Mayo County Council to host events for Sustainable Development Goals week

Mayo County Council is set to host an array of events to celebrate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week.

SDG week takes place from today, Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 29.

Mayo County Council who has been selected as a one of 20 Sustainable Development Goals Champions for 2024-2025 by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications will be embracing SDG Week with several in person events as well as a social media campaign.

The campaign will promote the work the council is doing to achieve the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

On Tuesday, September 24 in St Mary’s Hall in the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Castlebar Campus from 11am-1pm, Mayo County Council in conjunction with ATU will be hosting a morning of creativity and discussion on the title of ‘Exploring the Sustainable Development Goals’. The event will include a print workshop from 11am and a world café discussion from 11am-1pm.

Furthermore, on Friday, September 27, also in conjunction with ATU and Leave No Trace, a breakfast event will take place in ATU from 9am-10am with speakers including Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council speaking on ‘What being an SDG Champion means.’

Maura Kelly from Leave no Trace will give a talk on Leave No Trace’s SDG Champion role and opportunities and activities. Also speaking at the event will be Dr Deirdre Garvey from ATU Mayo, who will discuss Sustainability and the SDGs.

Throughout SDG Week Mayo County Council will be rolling out a social media campaign to promote its role as an SDG Champion and the work it is carrying out to implement the SDGs in its work, with video messages from the Cathaoirleach, Cllr John O’Hara along with Directors of Services, Tom Gilligan, Catherine McConnell, and John Condon. 

The Mayo Library Service have also recorded a video to showcase how they implement the SDGs into their day-to-day work.

Cathaoirleach Cllr O’Hara said SDGs provide a ‘blueprint for a better world’.

“As a Sustainable Development Goal champion, we are committed to integrating these 17 goals into our policies, programs, and decision-making processes. By working together, we can create a brighter future for Mayo and the entire world,” he added.

Deputy Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Tom Gilligan, concluded: “We are working extremely hard in relation to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We are absolutely delighted and honoured that Mayo County Council has been chosen as a Sustainable Development Goals