More than 50 pupils from schools across Donegal gathered outside County House in Lifford for Donegal’s Climate Strike Protest.
The protest, sparked by Buncrana student Conal O’Boyle, saw both primary and secondary school pupils carry placards and chant slogans calling on the Irish Government to play their part in tackling climate change.
Conal, a transition student and Crana College in Buncrana, said he was delighted with the turn-out for today’s protest.
Some of the students who held the protest outside Donegal County Council headquarters on the lack of Climate Change policies. (North West Newspix)
“It is a first and I know other schools across Donegal are holding their own little protests at their schools.
“We want the officials and the councillors in there (the council offices) to hear us out there and to realise that we as young people are taking climate change very seriously but we want them to do the same.”
Protest organiser Conal O’Boyle addressing the crowd at the headquarters of Donegal County Council. (North West Newspix)
He said he wanted people to realise that it is not too late for change.
“I understand that all the talk is about Brexit but that will have moved on in years to come but climate change will not have if we do not address it.
“Things change and we can do something about it beginning with our use of plastics or changing our habits to include simple things like taking our own reusable coffee cups with us,” he said.
Among those who supported the students was Independent TD Thomas Pringle as well as upcoming local election candidates Sinead Stewart and Declan Meehan.
Protest organisers Conal O’Boyle and Eimear Smith who addressed the crowd at the headquarters of Donegal County Council. (North West Newspix)
Among the pupils who attended was 14 students from Meentinadea National School in Ardara.
Teacher Aine Mic Giolla Bride said students took a vote as to who wanted to join the protest with 14 out of the entire school population of 22 children deciding to travel.
“We are on our sixth Green Flag and the environment and the issue of climate change is very much part of our school day, each and every day.
“For some schools, it is about just getting the flag but we prefer to use it as part of the ethos of the school each day.
“It’s great to see so many young people here today and I feel it is great that they are able to protest and to question what is happening in Ireland and around the world,” she said.
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