More than 250 students, teachers and school representatives from across Ireland gathered at Croke Park on Tuesday 3rd June for the inaugural Re-turn Awards.

Hosted by Today FM ‘s very own Ian Dempsey, the awards marked the first nationwide recognition of primary schools using the Deposit Return Scheme in creative and impactful ways to promote sustainability, community engagement and fundraising.

The initiative attracted more than 300 entries from primary schools across the Republic of Ireland. Sixteen schools were honoured across a range of categories recognising innovation, participation, sustainability awareness, leadership and community involvement.

The overall winner of the inaugural Re-turn Awards was Pelletstown Educate Together National School in Dublin, which received the top prize of €5,000 for its imaginative and highly successful “Monster Bin” initiative.

Judges praised the school’s community-wide approach to recycling, which involved pupils, staff, parents, local businesses and residents. Through awareness campaigns, educational activities and a dedicated Junior Re-turn Committee, recycling became part of everyday school life.

Funds raised through the initiative supported projects including a sensory pod, garden improvements and school activities. Judges were impressed by its lasting impact, both in raising funds and encouraging positive recycling habits across the school community.

A special Judges’ Commendation Award was presented to St. Malachy’s BNS in Dublin, whose Re-turn campaign raised funds for a memorial garden in honour of fellow pupil Joshua, who passed away earlier this year.

The initiative brought together pupils, families, local businesses and the wider community, with judges praising it as a powerful example of how environmental action can create meaningful social impact.

Commenting on the success of the awards programme, Re-turn CEO Ciarán Foley said the response from schools had surpassed expectations.

“The response to the first ever Re-turn Awards has exceeded all expectations, with schools from every corner of the country showing how small everyday actions can create meaningful change,” he said.

“Schools have shown how the scheme can support sustainability education while also helping to raise funds for important projects and initiatives. The creativity, teamwork and enthusiasm shown by students, teachers and wider school communities has been incredibly inspiring.”

The awards were open to primary schools of all sizes across the Republic of Ireland. To ensure fairness, judges assessed entries in the context of each school’s size and circumstances, allowing schools from diverse backgrounds and communities to compete on an equal footing.

Entries were evaluated based on several criteria, including creativity, teamwork, fundraising success, sustainability education and community engagement.

In addition to the overall winner and Judges’ Commendation Award, schools were recognised across categories such as leadership, teamwork, social impact, fundraising and sustainability education.

Riain Daley and Ronan Healy from Scoil Naoimh Mhuire, Ballnahill NS, Co.Limerick, winner of the Re-turn Awareness Campaign

Full list of Re-turn Award Winners

• Overall Re-turn Award Winner: Pelletstown Educate Together National School, Dublin

• Judges’ Commendation Award: St. Malachy’s BNS, Dublin

• Re-turn Local Legends Award (Large School): Scoil Angela, Ursuline Primary School, Tipperary

• Re-turn Local Legends Award (Medium School): St. Joseph’s National School, Cork

• Re-turn Local Legends Award (Small School): Kilmore Central National School, Cavan

• Re-turn Student Achievement Award: St Aengus National School, Donegal

• Re-turn Heroes Award: Kildorrery National School, Cork

• Re-turn Leadership Award: Mary Queen of Angels, Dublin

• Re-turn Creativity Award: Nagle-Rice Primary School, Kerry

• Re-turn Ingenuity Award: St Patrick’s National School  Greystones, Wicklow

• Re-turn Awareness Campaign Award: Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Limerick

• Re-turn Fundraising Award: Loreto Primary School, Dalkey, Dublin

• Re-turn Teamwork Award: St. Anne’s and St. Joseph’s Primary Schools, Rathkeale, Limerick

• Re-turn Social Impact Award: Libermann Spiritan School, Dublin

• Most Returned Award: St. John’s Special School, Waterford

• Re-turn Sustainability Education Award: Queen of Angels Primary School, Dublin