GRETB take home prizes at Excellence Awards

Galway and Roscommon ETB (GRETB) took home the Excellence in Organisation Support and Development Award at the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards on Thursday, March 2nd. The awards were run by Education and Training Boards Ireland, who were celebrated ten years of having education and training boards (ETBs) in our country.

Galway and Roscommon ETB won the award for their Procurement Office Green Innovation initiative. This initiative saw food waste from GRETB being reused as compost for the green areas and pitches in Clarin College in Athenry.

Roscommon Community College’s LGBTQI+ Allies group, part of Galway and Roscommon ETB, received the runner-up prize in the ETB Excellence Award for Equality category. This group introduced a Pride Week as well as fostering a more inclusive atmosphere in their school and wider community.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Croke Park, which also marked ‘ETB Day’. Hosted by RTÉ newsreader and former ETB student Ray Kennedy, the event was attended by representatives from all sixteen ETBs across the country.

The awards ceremony featured the premiere of the official ETB Heroes video, which features five ETB heroes – including famous faces and former ETB students Ray Kennedy, Tolü Makay and Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill – who were matched with five current ETB learners, and explored what their ETB means to them and the impact it has on their life. Featured in the video is Galway and Roscommon ETB student, Fé Ní Chionnaith.

Lisacul Tidy Towns to host information event on biodiversity

Lisacul Tidy Towns is inviting members of the local community to learn more about the group’s biodiversity plan with a professional ecologist in Lisacul Community Centre.

Recently, Lisacul Tidy Towns was successful in obtaining a grant from the Community Foundation for Ireland ‘Environment and Nature Fund’. This grant will allow the group to update, improve and deliver on their Biodiversity Action Plan, with the expert input of ecologist Sheila Murphy.

Sheila will visit the community on the second of April to carry out initial fieldwork, and also to meet with members of the Tidy Towns Committee and all interested members of the community. The event starts at 3 pm, so please come along to learn about what is planned and engage with Sheila and the rest of the committee.

Habitat mapping, hedgerow assessment and general recommendations on improving Lisacul for biodiversity are the main goals. If you want to learn more and have some input to protecting and improving our wildlife, please come along. There will also be tea and cake served on the day!

Urgent AGM called in bid to keepFuerty Centre open

An urgent AGM has been called for Tuesday, March 21st in a bid to keep St. Ciaran’s Community Centre in Fuerty open.

The meeting will take place at 8.30 pm and organisers are calling on people to attend to safeguard the future of the facility.

A statement from the committee read: “Everyone is welcome to attend as this is the community hall and new members are needed in order to keep the centre open.

“This is a wonderful facility in the centre of the village but if it does not have support it will cease to exist. Thanks to all who are supporting it at the moment by organising their events and classes. We trust we will have a good response to this notice”.