Two Mayo communities reach final of Irish Times Greenest Places competition

Senator Mark Duffy has welcomed news that Ballina and Louisburgh have been shortlisted as finalists by the Irish Times Ireland's Greenest Places.

Ballina will compete against Skerries, County Dublin and Killarney, County Kerry for the title of Ireland’s Greenest Town. 

While Louisburgh has been shortlisted as one of Ireland’s Greenest Villages alongside Inagh Village in Clare, Castlegregory in Kerry and Cloughjordan eco village in County Tipperary.

The Louisburgh Community have been recognised for championing Carbon Sequestration and biodiversity in its woodlands as well as their 96 gardeners who engage in sharing tips and information as well as plants, saplings and seedlings among its 700 strong members.

Ballina won recognition for its community efforts which were showcased during judging this week. Ballina demonstrated strong community environmental leadership across Ballina Community Clean Up’s, Ballina Sensory Park, the Karen Community Garden, The Ripple and Cascade Projects, Belleek Woods enhancement committee as well as the Ship to Reef project in Killala Bay.

Local sporting organisations including Ballina Boxing Club and Ballina Stephenites GAA as well as the Mercy Convent Regeneration were also recognised for their efforts in becoming more energy efficient and environmentally friendly in their practices. 

The application was led by The Mary Robinson Centre and finalists are due to find out later in September as to who will be crowned Ireland’s Greenest Town.

Senator Duffy complimented the vast amount of work being done across the county by community groups which has been led by volunteers and supported by businesses, and the local authority. 

“It is brilliant to see that both Ballina and Louisburgh have been recognised. There is an incredible number of voluntary groups and organisations across County Mayo who are leading the way towards creating a greener, cleaner environment for the future of Mayo.” 

Senator Duffy also sent compliments to the other Mayo entries who made the long list who are “blazing an environmental trail within their communities”.

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Four other Mayo projects – Kiltimagh (Town) Gaelscoil Raifteirí in Castlebar, Inishturk Island and Fahburren Forrest near Croaghpatrick (Community) made it onto the longlist which was published several weeks ago.

The Chair of the Judging Panel, Irish Times Features Editor Mary Minihan said they had been blown away by the quality and diversity of the environmental projects being undertaken around the country.

“All 14 community entries which have made it through to the final stage have demonstrated clear evidence of widespread action on climate and sustainability goals. Many of the locations have benefitted from truly transformative action, changing both physically and culturally as a result of collaborative green projects.”

“It was extremely difficult in the first instance for us to come up with the long list and more difficult again to come up with the shortlist. Congratulations to the 14 projects who made it on the shortlist but also to everyone who entered and is doing such valuable work.”

She said each place was judged on specific criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community and evidence of behavioural change by people.

“Our judges have visited all the wonderful projects and places which made the shortlist, and we will be sitting down over the coming weeks to decide the winners. We know already it is going to be so so difficult,” Ms Minihan said.

The shortlist includes 2 suburbs, 4 villages, 3 towns and 5 communities. Dublin and Kerry lead the way with 4 and 3 nominees respectively, with Mayo next on 2. Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford have one each. The full shortlist is printed below.

The panel of five judges includes Eamon Ryan, former leader of the Green Party, who said the Ireland’s Greenest Places initiative shows just how much community-led- environmentalism has deepened and spread in recent years.

“At a time when people are anxious about climate change and biodiversity loss, it helps to think global but act local. The short-listed entries show the variety of what is taking place around Ireland. People in every community seem to be looking to see what they can do by promoting pollinators, planting trees or establishing sustainable energy or transport solutions,” said Eamon Ryan

The category winners and overall winner of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 will be announced on the weekend of the September 12 and 13.

Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 – The Shortlist

Ireland’s Greenest Suburb (2)

Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin v Harper’s Island, Cork Harbour

Ireland’s Greenest Village (4)

Louisburgh, Co Mayo

Castlegregory/Maharees, Co Kerry

Inagh, Co Clare

Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co Tipperary

Ireland’s Greenest Town (3)

Skerries, Co Dublin

Killarney, Co Kerry

Ballina, Co Mayo

Ireland’s Greenest Community (5)

Dysart River Project, Co Westmeath

Taplin’s Fields (Bridgefoot Street Park Community Garden), Dublin

Coolmine Lodge, Dublin

The Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry

Ambrosetown Cemetery, Co Wexford

For more information about ‘Ireland’s Greenest Places’ go to www.irishtimes.com/greenestplaces