State's most active schools named

Students at three schools in Meath, Longford and Waterford have been recognised as the State's most physically active - and they…

Students at three schools in Meath, Longford and Waterford have been recognised as the State's most physically active - and they've been awarded €5,000 to keep up the good work.

The three schools: Scoil an Spioraid Naomh in Laytown, Co Meath, Stella Maris Secondary School in Tramore, Co Waterford, and St Christopher's Special School in Longford were selected from more than 3,000 primary, secondary and special schools in the third annual Active School Awards.

According to Seán Gallagher, the programme's co-ordinator, the awards honour schools with the most unique and well-rounded physical education, physical activity and sport programmes.

"Each school has a story, from how they approach physical education as a whole to things like walking to school initiatives, like one school that has 114 pupils and 87 of them walk to school," he said.

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Finalists for the award were selected from each county and 14 schools were short-listed for the national award ceremony, held in The Helix, Dublin City University.

The three winners were awarded €5,000 for new sports equipment and facilities and each of the other short-listed schools were awarded €2,000.

Mr Gallagher said the Active Schools programme, which includes an annual Active School Week, is helping to counteract growing childhood obesity in Ireland and gives recognition to teachers and coaches who encourage physically active lifestyles.

"The more PE is supported in early childhood, the less cheques we'll be writing for the health system in the years to come," he said.

"With good investment in PE facilities and initiatives like this, you'll find that we won't have nearly as many health problems."