The Irish Times has released the longlist for its competition, Ireland's Greenest Places, with Kerry nominated in the categories of Ireland's Greenest Village (Castlegregory / Maharees), Ireland's Greenest Town (Killarney) and Ireland's Greenest Community (Dingle Peninsula). 

 

DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

As writer Kevin O'Sullivan notes, nominees are "understanding the need to do things differently, ranging across nature restoration; embracing renewables, becoming resilient for climate disturbances to come and enabling the natural world capture carbon at scale."

Kerry has been doing the groundwork, with our county-wide collaboration in the annual Global Destination Sustainability Index led by Kerry Convention Bureau seeing superb results year on year. Kerry retained its position of #19 on the GDS index for 2024, and in a competitive global space, dominated by large cities, a metropolis and a megacity, we retained our position of #1 Irish destination as per the Index.

 

Let's take a closer look at Kerry's greenest places!

Corca Dhuibhne / Dingle Peninsula: FORGING AHEAD

  • 150,000 new public transport journeys on the peninsula since 2020 with 2 electric buses in operation. There are 350 active members in the DP Lift Share Group.

  • 32 annual community led festivals powered by thousands of local volunteers.

  • 3 Active Sustainable Energy Community's (Tourism, Farming & Neighbourhood with 270+ members).

  • 1MW Solar PV generated on the DP in businesses/homes/farms.

  • Winner of The European Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism for Intangible Heritage and Festivals in 2024.

  • Zero single use packaging initiative at Dingle Food Festival in 2024.

  • Bia Dingle – a local food network that works to connect, promote and celebrate the sustainable food industries of the DP.

  • Corca Dhuibhne Community Forum convening local residents and groups to drive climate action

  • 10 businesses certified for their participation in the EU Circular Economy for Regenerative Tourism Programme.

  • Involved in two Energy and one Agriculture Transition Horizon Programmes.

  • 10,000 trees planted – a collaboration between Local Groups & Farmers

 

CASTLEGREGORY / MAHAREES

Within the overall Dingle Peninsula, Castlegregory and the Maharees stands out as a distinct area for conservation. The heritage of this archipelago, combined with its beauty, wildlife, community and reputation as an amazing place to surf, makes for a unique experience for those who visit, live and work here.

KILLARNEY: GREEN, INCLUSIVE & ENGAGED

Killarney town is uniquely located at the entry to Killarney National Park, with a number of actively engaged community and business groups working towards making much needed environmental and inclusive change. From the Killarney Coffee Cup Project, Killarney 2030 Strategy, its status as an Autism Friendly Town, its Mountain Meitheal and Tidy Towns initiatives, there is much positive change taking place. Killarney was also chosen as one of the locations for the National Transport Authority's TFI Anseo, a pilot Smart Demand Responsive Transport service, being operated by Local Link Kerry. 

 

SUSTAINABLE KERRY

Across all of our sectors and communities, Kerry is embracing the sustainability journey - dig a little deeper into our Sustainable Kerry section and you'll find out about our B-Corp Certified businesses, green initiatives and much more!