Dysart River Project crowned Ireland’s Greenest Community
The Dysart River Project in Westmeath has been crowned Ireland’s Greenest Community 2025. The judges said the project shows what can be achieved when various local groups work together towards a common goal.
Edel Ennis, who nominated the project, pointed out that water quality had been an issue in Lough Ennell for a number of years. “Poor water quality can have an effect on an entire community, and it takes community action to fix it,” she said.
Eamon Ryan, former leader of the Green Party, and one of the judges, who visited the project, said: “In 2019, the designated inland bathing location at Lilliput on Lough Ennell was failing to meet its water quality standards due to ongoing pollution issues, one of which related to runoff from farming activities on the river Dysart, which is part of the Brosna catchment running in and out of the lake.”
Thanks to collaboration with the local farming community, the Lough Ennell Trout Preservation Association, local authority water programme scientists, Teagasc experts and local representatives, a plan was drawn up to address the water pollution issue.
The project was a success and last year Lough Ennell was classified as achieving good water quality.
The other finalists in the Community Category were Taplin’s Fields (Bridgefoot Street Park Community Garden), Dublin, Coolmine Lodge, Dublin, The Dingle Peninsula, Kerry and Ambrosetown Cemetery, Wexford
The Dingle Peninsula did not win the Community Category, but it did claim the overall title of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025.
The peninsula, which has been described as “the most beautiful place on earth” by National Geographic, claimed the title due to the dedication and commitment of the local community to their environment.
The judges said: “They care for their beautiful environment, they know they have to protect it, and as a result, they create imaginative ways to be more sustainable in the way people work and live there. They also understand they have a responsibility to improve the peninsula and to leave it in a better place for the next generation of residents and visitors.”
About Ireland’s Greenest Places
‘Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025’, an initiative by The Irish Times in association with Electric Ireland, began in late May when members of the public were invited to nominate special places or projects they believe contributes to a genuinely greener environment.
Each place was judged on criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community and evidence of behavioural change by people. The five judges were Eamon Ryan, Kevin O’Sullivan, Irish Times environment and science editor, Lisa Browne of Electric Ireland, and journalists Rosita Boland and Mary Minihan from The Irish Times.
In total more than 120 nominations were received from across the island and the overall and category winners were chosen from a shortlist of 14 entries.
In the other three categories, Skerries in north County Dublin won Ireland’s Greenest Town, Inagh in Clare won Ireland’s Greenest Village, and Dún Laoghaire in south Dublin won Ireland’s Greenest Suburb.
Environmental action
Chair of the Judging Panel, Mary Minihan from The Irish Times, congratulated the Dysart River Project, the Dingle Peninsula and the other category winners on their success. “To make it through to the final stages and have your work recognised with an award is a wonderful achievement. So well done to our winners and all the people involved in those projects. We look forward to meeting you and presenting you with your trophies in a couple of weeks’ time.
“Congratulations to all the places and projects that made it to the short-list, the long-list, or who simply entered the competition. One of the main objectives of this initiative was to showcase the environmental work taking place in communities all over the country and to share those experiences and knowledge with others.
“No doubt all the winning Greenest Places as well as many other entrants will find themselves being visited in the near future by other communities around the country hoping to learn from what they have achieved. We know all too well that our world is a fragile place that we need to take care of. And as this competition has shown in abundance the best place to start is in our local community.”
For more information about ‘Ireland’s Greenest Places’ go to irishtimes.com/greenestplaces.
Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025
Overall Winner
The Dingle Peninsula
Ireland’s Greenest Community (5)
Winner: Dysart River Project, County Westmeath
Nominees: Taplin’s Fields (Bridgefoot Street Park Community Garden), Dublin, Coolmine Lodge, Dublin, The Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ambrosetown Cemetery, County Wexford
Ireland’s Greenest Village (4)
Winner: Inagh, County Clare
Nominees: Louisburgh, County Mayo, Castlegregory/Maharees, County Kerry and Cloughjordan Ecovillage, County Tipperary
Ireland’s Greenest Town (3)
Winner: Skerries, County Dublin. Nominees: Killarney, County Kerry, Ballina, County Mayo
Ireland’s Greenest Suburb (2)
Winner: Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin. Nominee: Harper’s Island, Cork Harbour.
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