Ballintleva NS 'delighted' by Tidy Towns schools award success

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Ballintleva NS has been awarded the Tidy Towns SuperValu School Award for the North West & West region.

The national school was delighted to be chosen for the prestigious award, which encourages schools to get involved with their local committees and play their part towards creating a better community.

“The school was in the top four schools in the country,” said Acting Principal Padraig O'Callaghan.

“Our retired principal Mrs Mary O'Brien Healy was the driving force behind the project. She put in a huge amount of work alongside the staff and students, and the parents played a big role as well.”

Former Principal Mary O'Brien Healy attended the Tidy Towns awards ceremony in Croke Park recently, with students Emma Gately and Elizabeth Richards, and parents Michael Gately and Lorraine Garvey.

When asked what made Ballintleva NS stand out against other schools in the region, Mr O'Callaghan noted the school's many biodiversity features.

“The area that the school is located in is beautiful. We have a fruit orchard, bug hotels, raised vegetable beds, a rain water harvester, and a biodiversity wall where the kids can learn all about the wildlife in the local area.

“We also have a walkway, and we are working on a new astroturf which the parents have been actively involved in fundraising for.”

The school building, built in 2010, is located next to Dysart's very own heritage monument, the old dance hall, which the principal also mentions as a feature which adds to the allure of the local area.

When asked what the community reaction was to the school winning the award, Mr O'Callaghan said everyone was simply delighted.

“The community have been so centrally involved. The parents were delighted that the school was recognised in such a huge way.”

Based between the villages of Curraghboy and Dysart, Ballintleva NS has been keenly engaged with local Tidy Towns committees in preparation for this year's competition.

Judges who visited as part of the Tidy Towns competition applauded how the Tidy Towns committee engaged with the school children.

“It is heartening to read about your efforts to engage with the national school students."

Mr O'Callaghan thanked all those in the community which have contributed to making the school so beautiful.

He paid particular thanks to the parents who put a lot of work into the school's application for the Tidy Towns competition.

Ballintleva NS has also been shortlisted as finalists in Roscommon County Council's "Greener Spaces" awards taking place on November 28.