Close to nature
Killary Adventure Company in Co Galway has made significant investment over the past ten years to minimise its impact on the local environment
“From the start, my parents were interested in setting up in a rural location and part and parcel of that is a love of nature and looking after it.”
W ith the Connemara coastline and countryside forming its spectacular backdrop, Killary Adventure Company has always been committed to minimising its impact on that natural environment.
The company was set up in 1981 by Mary and Jamie Young who had just returned from sailing across the Atlantic and working on yachts in the Americas. “They came back to Ireland with the idea of setting up an adventure centre, drove up and down the west coast and ended up in Killary Harbour,” says their son, Shane Young, who now also works in the business.
They started out in a converted farmhouse but have since moved into the purpose-built and environmentally sensitive ‘K2’ building, which can sleep up to 98 people in various dorm-style rooms and twin/double rooms and is situated overlooking the fjord.
Activities on offer include abseiling, archery, paintball, orienteering, hill walking, raft making, bush craft challenge, waterskiing and gorge walking.
As well as the accommodation and on-site activities side of the business, the company runs walking and cycling tours, as well as Gael Force adventure races and challenges all over the country.
Sustainability has always been a key concern for the business, according to Young. “From the start, my parents were interested in setting up in a rural location and part and parcel of that is a love of nature and looking after it.”
Over the years, €100,000 has been spent on measures and upgrades to help reduce the company’s environmental footprint, starting out with the installation of a 15kW wind turbine over 10 years ago.
This was followed by a 200kW biomass boiler that uses timber logs that are harvested locally, reducers on showers, a drying system that uses excess heat from the burner to dry clothes, and a composting machine for all food waste.
“We also have an electric golf buggy we use to move between our different areas to carry food and staff around the place,” says Young.
“And we’re working on changing the building to LED lighting, but that’s a work in progress.”
The company is also currently trying to get planning permission for a second wind turbine, wood storage shed and photovoltaic panels.
As well as the investment required, extra work is also involved: “It’s not as easy as flicking a switch and your heating comes on. You have to fill the log boiler twice a day, every day. You have to have a desire to go this way,” notes Young.
Last November, Killary Adventure Company won the Small Business category at the Sustainable Energy Awards 2016 for its “continued and enthusiastic commitment to transforming Ireland to a sustainable society”.