Case Studies | CONNECTED

Westside Community Organic Garden: Growing Together for Sustainability (Case Study)

Biodiversity, Case Studies, Community Stories, Food, Food, Galway

In the heart of Galway’s Westside, a city community turned land that was not being used into a growing centre for biodiversity sustainability, and connections between people. Set up in 2011, this project which is led by volunteer gives locals the power to grow local food. It helps people in the community work together and improve how we look after the land. It’s more than just a garden—it’s a living space where people come together to look after both the land and each other.

Coill Chormaic: A Community-Driven Model for Sustainable Forestry (Case Study)

Biodiversity, Biodiversity, Case Studies, Community Stories, Leitrim

Discover Coill Chormaic, a cooperative forestry project that was inspired by the life of Cormac ó Braonáin, a passionate campaigner for nature. This project brings together family, friends, and neighbors to plant a native Irish forest that supports the joined-up web of living things and how local people in a community get on with eachother. It’s about more than just planting trees; it’s about creating a space where a community working together meets looking after nature.

Creative Climate Action: Art and Sustainability in Westside (Case Study)

Case Studies, Community Stories, Engagement and Communication, Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives, Galway, Soft Skills Development

Westside Resource Centre’s community-led projects bring creativity and climate action together to engage residents in meaningful ways. Projects like “Painting the Planet” and “The Air We Share” use art and science to make sustainability understandable, start conversations about environmental issues, and strengthen community connections. Read the full case study to learn more about this work and what they are able to do.