Mayo man named as An Taisce Climate Ambassador

CONNACHT GAA’s Facilities Manager has been named as a Climate Ambassador by An Taisce. 

Kurt Reinhardt from Ballyhaunis was recognised at the annual Climate Ambassador Awards for creating a blueprint for climate action for GAA clubs and communities across Ireland. 

In recent times, Mr Reindhart has been central to Connacht GAA to several initiatives undertaken by Connacht GAA. This includes the installation of solar panels at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, which powers the University of Galway Airdome using solar energy and is now exporting energy back to the grid. The Bekan facility has also scrapped single-use plastics and undertaken a three-year waste reduction initiative developed with MyWaste

Mr Reindhart also negotiated a €2 million partnership with Pinergy which will guarantee renewable power supply to clubs at below market price across Connacht from Lacken Wind Farm in Sligo.

Connacht GAA was also recently honoured as Ireland's top Sustainable Energy Community at the national awards.

“The Climate Ambassador programme gave me the confidence, education and tools to go out into the community in an effort to transfer knowledge, promote and sow the seeds of change,” said Mr Reinhardt.

“From there, hopefully, our communities can begin to take their own positive steps and actions to impact the thematic areas for the good of our future generations”, said Mr Reinhardt.”

Gráinne Ryan, Climate Action Manager with An Taisce said the organisation ‘has no doubt that Kurt will continue to inspire others to take action locally and in GAA clubs across Connacht’.