Twelve secondary schools from across Tipperary gathered at the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles, on Wednesday 18th March to celebrate the 2026 Tipperary Rubbish Film Festival Awards an inspiring showcase of youth creativity, climate awareness, and powerful digital storytelling.
Over an exciting two‑day programme delivered by Create Schools, Transition Year students from across the County took on the challenge of producing compelling one‑minute films highlighting the environmental issues most meaningful to them.
As part of the project, students selected the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aligned with their film topics, encouraging deeper engagement with global environmental and social challenges. Each film was accompanied by a student‑designed poster, created to visually communicate the message and impact of their work.
Using accessible tools such as tablets and smartphones students researched, scripted, filmed, and edited their own short videos. Their uplifting messages, creative approaches and thoughtful reflections impressed both audiences and judges.
Each school also delivered a short presentation ahead of their film screening, offering the audience an insight into the themes and ideas that shaped their films.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, Cllr. Mark Fitzgerald, said: “When young people use their voices and creativity, they can inspire real and meaningful change. This festival gives students the opportunity to tell powerful stories. Whether these films entertain, challenge, or inspire, they have set important conversations in motion—conversations that influence how we think about our environment and our future.”
Dave Sheehan from Create Schools added: “The young people took real ownership of their films, from selecting the SDGs to shaping their messages and visuals. The creativity, teamwork and passion they showed was inspiring, and the quality of the finished films speaks for itself.”
The event highlighted not only the remarkable talent of Tipperary students but also their strong commitment to raising awareness and inspiring meaningful environmental change.
2026 Tipperary Award Winners
- Best Film
Presentation Secondary School Clonmel – Hell’s Climate - Runner-Up Film
CBS Thurles – Wrapped in Guilt - Best Poster
St. Joseph’s College Borrisoleigh – It’s “Only One” - Impact Award
Comeragh College Carrick-on-Suir – Let Them Eat Cake
The winners of Best Film and Best Poster will now progress to the national awards ceremony in Dublin in April, proudly representing the county on a national stage.
The full showreel of Tipperary films is available to view on YouTube at Film showreel Tipperary
The Rubbish Film Festival was delivered by Create Schools and supported by the Environment & Climate Action Section of Tipperary County Council.
Tipperary County Council was represented at the event by Leas Chathaoirleach, Cllr. Mark Fitzgerald and Environment and Climate Action Staff: Eamon Lonergan, Director of Services, Sharon Scully, Senior Executive Officer, Fergal Condon, Administrative Officer, Fiona Flynn, Staff Officer, Catherine Broderick, Áine Brett and Denise Kearney Assistant Staff Officers and John Walsh, Corporate Affairs.
About the Rubbish Film Festival
The Rubbish Film Festival is an education-focused initiative that invites secondary school students to create short films responding to environmental and climate-related themes. By combining creativity with climate education, the festival empowers young people to reflect on their role in building a more sustainable future.
See: https://rubbishfilmfestival.com/
Tipperary County Council Rubbish Film Festival 2026
Participating schools from Tipperary
- C.B.S. High School Clonmel
- Presentation Secondary School Clonmel
- St. Anne's Secondary School Tipperary
- St. Ailbe's Secondary School Tipperary
- Cashel Community School
- Scoil Mhuire Carrick-on-Suir
- Comeragh College Carrick-on-Suir
- Scoil Ruain Killenaule
- C.B.S Thurles
- Ursuline Secondary School Thurles
- St. Joseph's College Borrisoleigh
- Colaiste Pobal Roscrea
Relevant SDG’s
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
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