Pride of Place judges told of concerns of Westmeath youth

The mantra of the summer of 2033 worldwide has been the phrase: “the world is burning” as fires cause devastation in places such as Greece, Tenerife, Maui and Canada.

Climate change is one of the major issues concerning the members of Westmeath’s junior county council, ‘Comhairle na nÓg’, it became clear as the young people made a presentation on their activities for the adjudicators in this year’s Pride of Place competition. The adjudicators Peter Hynes and Terry O’Niadh were in Mullingar on Monday of last week. Mr O’Niadh is originally from Mullingar.

The young people have prepared a “Green Guide” – set for launch later this month – aimed at not just explaining the climate crisis, but at setting out steps people can take to live more sustainably.

The guide is aimed at 10-12 year olds, and true to their commitment to sustainability, the young people are going for just a limited print run, but making the publication downloadable via a QR code.

Comhairle member Joni Frank addressing the adjudicators, said the junior council, now in its twentieth year, enabled young people to speak on issues important to them and to have their voices heard.

“We’ve carried out a lot of work on environmental issues,” she said, explaining that at the 2019 AGM – attended by 300 young people – environmental concerns emerged as a major issue, and that this had informed the direction in which the comhairle had chosen to focus.

Cillian Carey explained that the comhairle, in its efforts to help spread awareness on green issues, had formed links with other groups. One such group was the Men’s Shed, and this had led to the manufacture of over 300 bat boxes which had been distributed to individual young people and to schools and community groups.

The comhairle members had also, he said, encouraged people to take more interest in bats, and had tried to dispel some of the myths surrounding the creatures.

The adjudicators heard also that the young people had written, directed, filmed and even acted in three films aimed at spreading word about the importance of bees and bats, and dealing with environmental change.

Fluently and confidently, the young people answered the questions about their work asked by the adjudicators.

One question asked of them was what challenges they have encountered, to which Cillian responded that having limited funding was one obstacle, but another was a shortage of people – and because the comhairle gets to meet only every six weeks, a shortage of time. Maeve Staunton added that Covid had also been a difficulty, but that a positive was the way in which the members worked as a group.

Another positive, listed by Dorothy Obilcoya, from Athlone – MC for the event - was that the young people themselves had learnt how to live more sustainably.

If the fate of Ireland’s bees lay only in the hands of Charlie Claffey from Mount Temple and Rose O’Brien of Kilbeggan, the bees would thrive, as the two spoke passionately and knowledgeably about bees.

Westmeath county cathaoirleach Liam McDaniel was highly complimentary about the young people: “I don’t know what their next project will be – but I do know they will deliver!” he said, while coordinator, Edwina Farrell said they were both smart and articulate.