Sustainability Success Stories
Learning from others’ experiences is a great way to start your sustainability journey. We are collecting stories from individuals and communities that will tell you what they did and how they went about it.
What is the difference between a ‘Case Study’ and a ‘Community Story’?
Well it’s really a question of level of detail.
A ‘Community Story’ is a quick and simple telling of the bare details of a communtiy project – it includes key facts and ideas whio did what and how, and why it’s useful to know about. It also has contact details for how to get in touch with the people runing the project.
A Case Study is a deeper look into a community action or project. It comes with a five page PDF that looks at a whole range of ideas and actions in the project. Many of the case studies have podcast episodes alongside them.
Our latest Community Stories
Burrenbeo Trust
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.
An Mheitheal Rothar – Galway’s Community Bike Workshop
An Meitheal Rothar is a not for profit Co-operative and Sustainable Business run by a team that creates positive change. It was born from the idea that people could come together in a group or a cooperative, to help each other as part of a community. An Meitheal Rothar fixes bikes, sells bikes, and teaches people how to repair bikes. It gives bikes for people in need, it asks for more walking and cycling in Galway City, helps us re-use and recycling things more – what is called the ‘circular economy’. It also fights climate change, and thinks up new ideas about how we run our economy.
Sligo Children’s Community Garden
Born from a shared idea, SCCG was created to give a welcoming outdoor space where children and families can connect with nature. They can learn about sustainability, and bring about a sense of community. The garden is in the heart of Sligo, and it is a place where biodiversity does really well. The main idea of “grow your own” is taken on by everyone, and where people can improve their awareness of their environment.
Just three of our latest Personal Stories
Dara, installed PV at his home.
In October 2013 we installed 2 kW of Photovoltaic panels (8 panels) ground-mounted at our home. At that time, we also installed a 5kW heat-pump. In September of 2023, we installed a further 2 kW of Photovoltaic panels, making it 4kW in total. The...
Aoife, Cork, decided that if she wanted to spend money in town she would cycle and not drive
Last year I got a bike from the cycle-to-work scheme. I decided that if I wanted to spend money in town I would cycle in and not drive.
Tommy: had a sustainablility dream, and went for it.
I set up a 2.5 acre sustainable market garden. What started off as hobby gardening is now scaled up to about 2.5 acres in producing fruit and vegetables. I wondered if it was possible to produce food in a sustainable way, both environmentally and...