Jingle Bells and the sound of feet: Launch of Climate-Friendly WOW days in Portlaoise

Portlaoise students take to streets as ‘Walk on Wednesdays’ launched

On Wednesday, December 11th, Portlaoise experienced a transformative morning as the usual hum of car engines gave way to the cheerful chatter of students walking to school. This was the launch of Walk on Wednesdays (WOW), a weekly initiative encouraging students from all 10 local schools to walk, cycle, or use park ‘n’ stride for their school commute.

Santa Stroll

The Santa Stroll was part of the Portlaoise School Travel Cluster Project, marking the first-ever town-wide WOW event in Ireland. Students and parents embraced the festive spirit, donning Santa hats, Christmas lights, and tinsel scarves. Bells jingled as a wave of walkers filled the streets, creating a magical and climate-friendly start to the school day.

Karen Moore, Community Climate Action Officer at Laois County Council, praised the event, stating:
“The Santa Stroll was a powerful demonstration of how small changes can have a big impact on our community. Seeing so many families walking together with joy and purpose was truly inspiring.”

Also present to support the event were Michèle Castiaux and Chiara Hanrahan, Travel Officers from An Taisce Green-Schools; Sam Mc Leod Environmental Awareness Officer at Laois County Council. Community Gardaí Aran Grehan and Ronan Maher also lent their support, joining students and staff in the Santa Stroll festivities.

Sustaining the Momentum

Following this festive launch, WOW days will continue every Wednesday as part of the Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project, a two-year initiative supported by Laois County Council Climate Action Section and delivered by Green-Schools Travel. The program aims to ease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and enhance road safety while promoting physical and mental well-being.

Community Participation and Creativity

The response from schools was overwhelmingly positive:

Scoil Chriost Rí: Their Green-Schools Committee sparked school-wide enthusiasm by launching a WOW competition and recording an informative podcast explaining WOW days (listenhere https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lX43RgBirbL5IdbOEnnNz?si=Ze2Eh15zRh2aNJkoFXdJ8w. The result? Fewer cars and more walkers along Borris Road.

Portlaoise College: In a creative twist, their Green-Schools Committee tallied student participation by collecting fingerprints from walkers. The result was a display board filled with student prints celebrating their collective action.

Gaelscoil Phortlaoise: The school reported high participation, with parents joining their children for a walk that turned the local park ‘n’ stride car park into a bustling community hub.
Holy Family Junior School: Teachers noted a “brilliant morning” with a festive atmosphere that energised students and staff alike.
Maryborough NS: Principal Bríd-Ann Buggie acknowledged the challenge of a wide catchment area but celebrated families who embraced park ‘n’ stride and filled a local retail car park with eager walkers.

A Call for Broader Action

Students have embraced WOW days and are now calling on adults to adopt the same practice for their work commutes. 

The WOW day will continue in all 10 schools every Wednesday as part of the Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project. With students leading the way, Portlaoise is already seeing the benefits of fewer cars, cleaner air, and a closer-knit community.