Duncan Stewart will be speaking at the event in the Arcadia Retail Park later this month. Photo: RTE.

Broadcaster Duncan Stewart to speak at local climate awards event

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 5 Mar 2020, 5:29 PM

Last updated: Thu 5 Mar 2020, 5:32 PM

Duncan Stewart, the environmental activist and presenter of RTÉ's 'Eco Eye', will be the keynote speaker at the Arcadia Creative Climate Awards exhibition taking place in Athlone later this month.

Close to 150 students, from 13 local schools, are currently working on entries for the climate awards competition, which is being run in conjunction with Athlone Mayor Frankie Keena's 'Junior Mayors' initiative.

The culmination of the awards is an exhibition, which will be open to the public, in Arcadia Retail Park on Saturday, March 28.

Fiachra McLoughlin, Director of Arcadia Retail Park, was thrilled to announce Duncan Stewart as the keynote speaker for the exhibition event.

"The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards is in its inaugural year and we wanted a speaker who is passionate about helping the environment," said Fiachra.

"What Duncan has achieved in terms of environmental activism is inspiring and his passion for the subject is contagious. He will add an extra attraction for people to visit and see the schools' projects on the exhibition day."

The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards invited Junior Mayors from schools in the Athlone and Moate areas to put together a team from their school and devise a creative project to reduce environmental harm and make a positive difference locally.

The awards will be split over two days. The first day, Monday, March 23, involves a reception event in Arcadia Retail Park, where students and teachers will be welcomed with their projects from 11am to 2pm. The awards' judging panel will be in attendance and judging will take place on this day.

The exhibition will then be held in the Retail Park on Saturday, March 28, from 12 noon to 2.30pm. This will provide an opportunity for the students to showcase their projects to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

Arcadia Retail Park is sponsoring the competition, with the support of Westmeath County Council. A prize fund worth €2,000 is on offer, including top prizes of €500 each for the two schools named as overall winners at primary and secondary level.

The primary schools taking part are: Cornamaddy NS, Ardnagrath NS, Ballinahown NS, St Oliver Plunkett Boys NS, Baylin NS, Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Streamstown NS, Clonbonny NS, and Coosan NS.

The secondary schools involved in the competition are: Our Lady's Bower, Moate Community School, Marist College, and Athlone Community College.