Maynooth Green Campus Committee (MGC) is officially in existence since December 2012. MGC brings together stakeholders from St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, Maynooth University, and the Catholic world development agency, Trócaire, headquartered on campus.

Tá Coiste Champas Glas Mhá Nuad (MGC) ar an bhfód go hoifigiúil ó bhí Mí na Nollag 2012 ann. Tagann páirtithe leasmhara ó Choláiste Phádraig, Má Nuad (SPCM), ó Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, agus ón ngníomhaireacht Chaitliceach forbartha domhanda, Trócaire, atá lonnaithe ar an gcampas, le chéile don tionscanamh seo, MGC.

MGC was awarded the Green Campus Flag in September 2018 and renewed in 2023. The Flag is an international award under a scheme coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Copenhagen. The Flag is awarded to third-level institutions that satisfy an assessment of progress undertaken by An Taisce.

To achieve this goal and to further develop the reach of our activities, MGC created a roadmap with a set of realistic objectives that fall under several thematic areas: Biodiversity, Energy Management, Water Conservation, Waste Management, and Sustainable Travel and Transport. In addition, MGC adopted the theme of Climate Justice, which we see as absolutely urgent in the context of global warming and climate change, but it has also recently added Sustainable Agriculture, Health & Wellbeing and Green Labs The later has now been included as a sub-theme under the national Green Campus programme by An Taisce. The flag was awarded in recognition of our achievements in these thematic areas.

Bronnadh Gradam na gCampas Glas ar MGC i Mí Mheán Fómhair 2018. Is gradam idirnáisiúnta é seo mar chuid de scéim a chomhordaíonn an Fhondúireacht um Oideachas Comhshaoil, atá lonnaithe i gCóbanhávan. Bíonn an Gradam bronnta ar choláistí tríú leibhéal a shásaíonn an measúnú foráis a dhéanann An Taisce.

Fad is a bhíomar ag iarraidh an cuspóir seo a bhaint amach, cuireadh plean le chéile le spriocanna réalaíocha, spriocanna a tháinig faoi na ceannteidil théamacha seo a leanas: Bithéagsúlacht, Bainistíocht Fuinnimh, Caomhnú Uisce, Bainistíocht Dramhaíola agus Taisteal agus Iompar Inbhuanaithe. Anuas air sin, ghlac MGC le Ceartas Aeráide mar théama, toisc go bhfuilimid láidir den tuairim gur an-phráinneach atá sé i gcomhthéacs an téimh dhomhanda agus an athraithe aeráide. Tá an fothéama breise seo san áireamh anois faoi Chlár Náisiúnta na gCampas Glas atá curtha le chéile ag an Taisce. Bronnadh an Gradam orainn mar gheall ar na gaiscí atá bainte amach againn faoi na ceannteidil théamacha seo go léir.

An Taisce Hosts 2025/2026 Green Flag Award Results at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

An Taisce visited St Patrick’s College, Maynooth on November 12th to host the 2025/2026 Green Flag Award for parks and Green Spaces . Maynooth Campus was invited to attend alongside 128 parks and green spaces from across the country to celebrate their environmental achievements. Rev Dr Michael Shortall, Interim President St Patrick's College, Stephen Seaman, Maynooth Campus, and Mr Mike O'Malley, Bursar of Maynooth University received the awards on behalf of the Maynooth Campus. Stephen also delivered the closing speech on the day and had the opportunity to give attendees from all over Ireland a tour of our campus.

The campus proudly received all the awards it was eligible for, and took home the overall winner of the Pollinator Award — a recognition of its outstanding efforts to support biodiversity and sustainability.

Maynooth Campus:

• retained its Green Flag Award for a 7th consecutive year
• retained its Green Heritage Flag for a 5th consecutive year
• was named Overall Winner in the Pollinator award 2025

Massive congratulations to all of the Maynooth Campus Team.

Gold for Maynooth!

Rev Dr Michael Shortall, Interim President St Patrick’s College, yesterday acknowledged the huge achievement of Maynooth in achieving Gold at the Entente Florale Europe event in Slovenia.

‘Warm congratulations to everyone involved in achieving the Gold Award in Entente Florale Europe.

This success reflects vision, dedication, and a remarkable spirit of cooperation between Maynooth Tidy Towns, Kildare County Council, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth University, local businesses, and the wider community. It’s a genuine team effort—and that team has brought home gold.

At St Patrick’s, we were delighted to play our part. We hosted the judges during their visit. One of their standout moments came as they entered our College Chapel to the sound of the organ. It’ a striking space, and its beauty can sometimes make us forget how much of nature is present within it: flowers and branches carved into wood and stone, birds and animals on its walls, singing to the glory of creation. It’s as if the whole of nature has been invited inside to join the praise.

Our campus is more than the setting for historic buildings. It is a living green space for the town—students stroll, families wander, birds nest, and, occasionally, a fox or two tries to join in.

I’d also like to offer heartfelt congratulations to Mr Stephen Seaman and his team on receiving the Special Characteristic Prize “for the excellent management of the Green Environment of the shared campus.” This is a tremendous recognition of their ongoing work and care. The shared campus is a vital part of the landscape of Maynooth, and their stewardship enriches the whole community.

May this gold medal inspire us all to keep tending the shared garden that is Maynooth.’

Pictured is Stephen Seaman and Rev Dr Shortall, Interim President SPPU with the award together with Dr Mike O’Malley and Michael Rafter of MU.