INAGH is in the running to be named one of the Greenest villages in Ireland.
Across categories for Ireland’s greenest suburb, village, town and community, Clare has secured one nominee on the shortlist, with Inagh now in contention to win the village category and potentially the overall title of Ireland’s Greenest Place 2025.
It will be competing with Louisburgh (Mayo), Castlegregory/Maharees (Kerry) and Cloughjordan ecovillage (Tipperary).
Fourteen entries from across the country have made it to the final stage of the Ireland’s Greenest Places competition. The shortlist includes two suburbs, four villages, three towns and five communities. Dublin and Kerry lead the way with four and three nominees respectively, with Mayo next on two. Then its Clare, Cork Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford with one each.
Quin had made the longlist of twenty six for the village category.
‘Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025’, an initiative, which is being run by The Irish Times in association with Electric Ireland, began in late May when members of the public were invited to nominate a special place or project which they believe contributes to a genuinely greener environment.
Inagh and Quin were among over 120 projects or places put forward by members of the public from all over the country and amongst a small number of entries submitted from people in Clare.
As part of its submission, Inagh’s public transport improvements have impressed judges. As per its submission, the village has a population of 192. Bike parking, a new bus shelter and a pedestrian crossing have all enabled a more sustainable transport system.
A village biodiversity plan has seen the introduction of solar panels on the hurling club and community hall, and a biodiversity river walk. With collaborators from ages 10 to 92, Inagh’s green initiatives hinge on the involvement of local school classes, the GAA, the active retired group and Tidy Towns groups.
Other initiatives carried out in Inagh include it being the first solar meitheal in Clare, the involvement of over forty participants in tree planting and clean ups, local coffee shops giving discounts for resuable coffee cups, development of an energy master plan which will be completed by the end of 2025, energy audits in the national school and community hall, a local nuttery, a return scheme collection point, a water point for refilling bottles and having Ireland’s only plastic free Christmas fair.
Chair of the Judging Panel, Irish Times Features Editor Mary Minihan said they had been blown away by the quality and diversity of the environmental projects being undertaken around the country. “All fourteen community entries which have made it through to the final stage have demonstrated clear evidence of widespread action on climate and sustainability goals. Many of the locations have benefitted from truly transformative action, changing both physically and culturally as a result of collaborative green projects”.
She added, “It was extremely difficult in the first instance for us to come up with the long list and more difficult again to come up with the shortlist. Congratulations to the 14 projects who made it on the shortlist but also to everyone who entered and is doing such valuable work”.
She said each place was judged on specific criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community and evidence of behavioural change by people.
Joining her on the judging panel is former Minister and ex leader of the Green Party, Eamon Ryan. He said the Ireland’s Greenest Places initiative shows just how much community-led- environmentalism has deepened and spread in recent years. “At a time when people are anxious about climate change and biodiversity loss, it helps to think global but act local. The short-listed entries show the variety of what is taking place around Ireland. People in every community seem to be looking to see what they can do by promoting pollinators, planting trees or establishing sustainable energy or transport solutions”.
Category winners and the overall winner of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 will be announced on the weekend of the 12th/13th of September.
