from primary schools across\u00a0the Republic of Ireland.\u00a0Sixteen schools were honoured across a range of categories recognising innovation, participation, sustainability awareness,\u00a0leadership\u00a0and community involvement.<\/p>\n
The overall winner of the inaugural Re-turn Awards was\u00a0Pelletstown\u00a0Educate Together National School in Dublin, which received the top prize of \u20ac5,000 for its imaginative and\u00a0highly successful\u00a0\u201cMonster Bin\u201d initiative.<\/p>\n
Judges praised the school\u2019s community-wide approach to recycling, which involved pupils, staff, parents, local\u00a0businesses\u00a0and residents. Through awareness campaigns, educational activities and a dedicated Junior Re-turn Committee, recycling became part of everyday school life.<\/p>\n
Funds raised through the initiative supported projects including a sensory pod, garden\u00a0improvements\u00a0and school activities. Judges were impressed by its lasting impact, both in raising funds and encouraging positive recycling habits across the school community.<\/p>\n
A special Judges\u2019 Commendation Award was presented to St. Malachy\u2019s BNS in Dublin, whose Re-turn campaign raised funds for a memorial garden in honour of fellow pupil Joshua, who passed away earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The initiative brought together pupils, families, local\u00a0businesses\u00a0and the wider community, with judges praising it as a powerful example of how environmental action can create meaningful social impact.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the success of the awards programme, Re-turn CEO Ciar\u00e1n Foley said the response from schools had surpassed expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe response to the first ever Re-turn Awards has exceeded all expectations, with schools from every corner of the country showing how small everyday actions can create meaningful change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchools have shown how the scheme can support sustainability education while also helping to raise funds for important projects and initiatives. The creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm shown by students, teachers and wider school communities has been incredibly inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n
The awards were open to primary schools of all sizes across\u00a0the Republic of Ireland. To ensure fairness, judges assessed entries in the context of each school\u2019s size and circumstances, allowing schools from diverse backgrounds and communities to compete on an equal footing.<\/p>\n
Entries were evaluated based on several criteria, including creativity, teamwork, fundraising success, sustainability\u00a0education\u00a0and community engagement.<\/p>\n
In addition to the overall winner and Judges\u2019 Commendation Award, schools were recognised across categories such as leadership, teamwork, social impact,\u00a0fundraising\u00a0and sustainability education.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Riain Daley and Ronan Healy from\u00a0Scoil\u00a0Naoimh\u00a0Mhuire,\u00a0Ballnahill\u00a0NS,\u00a0Co.Limerick, winner of the Re-turn Awareness Campaign<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Full list of Re-turn Award Winners<\/p>\n
Overall Re-turn Award Winner:\u00a0Pelletstown\u00a0Educate Together National School, Dublin<\/p>\n
Judges\u2019 Commendation Award:\u00a0St. Malachy\u2019s BNS, Dublin<\/p>\n
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Large School):\u00a0Scoil Angela, Ursuline Primary School, Tipperary<\/p>\n
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Medium School):\u00a0St. Joseph\u2019s National School, Cork<\/p>\n
Re-turn Local Legends Award (Small School):\u00a0Kilmore Central National School, Cavan<\/p>\n
Re-turn Student Achievement Award:\u00a0St Aengus National School, Donegal<\/p>\n
Re-turn Heroes Award:\u00a0Kildorrery\u00a0National School, Cork<\/p>\n
Re-turn Leadership Award:\u00a0Mary Queen of Angels, Dublin<\/p>\n
Re-turn Creativity Award:\u00a0Nagle-Rice Primary School, Kerry<\/p>\n
Re-turn Ingenuity Award:\u00a0St Patrick\u2019s National\u00a0School \u00a0Greystones, Wicklow<\/p>\n
Re-turn Awareness Campaign Award:\u00a0Scoil\u00a0Naomh Mhuire, Limerick<\/p>\n
Re-turn Fundraising Award:\u00a0Loreto Primary School, Dalkey, Dublin<\/p>\n
Re-turn Teamwork Award:\u00a0St. Anne\u2019s and St. Joseph\u2019s Primary Schools, Rathkeale, Limerick<\/p>\n
Re-turn Social Impact Award:\u00a0Libermann\u00a0Spiritan\u00a0School, Dublin<\/p>\n
Most Returned Award:\u00a0St. John\u2019s Special School, Waterford<\/p>\n
Re-turn Sustainability Education Award:\u00a0Queen of Angels Primary School, Dublin<\/p>\n
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