The Best School Project

THE Best School Project in the County Heritage Awards was won by St Oliver Plunkett’s National School, Newcastle, Athenry for a short film documentary on a scientific study of their local river known as "An Droichidin". Middle row: Breda Murphy, Principal, ClIr Sean Canney, County Mayor, Martina Moloney, County Manager and. Eimear Clancy.The judging panel comprised archaeologist Michael Gibbons, Editor of The Team Herald David Burke and nature and heritage expert Gordon D’arcy.

Best School Project
The winners were the pupils of Saint Oliver Plunkett’s National School, Newcastle, Athenry. They, with the help of Elaine O’Riordan of the Galway County Biodiversity programme and Brendan Smith of the Digital Enterprise Research Jnstitnte of NUI Galway, completed a short documentary on a scientific study of their local river known as An Droichidin, The project raises awareness and encourages both children and adults in all localities to protect these little green jewels in a time of great social, environmental and economic change.




Back Row
Gemma Hansberry, Niamh Kindregan, Fiona Cannon, Emma Grady, Michael Ryan, Helena McDonagh, David Burke, Aoife Burke,
Gerard McCormack ,Emer Molloy, Shane Trayers and Emma O’Shea.

Middle Row
Breda Murphy, Principal, ClIr Sean Canney, County Mayor, Martina Moloney, County Manager and
Eimear Clancy.

Front row:
Louise Burke, Shane Kinregan, Ian O’Shea, Enda Cannon, Paul Waldron.

Making Our School Proud

Jamess Langan painting assisted by Timmy Haverty and Breda Murphy on a cold Saturday morning in March.


Johnny Gannon, Sean Molloy, painting during the Easter holidays.




Louise Ryan, Tony Collins came to help during the holidays too.





A group photo of some of the volunteers who painted the school during the holidays … Johnny Gannon, Aidan Gannon, Louise Ryan, Sean Molloy, Breda Murphy and Louise and Ruairi Collins.



Great progress being made by Sean Molloy.



Tony Collins and Aidan Gannon.




Louise Ryan – going off to make the picnic lunch for all the workers.





Sean Molloy – says it’s the first time he ever got ice-cream as he worked on a site.




Johnny Gannon cooling down with the help of the cold ice-cream on this very hot April day.




Time out for the workers … as they have lunch.




Louise Ryan – making more tea in the kitchen.



The children are back in school after the Easter holidays and they are checking out the painting done. Jack says its fine!



The children have spotted all the new ESB polls that Gerry Hansberry put in place, treated with special paint to preserve them.



The children compliment other work done in the garden during the holidays.



John Coppinger brought this load of horse manure to fertalise our garden.




Then he brought some top soil to put over it.




Christopher and Joey help Tina spread the manure and top soil.



Stephen and Kevin are putting top soil around the shrubs.



Watering the flowers.



The last bit of touching up is done after Mattie Williams sprayed the pebble dash walls.




The whole community unite in giving thanks for a job well done.


The ocasion is marked by the planting of a tree.


Carmel,Karen and Joan lay on a spread fit for a king.



Eamon Feeney and the children have a wonderful time at the disco.