Buzz in the air at launch of Corca Dhuibhne 2030

THERE was a buzz in the air as people from all aspects of the community in West Kerry attended the launch of Corca Dhuibhne 2030 in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne on Thursday night.

Students, local energy mentors, academics from UCC and engineers from Údarás na Gaeltachta set up stall alongside Dingle Peninsula Tourism and Bus Éireann to provide information and to glean opinions on what steps can be taken a sustainable future for West Kerry.

The gathering was the first in a year-long series of public consultations which will inform what steps are be taken to achieve a reduction in energy usage in West Kerry in line with Government targets on climate action.

An area that has received a lot of attention in the Government’s Climate Action plan is farming and amongst the people there offering advice was newly trained energy mentor but an old hand at energy conservation, Donnachadha Ó Ghealbháin, from Aglish, Lispole. Donnachadha had heat pumps installed in his house before ESB

Networks came looking for ambassadors and now he has set his mind to working with other dairy farmers to examine the potential for achieving greater energy efficiency. He is currently working on setting up an SEC (sustainable energy community) with West Kerry’s 120 dairy farmers as a way of sharing information, attracting greater grant assistance and driving the project forward.

“They’re all interested and nobody has said ‘no’, he said. “This monkey is on our back with carbon emissions and they all want that monkey off their backs”.

Photo by Declan Malone Pobalscoil students Aaron Scharer and Cillian Ryan demonstrating the power of solar panels at the launch of Corca Dhuibhne 2030 in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne on Thursday night.

Coláiste Íde students Críóna Ní Riordáin, Ciara Ní Shé, Alison Ní Mhathúna and Sadhbh Ní Chonchúir with their presentation on solar energy.