Secondary school students from Trinity Comprehensive School in Ballymun, North Dublin are the creators behind the 'Better Ballymun Day'.
Now in its third year, the inspiring project is going from strength to strength and moves well beyond the school's classrooms.
The idea behind the initiative is the community of Ballymun come together and work together on a day of actions to make their Ballymun even better, where each can contribute in their own way.
Trinity Comprehensive School is at the heart of the community in Ballymun and teachers and pupils have been working hard ahead of the Better Ballymun Day, which will take place from 10am, on March 3rd 2023..
Over 60 different projects will take place across Ballymun next Friday as part of Better Ballymun Day.
In 2022, over 3,000 people attended the event which was launched by President Michael D Higgins.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Principal Frances Neary revealed she was ‘very proud’ of the students, and the initiative, describing all the amazing work being put in.
Principal Neary said the students are determined to show Ireland the best of Ballymun.
“It’s a day of action and encourages the students and community to take ownership and be proud of the area, and where they come from, Ballymun.”
“It’s teaching them active citizenship, to make their Ballymun better and feel proud of their area”
"Sometimes the negative stories can take away from the fantastic community that we have, Ballymun gets too much bad press, the day involves all of the community, and it's a positive day.
"The students are taking ownership of their area and they're saying we are proud of where we live and we're going to make it absolutely beautiful and a lovely place to be," Ms Neary said.
Supported by Ballymun Tidy Towns, teachers and students got clubs, agencies, organisations, Dublin City Council and locals from the area to take part in the day of action to bring about real and positive change.
There will be work done in various Ballymun schools, local community centres, and in community gardens.
Among the many projects taking place, students and the community will focus on planting orchards in local sports grounds, wildflower planting, installing swift bird boxes, constructing a clay oven in the ‘muck and magic’ garden, and more exciting projects.
All the schools in the Ballymun locality will be taking part in an environmental awareness poster competition, the cleaning up of areas, weeding, scuffling and litter picking.
There is also a stencilling initiative to bring awareness to dog fouling, some cooking from local produce in Buddy’s farmers market, the updating of murals, and biodiversity trails.
Coordinator Paddy O’Reilly told independent.ie that the project is expecting approximately 2,000 people on the day following the success of 2022’s Better Ballymun Day.
Mr O’Reilly told the news outlet, “All the primary schools are involved and are doing an anti-litter poster competition which will be delivered to the civic centres on the day.”
He added: “There is ‘something for everyone’ on the day” and advised people who have cleaning equipment to bring it with them.
“Bring a litter picker, a hoe or a scuffler and we’ll find them a job,” he said.
Ballymun History Trail
The Ballymun History Trail is inspired by the rich history of Ballymun, students created a history trail for Better Ballymun day with eleven featured sites.
The trail means the community can take a walk down memory lane and rediscover the history of Ballymun.
From its origins, the seven towers, and St. Pappins erection of St. Pappins Church in 1797 by the Christian king of Munster.
Locals are invited to meet at 10.30am on Friday, March 3 at Trinity Comprehensive School.
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