Patrick Cagney, Ronan Currams and Aoife English from Coláiste na Trócaire Community College, Rathkeale, winners of the top prize at the inaugural Make A Switch competition being presented with the handcrafted trophy made from recycled materials by Limerick and Clare ETB’s Chief Executive Bernadette Cullen. Joining them on stage is proud principal of Coláiste na Trócaire Community College, Michael Behan.
Coláiste na Trócaire Community College, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, has won the top prize for its Water Conservation project in the inaugural Make A Switch competition, an initiative by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board promoting student-led climate action across the region. Open to all year groups in Primary and Post-Primary, the competition focused on practical, creative projects under the themes of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, encouraging students to tackle energy, food, and water waste.
Speaking at the competition final, Chief Executive Bernadette Cullen said: “It’s incredible to see the confidence and the enthusiasm that the students have shown here today in representing their schools and also in making small steps which can turn into big steps in terms of changing our attitude towards climate change.”
Runners-up were Coláiste Íde agus Iosef (Abbeyfeale) for their Closing the Loop entry.
From November 2024 to March 2025, students in ETB Community Colleges, Community National Schools, and the Community Special School developed projects with SMART goals, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, submitting monthly progress updates. Over 16 schools participated, with entries judged on creativity, impact, and effort and the final exhibition was held on April 30th at Mungret Community College where students presented their work to judges and their peers.
Coláiste Iósaef (Kilmallock) runners up for their Worm Academy project.
The judging panel included John Dolan, Head of Climate at the Department of Education and Youth; Marta Carrasco, Scientific Officer at the EPA, currently working in the Resilience Team of the Climate Change Advisory Council Secretariat; Michael Curran, Manager for Estate Sustainability at SOLAS (Ireland’s Further Education and Training Authority). Speaking at the first ever Make A Switch competition final, John Dolan said: “It was fantastic to see the energy of the students here today, the research they’ve done, the data they’ve developed and presented, and how they’ve communicated that information to the wider community. It’s been brilliant to be here and be part of it all.”
Students from Mungret Community College where the Make A Switch Competition was held.
Coláiste na Trócaire’s winning team, Patrick Cagney, Aoife English and Ronan Currams received a €1,000 Outdoor Education and Training Centre voucher and €1,000 for sustainability efforts at their school. They also took home a unique handcrafted trophy made from recycled materials by artists Simon Donnelly and PJ Hehir who are instructors at the ETB’s College of Further Education and Training Shannon and Kilrush campuses.
Limerick and Clare ETB’s Director of Schools Donncha Ó Treasaigh chatting with students from Scariff Community College who competed at this year’s Make A Switch Competition.
Runners-up were Coláiste Íde agus Iosef (Abbeyfeale) for their Closing the Loop entry, and Coláiste Iósaef (Kilmallock) for their Worm Academy project. Both received €250 vouchers and sustainability funding. Fedamore Community National School earned the ‘Most Engaging Exhibit’ award, and Limerick Community Special School won the ‘Thinking Outside The Box’ Creativity Award.
June Phelan Shire from Limerick Community Special School who won the ‘Thinking Outside The Box’ Creativity Award being presented with the award from one of the competition judges Michael Curran, Manager for Estate Sustainability at SOLAS and Bernadette Cullen, CE, Limerick and Clare ETB.
The exhibition also featured displays from Further Education and Training campuses, including the NZEB Green Innovation Campus in Roxboro, An t-Ionad Glas Organic Campus in Dromcollogher, and the Burren and Kilfinane Outdoor Education and Training Centres. Artists Simon Donnelly and PJ Hehir also had a stand showcasing the winning trophy and shared insights with students on its sustainable design.
St. Michael’s Community College (Kilmihil) and their superheroes who spread awareness on sustainability in their school and the wider community.
This year’s inaugural Make A Switch competition was a celebration of student creativity and leadership, demonstrating how local action can have a global impact. Its success was driven by the enthusiastic response and high level of participation from schools across the region, and as a result, it will now become an annual event, continuing to inspire future climate leaders throughout Limerick and Clare ETB schools.
Students from Fedamore Community National School who won the ‘Most Engaging Exhibit’ award with their principal Jacinta Mullins as they are presented with their award by competition judge Michael Curran, SOLAS and Bernadette Cullen, CE, Limerick and Clare ETB.
To learn more about all the projects submitted for the competition this year, view the programme here.
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