Students from nine secondary schools across Carlow will attend the county’s Rubbish Film Festival Awards.
The annual event, supported by the National Anti-Litter and Graffiti Fund, aims to get young people at Transition Year level creative with the environment in mind while making a movie, learning digital storytelling skills and using their imagination to talk about issues like climate action.
During 2024, Presentation College, Carlow were the Regional Winners and National Runners Up with their film Out of Sight, Out of Mind, whilst in 2025, Tyndall College, Carlow picked up the Regional Winner Award with “Be the Change”. Helping to amplify the work of the inspiring students, County Carlow Environmental Network have been screening all the student films submitted alongside their monthly film choices and conversations at Visual Theatre during their autumn/winter film season.
Today Visual Theatre will host Carlow’s first in-person ceremony to award participants with the judging panel including Programme Director of TV & Media Productions at SETU (and former KCLR Producer) Ethna Quirke, Environmental Awareness Officer with Carlow County Council Dee Sewell who says; “The Rubbish Film Festival is a fantastic way to engage young people in environmental issues while giving them real-world skills in media and storytelling. Seeing the creativity and passion these students bring to the topic of waste is inspiring, and we’re thrilled to celebrate their work in person this year.”
Dave Sheehan from Create Schools, who worked closely with the students, has been speaking with KCLR News’ Martin Quilty;
