Kilkenny secondary school honoured at landmark awards ceremony
The ceremony took place in Portlaoise
Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny, 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 school and communities.
#Andshecycles is a project of An Tasice’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 Presentation Secondary School came together with schools from Athlone, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Dublin, Laois, Carlow and Meath to celebrate a remarkable year of leadership, creativity and action as part of the growing #andshecycles ambassador programme.
Throughout the school year, the 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.
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From campaign planning and communications to event organisation and advocacy this enabled them to take meaningful action to encourage more girls to cycle.
#Andshecycles ambassadors from Presentation Secondary School used creative social media campaigns, including funny videos to raise awareness and encourage students to take part in their Bike for Breakfast event, with food sponsored by Lidl.
They also delivered informative talks to students and used fun, engaging approaches to promote cycling and encourage participation across the school.
Reflecting on the year, Allison Philips, 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,” she added.
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 May 9-16, in partnership with the NTA.