Ireland’s Greenest Places awards celebrate the people, communities and projects all over Ireland that are driving sustainability.
Launched this year by The Irish Times in partnership with Electric Ireland, this new initiative honours some of the most impactful sustainability efforts driven by local communities nationwide.
Winners included Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin as Ireland’s greenest suburb; Skerries, Co Dublin as Ireland’s greenest town; Inagh, Co Clare as Ireland’s greenest village; and the Dysert River Project, Co Westmeath as Ireland’s greenest community.
The overall winner, crowned Ireland’s greenest place 2025, was the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry.
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As a nationwide initiative the awards were the perfect partnership opportunity for Electric Ireland, reflecting the energy supplier’s mission to empower, enable and support customers and communities on their journey towards a sustainable energy future.
“It was a real privilege to be a member of the judging panel for Ireland’s Greenest Places and, for Electric Ireland, it gave us a great insight into the wonderful work happening at a local level in the communities we serve,” says Lisa Browne, head of marketing at Electric Ireland.
A collective effort
Across the shortlisted entries, the judging panel found a shared commitment to collaboration and long-term planning. From renewable energy schemes to waste reduction and biodiversity projects, the entries showed how sustainability thrives when local groups work together.
The Dingle Peninsula stood out for its coordinated, community-wide effort through the Dingle 2030 initiative, which sees the region undergoing a transformative journey towards sustainability.
Over the past seven years, the Dingle Peninsula 2030 programme has steadily embedded sustainability across energy, transport, agriculture and tourism. This has included the creation of active Sustainable Energy Communities, widespread solar PV installation, the introduction of electric public transport, low-carbon farming practices and slow tourism. Together, these efforts have made the Dingle Peninsula a national example of how a community can foster a creative, liveable, inclusive community with year-round employment opportunities.
Local volunteers from the Maharees Conservation Association are protecting the dunes at Maharees, a 5km tombolo near Castlegregory between Brandon and Tralee Bay (which hosts 300 year-round residents and welcomes an additional 3,000 residents each summer) by planting marram grass and erecting sustainable fencing.
“What struck us most was how sustainability has become part of daily life,” Browne says. “All those involved are passionate advocates for sustainability, but also for their community and the strong sense of belonging that comes with it.”
Browne adds that across all the shortlisted entries, local businesses, volunteers and residents are working together to preserve and enhance their communities for future generations.
Supporting Ireland’s energy transition
Electric Ireland’s sponsorship of Ireland’s Greenest Places reflects its commitment to encouraging customers and communities to manage energy differently. Browne noted that while many households want to act sustainably, the path can seem unclear and overwhelming.
“We aim to help customers and communities by providing them with the information, products and services to reduce energy usage and choose cleaner energy,” she explains.
The partnership provided Electric Ireland with an opportunity to highlight the real progress already happening across the country and to recognise those driving it.
“We know from our engagement with customers that people are interested in protecting the environment but sometimes feel unsure where to start. Seeing what’s possible in other communities gives them confidence and inspiration. For example, we know that seeing solar panels go up in an area gives people the confidence to do it themselves,” Browne says.
“They are looking for leadership, for ideas and for a bit of inspiration. So for us, getting involved in Ireland’s Greenest Places was a way to tell those stories about different communities and what they are doing. It makes sustainability more tangible for our customers.”
After all, she points out, “the journey to a more sustainable life starts with everybody” and even the smallest step makes a difference.
Electric Ireland is doing this through the Electric Ireland Net Zero Hub, an online site where consumers can get information to help them with their energy use, it offers tools and guidance on subjects including smart meter plans, solar PV systems and EV charging, to make sustainable energy choices accessible and practical.
“Everything we do is about trying to create a greener, cleaner energy future and we are driven to make a difference in the communities in which we operate,” Browne says.
Learning from the power of community
Now that the judges have completed their visits, selected the winners and celebrated their achievements, attention turns to what can be learned from Ireland’s Greenest Places.
“For Electric Ireland, the message is clear,” Browne says. “Ireland’s greenest places are more than locations, they are proof that when communities act together, a sustainable future becomes a shared reality.”
These award-winning areas show that real change is built on collective effort. They stand as living blueprints for how collaboration between residents, volunteers and local businesses can transform individual actions into lasting impact.
“We know it takes effort, time and a bit of patience to change behaviours, and our job is to provide the best technology, products and services and to help on that journey. What Ireland’s Greenest Places does is bring our commitment to sustainability to life by spotlighting the work that people are doing at local and community level. Ireland’s Greenest Places aren’t just locations, they are communities of hope.”
To learn more about sustainable products and a net zero future, visit the Electric Ireland Net Zero Hub.
