Best Practices

Burrenbeo Trust

Best Practices, Biodiversity, Clare, Engagement and Communication, Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives, Governance and Leadership

Set up as a charity in 2008, Burrenbeo Trust is a non-profit organisation that connects all of us to our places and our role in caring for them. Based in the Burren, Burrenbeo Trust works to raise awareness of the importance of the Burren, and to encourage local communities to act as carers of its priceless heritage. Building on lessons learned over the past twenty years, Burrenbeo also supports ‘place-based learning’ across Ireland as a way that communities can learn more about their place and their role in actively caring for it.

Mulranny: Use what’s in your community to develop it sustainably

Best Practices, Governance and Leadership, Mayo, Social Entrepreneurship

Maeve interviews Carol Loftus, of the Sustainable Energy Community in Mulranny, Mayo. The discussion highlights the journey of Mulranny from a fading tourist spot to a thriving model of community-driven sustainable development. Carol outlines how projects emerged, how local people were mobilised, how outside expertise and funding were drawn in, and how sustainability has been woven into tourism, energy, and heritage initiatives.

Mulranny Community Futures with Seán Carolan

Best Practices, Committee Tools, Engagement, Governance and Leadership

Sean Carolan from Mulranny Community Futures talks to Maeve Halpin in our Podcast Number 3. The Mulranny story demonstrates that transformative climate and community action is possible through a structured model of deep community engagement, respectful collaboration, and strategic coordination. It proves that when citizens are genuinely empowered to design their own future, they generate innovative, locally-suited solutions that also contribute to global sustainability goals.

Working with Nature: The Rosmurrevagh Dunes Conservation Project

Best Practices, Biodiversity, Case Studies, Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives, Governance and Leadership, Organizational Development

The Rosmurrevagh Dunes Project is a very strong example of community-led ecological restoration based in observation, care, and long-term commitment. Started by local farmers in 1996, the project began as an answer to bad erosion and . Over time, it became a leading example of learning together and how to protect the land from the sea using natural ways and not just building walls. Today, Rosmurrevagh is known as one of Ireland’s strongest sand dune systems. This was not just against erosion from the sea, but because the community learned to work with nature.

Burrenbeo Trust

Mulranny Community Futures with Seán Carolan

Working with Nature: The Rosmurrevagh Dunes Conservation Project

Collection of Resources for Community Groups (from Galway PPN)

A Guide to Setting Up and Running a Residents Association

Best Practice For Community Groups Guide

Managing Virtual Meetings for Group Leaders