Arcadia Retail Park director Fiachra McLoughlin and Cllr Frankie Keena visiting the Moate CS exhibition stand at last year’s Arcadia Creative Climate awards in TUS.

Arcadia Creative Climate Awards set for April at TUS Athlone

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The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has once again been confirmed as the host for the 2025 Arcadia Creative Climate Awards (ACCA) exhibition, where local schools will present their innovative environmental projects to fellow pupils, parents, guest speakers and the Westmeath County Council Climate Team.

The participating schools from across the Midlands will be showcasing their environmental projects at the TUS Athlone campus on Tuesday, April 8.

This year, the organisers are excited to open the exhibition to the public, inviting parents, family members, and grandparents to come and see the incredible projects on display. People are being encouraged to come along, celebrate the students' creativity, and be inspired by their visions for a sustainable future.

The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards have become an annual event over recent years. The initiative challenges local primary school pupils to develop ideas to help the environment, while secondary school students have been asked to envision what Athlone will look like in 2050.

The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards initiative is run by Athlone's Arcadia Retail Park in conjunction with Cllr Frankie Keena's 'Junior Mayor' initiative, which is focused on 'giving young people a voice' in local environmental and political matters.

Cllr Keena commented: "The theme of the Junior Mayor initiative is 'giving young people a voice' as well as an opportunity to express their interest in local policies. It feeds into the school curriculum, student councils, and well-being policies.

"The energy and commitment of students in addressing climate challenges is truly inspiring."

Scoil na gCeithre Máistrí, Athlone, pupils with TUS president Vincent Cunnane during last year’s Arcadia Creative Climate Awards.

The ACCA 2025 Exhibition will be open to the public from 10.45am to 12.45pm on Tuesday, April 8, allowing visitors to explore the students' projects and engage with their ideas.

The event will culminate with speeches beginning at 12:45pm and concluding at 2pm.

TUS President Professor Vincent Cunnane expressed his enthusiasm for hosting the event, stating: "We are very proud to host this event and to support the development of our emerging environmental champions.

"As a university, we are committed to fostering environmental awareness and sustainability, and this exhibition highlights the creativity and ingenuity of young people in tackling these critical issues."

Fiachra McLoughlin, Director of Arcadia Retail Park, commented: "We are delighted to continue supporting the Arcadia Creative Climate Awards.

"The exhibition provides students with a fantastic opportunity to showcase their hard work in a university setting, and we look forward to seeing the innovative projects on display."

The Arcadia Creative Climate Awards have become a key platform for young environmentalists, with last year’s event attracting entries from some 13 different schools.

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