Local students can ‘Go Places’

LOCAL Transition Year students from Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, attended Bus Éireann’s ‘Go Plac-es’ competition last week that encourages participants to express their creativity by documenting their school journeys.

Broadcaster and DJ Stephen Byrne joined with TY students from Coláiste Cois Life to mark the launch of the competition that is open for all transport modes to school.

Bus Eireann operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education & Skills.

Every day up to 117,000 students from 3,000 schools countrywide travel to and from school on 4,500 vehicles across 6,500 routes.

This adds up to over 40 million individual journeys during term annually.

Entries can be submitted in video, photo or written format and students are asked to capture high-lights of their journey in a creative and personal way.

Nicola Cooke, Media and PR Manager with Bus Éireann said: “At Bus Éireann, making better connections is important to us.

“School is where you connect with people and make memories for life so we’re encouraging TY students to document their school journeys and share them with us as part of ‘Go Places’.

“We want students to showcase the moments that make their journey unique – from their mode of transport to the people they meet or places they pass – the more creative the better.”

Last year, Alannah Doherty from St Clare’s Comprehensive in Manorhamilton, was selected as the national winner for her creative photo diary. There are East, West and South regional competitions.

Helping Bus Éireann launch the competition in Dublin City Centre were students from Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan, as well as Stephen who recently went back to school to repeat his Leaving Certificate. 

Discussing his experiences in going back to school Stephen revealed: “This year, I relived my school days as I embarked on a personal mission to repeat the Leaving Cert after 10 years.

“There were months where school got really tough but thanks to my classmates’ support, I got through it.

“Your school days can be both the most testing, and greatest days, of your life. With each school journey, you learn more about yourself and the world around you.

“From making new friends to listening to great music, your school journeys create life-long memories.”

Go Places with Bus Éireann 2018 -2019 is open to all TY students across the Republic of Ireland. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2019.