Ireland's Greenest Places 2025: Nominations to close on July 19th
To enter all you have to do is write a short submission outlining the contribution the special place or project you're nominating makes to a genuinely greener environment.
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But you'll have to act fast to be in with a chance to claim the title for the place you select, as the closing date of July 19th is fast approaching.
So far 85 nominations have been received but organisers are hoping to see that figure rise over the next week.
The initiative which has been launched by The Irish Times, in association with Electric Ireland, will see each nominated place judged on specific criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community and evidence of behavioural change by people.
The Chair of the Judging Panel, Irish Times Features editor Mary Minihan said they will be looking for places which offer a vision of a more sustainable future.
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'We chose place because it's a deliberately broad term. People can nominate a suburb, village, town or community such as a peninsula, island or other distinct area anywhere on the island. The key will be how it measures up against the criteria outlined above as well of course as care for nature and the local environment.
Pictured at the launch of The Irish Times Ireland's Greenest Places 2025 in association with Electric Ireland are Beth Healy (12), Laura Gargiuto Keenan (12) and Jaxon Okon (2).
'Over the next couple of months our judges will draw up longlists and shortlists based on the submissions, visit the front-runners, choose winners in each category and eventually choose an overall winner. We are looking forward so much to hearing from people from each of the 32 counties as soon as possible to help us identify Ireland's Greenest Places 2025. But please submit your nominations as soon as possible, as the closing date is July 19th.'
Former Green Party leader and minister for the environment Eamon Ryan, who is one of the judges, said one of the key objectives of the competition is to showcase the contributions people and communities are making to a greener Ireland.
"We know that Irish people care about climate change and that they are concerned about its effects on their lives. We also know that place-based solutions deliver climate actions that really work because they are developed and underpinned by community ownership.'
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Pictured at the launch of The Irish Times Ireland's Greenest Places 2025 in association with Electric Ireland are Beth Healy (12) and Jaxon Okon (2).
'With this initiative we want to celebrate what's happening in so many locations around the country, share those learnings as widely as possible and encourage more people to get involved in making their community a better place to live now and into the future."
Electric Ireland's Lisa Browne said the company is proud to partner with The Irish Times as the sponsor of Ireland's Greenest Places and that she is looking forward to seeing the wonderful stories come in from communities around Ireland about their journey to a more sustainable life.
Joining Mary Minihan, Eamon Ryan and Lisa Browne on the judging panel will be Irish Times Environment Editor Kevin O'Sullivan and Senior Features Writer Rosita Boland.
If you know a place in Ireland that deserves recognition for its contribution to a greener future, visit
https://tinyurl.com/GreenestPlaces
to submit your nomination.
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