Louth County Council has joined forces with GAA clubs from across Louth for the county’s first ever Green Club event in the Louth GAA centre, Darver on 27th November.

The Green Club Programme, a partnership between the GAA and local authorities, was established in 2020 to support GAA, LGFA and Camogie clubs in taking action across the five areas of Energy, Waste, Water, Biodiversity, Travel andTransport and is funded with support from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

With the launch of Phase 3 in the programme, the aim of the Louth Green Club event was to promote sustainability within the GAA communities and encourage participation and awareness raising around the themes which all are crucial to climate action.

Organised by Louth County Council in collaboration with Louth GAA and featuring a range of GAA and expert speakers, the event showcased examples of how Louth clubs can work to future-proof financially and physically, whilst benefitting their communities and the environment by engaging in green projects.

Speakers at the event included: Colm Marry, Louth GAA Vice Chairperson, Colm Holmes Safety and facilities officer Louth GAA, Mide Ni Shuilleabhain Green programme advisor (Croke Park), Padraig Fallon Chair of the Green Club Committee (Croke Park), Brian Cafferty, Geraldines GFC, Susan Richardson, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Ashling Burns, Dunleer Energy team, Helen Hanratty, Biodiversity Officer Louth County Council and Naomi O’ Donoghue, Dundalk Credit Union.

Louth clubs have been at the forefront of the Green Club programme since its earliest days, with Geraldines, St Fechins, Mattock Ranger, Glen Emmets and Clan na Gael all celebrated in Croke Park ceremonies for their Green Club projects, which have ranged from LED floodlight upgrades to gear swaps, biodiversity walkways and hedgerow planting.

The Louth GAA Centre of Excellence team in Darver is embarking on an exciting and innovative solar pv, heating and lighting project that will not only cut running costs and improve the standard of the facilities but will set an example and provide learning for other GAA and sports centres across the country.

Padraig Fallon, Clan na Gael club member and Chair of the GAA’s national Green Club Steering Group, commended the commitment of Louth GAA clubs to the Green Club Programme: “Sustainability leadership from Louth GAA is supporting the county’s clubs in future proofing their facilities and enhancing their communities, and will help make our clubs and communities stronger, more resilient and a better place for all.”

Temporary Chief Executive at Louth County Council, Joe McGuinness, said: ‘Louth County Council are delighted to partner with GAA clubs across Louth for the Green Club programme, supporting their work to develop sustainable approaches to energy, waste, water, biodiversity, travel and transport.”

The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Associations are inviting new clubs to apply to become Green Clubs. Applications are open from now until January for the next round of the Green Club programme. Interested clubs can apply at:  https://greenclubs.gaa.ie/

The event concluded with an invitation to attendees to respond to the Louth County Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan Pre-Draft Consultation, which is open for comment until 6th December 2024 on  https://consult.louthcoco.ie/.