Keeping Ireland Green
Buildings at Future Forests, Ballingeary Road, Kealkill, West Cork
latest update February 2008
Green Tourism
Irish Hostelling Online is researched in as green a way as possible, from the saddle of a bicycle. The greenest transport options: To Ireland - Rail and Ferry. Least Green: by air. In Ireland: Walk, cycle, train, bus. Least Green: Internal air travel, car - if you holiday by car share the car with others. The next stage is to consider: how green are the accommodation providers you use. How green are the activities you choose? A lot of information can be accessed through Sustainable Tourism Ireland.
Everything Else
Ireland has experienced huge changes in the last 50 years as it has changed from a country in which half the people worked in agriculture to today's modern economy with the majority of jobs in the service sector. The shift from countryside to town has not been the biggest change. In the countryside most people used to live on the land they farmed up tracks and lanes called boreens creating a classic landscape of farms dotted across the fields. Today many people have built new houses down by the local road creating 'ribbons' of houses along the roads. In addition there was first a movement from the countryside into the villages and towns and there is now a move out of town to new houses in the countryside.
In the 1980's and early 90's there was a definable alternative scene in Ireland based around groups of people involved in self sufficiency, organic farming, local co -operatives, alternative communities and alternative spiritualities. One thing they all shared was concern for the environment. Today many old 'alternative' ideas have become mainstream. A key milestone was the election of two Green Party members to the Irish Parliament in the 1990's. At the same time many of the old networks did not survive the coming of the Celtic Tiger economy. In the last few years there have been new initiatives and new areas have become important including the maintaining and growing of healthly rural and urban communities. Specific areas like woodland conservation have also flourished.
General
see also:
Feasta. The Foundation for the Economic of Sustainabilty. Brings many groups and ideas together. Enfo public service enviromental information site Comhar Official Site of The National Sustainable Development Partnership
Green grows.....
Crann supports development of traditional broadleaf woodland Groundwork Clear unwanted plants from Ireland's natural woodland. Munster Wholefoods distribute wholefood products. Site has lists of shops that stock their products.
Green energy
Animal welfare
Other issues
Volunteer work
If you want to get involved in conservation/helping the environment in Ireland - maybe even spending a holiday doing it why not try:
Bed and Board for work
Help Exchange. International site with Irish section. Most work is on organic farms.
Local Sites
Cultivate 'Living and learning' centre for sustainable living in Dublin's trendy Temple Bar area. www.burrenbeo.com - the natural world and community development etc of this area of County Clare The Village A plan to produce a green, sustainable community at Cloughjordan in County Tipperary.
Magazines
Lifestyle Green Glossy magazine for sustainable living in Ireland based in Northern Ireland
For Serious Research
