‘Just Transition Fest’ celebrates variety of funded projects

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly hosted ‘Just Transition Fest’, a showcase of 178 projects funded through the EU Just Transition Fund (EUJTF), co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, at Mount Druid, Castletown Geoghegan last Wednesday week.

More than €121 million has been allocated and the 172 projects that have benefitted so far span peatland restoration, bioeconomy development, skills training, circular economy initiatives, and tourism activations. The fund is supported by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

The Mount Druid event was hosted by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) as managing authority of the EUJTF programme, who brought together community groups, SMEs, project leaders and policy makers to reflect on the impact of the programme and to form a collective vision for the future.

Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien said: "Today’s event marks an important milestone in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy in the midlands. I am delighted that the event has provided an opportunity for these innovative projects, supported by the EU Just Transition Fund, to showcase the real benefits that will be delivered to the region. The work carried out by these projects will strengthen local economies, enhance the fabric of communities, and ensure that the midlands continues to be a thriving area to live and visit, while supporting the path to a green future."

Peter Power, head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland said the Just Transition Fund is about ensuring people and communities are at the heart of climate action. "The projects we are celebrating today showcase how EU supports can benefit local climate initiatives, creating sustainable solutions for local people and the wider environment," he said.

Clare Bannon, acting director of EMRA told those gathered that the day was "a celebration of collective achievement". The 172 funded projects reflect ambition, creativity and determination across the region. The EU Just Transition Fund programme is delivering real impact in communities, and this event is about showcasing those successes and looking to the future together."

The day-long event included an exhibition of funded projects, workshops, and breakout sessions. Youth voices were represented through a creative workshop with local schoolchildren in parallel to the event and led by Laois artist Annie Holland; together they imagined the future of their communities and environment through art.

The event closing session gathered reflections from project exhibitors, participants and attendees, and the school children to create a collective vision for a future for the midlands.

Just Transition Projects for Westmeath

Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Pathway for Just Transition – Westmeath, Offaly, Longford and Laois: this programme aims to support economic growth and a just transition to a net-zero economy. It focuses on education and skills development, and includes the expansion of STEM education programmes, the development of advanced manufacturing, ICT, and placemaking, and support for businesses and communities.

ReSHAPE – Westmeath, Offaly, Longford, Laois: led by MTU with partners TUS and UL, this drives education, training, and skills development to boost economic growth and sustainability in the midlands. Aligned with the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan, it features an AI-driven platform mapping skills and skills gaps, and training opportunities, ensuring data-led workforce development and accessible, fully funded upskilling for individuals and industries.

Tóchar: Restoration and Rehabilitation of Degraded Peatlands – all midland counties: the aim is to restore and rehabilitate degraded natural habitats and ecosystems. Activities include planning and monitoring restoration work, engaging communities, landowners, and contractors, delivering training and communications, and supporting restoration through land purchases and financial incentives.

Tourism Activators – all midland counties: designed to provide funding to appoint one full-time or part-time tourism activator in each of the eight participating local authorities in the EUJTF territory to build capacity in private and community-based micro enterprises and SMEs and establish high performing tourism business clusters and networks.

Belvedere House, Garden and Parks: development of a visitor experience masterplan to identify actions and projects that realise the full potential of the site. The plan will explore areas such as water-based and outdoor activities, storytelling and interpretation and a garden trail linking key assets in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, ensuring environmental, financial and heritage sustainability.

Composting Bard for the Horticultural Market – Cam, Castlepollard: development of an environmentally sustainable peat alternative for horticulture through expanded bark composting, achieving RHP quality standards, and investing in staff training, a material turning machine and office and yard upgrades to support production.

Foxglove Farm, Castletown Geoghegan: conversion of disused outbuildings into four self-catering cottages with capacity for up to 13 guests, using low-impact, environmentally friendly building techniques. Located on the Old Rail Trail Greenway, near key attractions, the project also supports activity-based trips with bikes, kayaks, and e-bikes.

Hightown Forest Camp and Farm, Coralstown, Kinnegad: purchase of infrastructure and equipment to support organised tours and workshops for visiting families and other visitors.

Kelly’s Nursery Limited, Streamstown: to fund the recycling of waste substrate and composting of green waste to produce growing mediums with reduced peat content.

Kinnegad Co-working Hub and Enterprise Centre: to establish an enterprise and co-working hub in Kinnegad, as part of a wider regeneration project. The hub will complement the Open Access Community Library and Education and Training Centre, support educational and employment services, create a centre of excellence, and revive the vacant former Masters House acquired by Westmeath County Council.

Littlebuds Natural Wellness Project, Whitepark, Dysart: enhanced visitor experience and accessibility through the purchase of water activity equipment, including wetsuits, dry cags, helmets and wetsuits for children, plus-sized wetsuits, larger boards, kayak paddles, paddleboard seats, and two mega SUPs.

Mullingar Bike Hire Project, Killucan Road, Kinnegad; purchase of three electric bicycles to provide a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for all visitors.

Streamstown Nursery Reduces, Reuses and Recycles

Since the bogs closed, the cost of compost of Billy Kelly’s Nursery garden in Streamstown had doubled to €3000 per week, before his plan to reduce, reuse and recycle. "We looked into what we could do with recycling unsold plants, our green waste from the hedgerows around the nursery, grass cuttings from the lawns," said Billy. "We were allowed to invest money in machinery, and that machinery is saving us around €1000 per week to recycle compost. We are 30 years in business and we have about 30 full time employees."

Fifty per cent of the Kelly Nurseries products are for export to the UK and the remainder are for the home market. The nursery specialises in the production of mature hedging plants.

"We were paying to have produce removed, and are now recycling and turning out material that is excellent," said Billy. "We reduce, reuse, and recycle and tick all the boxes."

Major Project of Restoring and Rehabilitating Peatlands Benefit from Just Transition

Tóchar co-ordinator and project manager Shirley Clerkin told the seminar about the activities of planning and monitoring restoration work, engaging communities, landowners and contractors, delivering training and communications, and supporting restoration through land purchases and financial incentives.

"We want to show archaeological trackways under the bog and they are linking people and places together," she said.

Tóchar project administrator Monica Byrne was also present, and Tóchar are recruiting for two more people. "We have an office in Birr, in the old mill, in the Technology Centre," said Shirley, who commutes from her native Monaghan. "We are all about Wetland Restoration because the wetlands are a really important habitat in the midlands.

"We are working on all the smaller sites – which are plenty – and our whole aim is restore and repair nature because people in the midlands deserve to have that nature. We really want to play our part in reconnecting community with nature or connecting them with place."

The Tóchar colleagues are employed by National Parks and Wildlife Service. Their remit encompasses 19 municipal districts and five counties.

"We’re looking at transition mires or bog sites and marsh, turloughs and petrifying springs, which are interesting little places and are a geological process ongoing in the midlands," said Shirley.

The Tóchar team engage with scientific staff, and consultants in their work, and Tullamore Lions Club. "It’s a busy office and we’re a good team," said Shirley.

"Our first restoration was in a privately owned site near Rath, between Birr and Ferbane, a peatland restoration," said Monica.

The duo work with landowners, who receive incentive payments to come aboard with the scheme right after the restoration is complete.

Former Westmeath TD Involved in Just Transition Young Entrepreneur Award

Gabrielle McFadden, former TD, in her role as project manager with Social Enterprise exchange, said on the Just Transition day at Mount Druid that the showcase is important to highlight the projects in the region.

"This is beneficial because there are 85,000 people employed throughout the country in social enterprise, and it’s important for Just Transition projects in the midlands. I’m here because in the Social Enterprise Exchange, we are running a project for TY students – the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 and we have engaged with more than 500 students in the area. These kids didn’t know what social enterprise was when we started, and now they are setting up their own social enterprises. Clodagh Barry of the Cluster Centre is on the project with me and our aim is to promote social enterprise in the region and collaborate."

‘As Long as there is not Red tape’ – Cllr Tom Farrell

Cllr Tom Farrell was impressed with the Just Transition midland projects, and said it would be important to see expansions and further projects, and also important to avoid red tape.

"This all really grew out of what happened with Bord na Mona in the last couple of years – it is trying to replace different ideas and there are some good projects getting started," said the Fine Gael councillor. "There is a lot of money there to spend, and people have to know how to spend the money and draw down the grants, so it’s good and up to us to drive it on and get the people interested in it."

He also said there are appropriate projects there including the boardwalk at Tyrrellspass and the Bord na Mona development park. "I’m hopeful about the expansion of all the projects as long as there is not red tape – there has been too much sometimes – and people get frustrated and walk away, so hopefully it will be led from the front up.

"It’s about becoming self-sufficient with recycling and reusing and we would hope to see landfills being done away with in the long term, because it should only be for specifics," said Cllr Farrell. "I hope to see communities come together on the success of this, and if you see one community doing one thing, it all grows."