Fingal schools receive weather stations in council initiative

More Fingal schools will be given portable weather stations in an initiative to help improve rainfall records in the county.

The project was first launched last year when a select number of schools were given rain and wind gauges.

The aim of the initiative – which is funded through the Chief Executive’s Innovation Fund – is to increase knowledge through “further research” which is “helping to create awareness, inspire interest and share knowledge on the environment,” the local authority said.

“The installation of weather station rain gauges at schools has helped provide more detailed rainfall records for the Fingal County.

“The collection of this information by schools, pupils and teachers is helping to promote an appreciation of the water cycle, and climate change challenges faced by the community.

“Importantly, the project involves and helps to further students’ knowledge on key challenges faced by society.”

In February this year, Fingal’s weather stations recorded wind speeds of 83.7km/h along the Dublin coastline, while in July Scoil Bhríde Cailíní in Blanchardstown recorded a high temperature of 32.9 degrees.

The Mayor of Fingal, councillor Howard Mahony, visited St Luke’s National School in Tyrrelstown, one of the schools who will be receiving a weather station.

He said: “This is a wonderful initiative and is of great help to Met Éireann in monitoring rainfall and our climate.

“It also provides a more accurate understanding of river response to different rainfall depths, and can be used by the OPW, Met Éireann and Fingal’s flood sections in producing more accurate weather forecasts, and has great educational for primary schools right across the county.”

The new phase of the initiative is supported by the EPA/An Taisce/GLOBE Ireland, with students learning more about the environment around them, including topics such as air quality, wind speed/direction, temperature, and rainfall in Fingal.

Fingal County Council executive engineer Kevin Vallely, who spearheaded the project said “it has been an amazing twelve months for the award winning and innovative Weather Station for Schools Project.

“There are now 27 working weather stations of which 17 are live on the Met Eireann’s weather observations website (WOW).”

The Principal of St Luke’s National School, Vivienne Bourke said the initiative will help improve the students’ knowledge of weather and climate.

“Being part of this initiative is a fantastic opportunity for our school and the wider community of Tyrrelstown.

“We are so grateful to Fingal County Council and to everyone who has given St. Luke’s NS the opportunity to look after and monitor this weather station.

“The pupils will be able to learn so much about our weather and climate by interacting with the equipment provided.

“They will gain practical and hands on experience in weather forecasting and monitoring,” he said.

“Many of our pupils here come from all around the world. The future is in their hands. Having an understanding of climate change and the challenges which our world faces at such a young age will be of tremendous benefit to them.”