THE King’s Hospital School in Palmerstown is celebrating this week after winning their fifth Green Flag.
To mark the achievement, the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Paul Gogarty, attended a ceremony at the school where the flag was raised.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Gogarty said: “This school is one of Ireland’s oldest and perhaps nothing marks the transient nature of our time than to think of all the students who have passed through their school grounds over centuries.
“Putting that in the context of our environment we realise that we are guardians who have a duty of care.
“That is certainly happening here through the Green Flag programme and it is happening across Dublin and across Ireland.”
The flag was awarded to the King’s Hospital School for its work under the theme of ‘bio-diversity’.
Teacher Ciaran O’Connor said: “The King's Hospital Environmental Committee was delighted to welcome Mayor Gogarty and representatives from An Taisce, members of the council’s environmental section and the parents’ association to our celebration.
“The ceremony was lovely with speeches highlighting how every individual action adds up to a combined community effort at environmental stewardship.
“Today was a reward for all the hard work and effort of the committee over the last two years.
“It was indeed apt that the sun shone as we raised our biodiversity flag.”
The King’s Hospital School is a key part of the local landscape in the Liffey Valley area.
The students and staff are extremely proud of their beautiful location.”
Mr O’Connor added: “The school has a very active environmental committee dedicated to ensuring that the school grounds are preserved and enhanced.
“The school campus is a sanctuary on the edge of the city and is an integral part of the Liffey valley environment.”
Green Schools (known internationally as Eco-Schools), is a wide-ranging environmental management education programme and award scheme that promotes action for the environment.