Two Limerick secondary schools Honoured at Landmark #AndSheCycles Awards Ceremony in Portlaoise

Mungret Community College in Limerick was selected as the overall winner in recognition of the outstanding work of their andshecycles Ambassadors at the awards ceremony in Portlaoise

Two Limerick secondary schools were honoured with more than 100 fellow student ambassadors from across Ireland at the largest ‘andshecycles’ Awards Ceremony to date

Two Limerick secondary schools were honoured with more than 100 fellow student ambassadors from across Ireland at the largest #andshecycles Awards Ceremony to date for their outstanding leadership in championing girls’ cycling in their schools and communities.

#andshecycles is a project of An Taisce’s Green-Schools Travel programme and aims to promote cycling to school among teenage girls. The event, held at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise, celebrated their creativity, commitment and impact in promoting more inclusive and sustainable travel.

Students from Colaiste Na Trocaire and Mungret Community College came together with schools from Athlone, Meath, Clare, Galway, Dublin, Laois, Kilkenny and Carlow to celebrate a remarkable year of leadership, creativity and action as part of the growing #andshecycles Ambassador Programme, with Mungret Community College selected as the overall winners. Throughout the school year, the #AndSheCycles ambassadors took part in workshops and training designed to equip them with the tools, confidence and leadership skills needed to create real change in their schools and communities, from campaign planning and communications to event organisation and advocacy, enabling them to take meaningful action to encourage more girls to cycle.

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Mungret Community College in Limerick was chosen as the overall winner in recognition of the outstanding work of their #andshecycles Ambassadors. Their actions demonstrated a strong focus on promoting cycling among girls in their school, including trialling new school trousers specifically made for females, allowing greater comfort and easier cycling. Developing a bike library with local stakeholders and An Garda Síochána, and promoting cycling through newsletters, social media and talks to build a strong cycling culture. They also secured funding from Limerick Sports Partnership to host a Greenway cycle during Bike Week. The Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to address TDs in the Dáil, where they will share their experiences and highlight the barriers they face as female cyclists, bringing their voices to a national level.

Meanwhile, ambassadors from Coláiste na Trócaire carried out a range of actions, including conducting student surveys, raising awareness through posters displayed around the school, and delivering presentations to other year groups. They also worked with the local Like Bikes company to help provide bikes for the day, before hosting a Greenway cycle for 80 girls in the school.

Reflecting on the year, Allison Phillips, Programme Manager, Green-Schools Travel, said, “This has been our biggest year yet, with 122 incredible student ambassadors taking part. Over the past year, they have developed invaluable leadership, communication and campaigning skills, and most importantly, they have turned those skills into action.

“As the largest cohort in the programme’s history, they represent a powerful movement of young leaders working to close the cycling gender gap and make sustainable travel more inclusive for everyone. Their work is helping to create a future where more girls feel confident, supported and inspired to cycle.”

The programme addresses a stark reality: just one in every 250 teenage girls in Ireland cycles to school each day, highlighting the urgent need to break down barriers and create more inclusive cycling cultures. This year’s ambassadors responded to that challenge with energy and determination, running #andshecycles campaigns, organising awareness events, promoting safe cycling, hosting some great cycling events, and inspiring their peers to see cycling as an accessible, fun and empowering way to travel.

The success of the programme demonstrates the growing appetite among young people to lead positive change and ensure that more girls across Ireland can experience the freedom, independence and joy of cycling. Green-Schools Travel also celebrates Bike Week this week, from 9-16 May, in partnership with the NTA.