Young people from all over Ireland were awarded at the Young Environmentalist Awards 2007 ceremony, which took place on Monday, 21st May in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin 2. There were projects galore and the overall Junior Young Environmentalist Awards 2007 went to young people from St. Catherine’s College, Co. Armagh, with their project called "Green Christmas and Recycle Light". The overall Senior Young Environmentalist Awards 2007 went to the young people from St. Mary's Knockbeg College, Co. Carlow with their project "Go Wild – a study of native species and Biodiversity along the River Barrow".

"We’ve had such a magnificent array of projects this year dealing with real environmental concerns of climate change, biodiversity loss, water and waste issues" commented Ms. Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO. "It’s time we took our young people’s concerns seriously. This Awards ceremony highlights these issues and celebrates their work in environmental protection and conservation" continued Ms. Nevin.

Fifteen groups of young environmentalists from all over Ireland were awarded in various categories and some of the highlights were the Senior Water winners from Presentation College, Tralee with their project on fluoridation in water and the Senior Eco-Art & Design winners from Loreto College, Cavan with their Trash "N" Fashion Show. This year’s two special prizes were COMHAR prize for Sustainable Development, presented to Scoil Carmel, Co. Limerick for their commitment to providing a long-term environmental solution to a social and economic issue and the Biodiversity prize presented to Grennan College, Co. Kilkenny who focused their project on endangered species protection.

Aidan Power (RTE2 TTV and The Café) was the master of ceremony, with a keynote address from Dr. Tara Shine Environmental Scientist, explorer and TV presenter and You’re a Star finalists 21 Demands rocked the Round Room closing the evening.

This year, the YEA had over 150 registered projects from which 34 were short-listed and displayed at an open showcase prior to the awards ceremony. All the short-listed projects will be exhibited in ENFO, 17 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2, from 22nd to 25th of May.

ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards Programme has been running since 1999 and has attracted the participation of over 8,000 young people and reached countless others with awareness raising campaigns in over 750 schools and communities in Ireland.

For complete list of winners click here.

Photos of the event: