Sustainability In Action: Collective Wisdom From Limerick & Kerry

Picture of people tree planting outside. Picture of four women talking during a panel discussion. Picture of four women posing infront of a bluie stand. Picture of people on a tour at a golf club standing under a clock and with trees, lakes and mountains in the background.

The inaugural Sustainability in Action Networking Roadshow kicked off last week in Munster. Hosted by the Sustainable Tourism Network and Sustainable Business Network we brought together passionate voices from across Ireland’s tourism, agriculture, hospitality, and innovation sectors. The discussions at the sustainability networking events in Limerick and Kerry were more than just panels – they were a showcase of shared values, local leadership, and the power of collaboration.

Here are the top takeaways, drawn from the stories and strategies of our speakers.

🌱 1. Regeneration Is Already Happening – We Just Need To Name It

Jana Mannion from Ballyhoura Development reminded us that many communities are already doing sustainability and regeneration work – they just don’t call it that. Her work in destination development is about bringing stakeholders on a journey, recognising and amplifying what’s already working.

This theme echoed in John Murphy’s vision for Portmagee, where 5,400 trees have been planted on non-arable land and Portmagee Whiskey is being developed as a cultural product rooted deeply in place, from its name to barrels that will hopefully be used by the trees grown in years to come.

⚡ 2. Innovation Must Be Grounded In Community

Roisin McCormack of GKinetic Energy shared how their unique river turbines can generate clean, reliable electricity from rivers. This enables homes and businesses alongside suitable rivers to tap into this incredible renewable resource safely and sustainably, providing steady power 24/7 with highest outputs through the Winter months (Sep-April). Their success came from stakeholder engagement, EU collaboration, and a commitment to right-sized solutions.

Zita McCarthy’s work in the dairy sector also centres on community. Through Kerry Dairy Ireland’s Evolve Regendairy programme, farmers receive financial incentives and free tree planting, further ‘evolving’ the uptake of regenerative agriculture practices across the Kerry Agribusiness milk supplier base. Kerry Dairy Ireland also has strong ties with their local agricultural community through their support of the Kerry Social Farming Project and other local partnerships.

🏌️‍♂️ 3. Sustainability Can Start Anywhere – Even On The Golf Course

Colin Finlay, Director of Golf at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, shared how the club, with 2,000 members initially uninterested in sustainability, achieved GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf certification, rebuilt a lagoon, and discovered rare cherrywood trees and an ancient Scott’s Pine on their course. Their journey shows that biodiversity audits, solar energy, and data monitoring can transform even the most traditional spaces.

🧴 4. Circular Thinking Is The Future Of Product Design

Dr. Helena McMahon, CEO of SeaBody spoke about their zero-waste, seaweed-based skincare line. By using 100% of the plant and aligning with the circular bioeconomy, SeaBody is proving that green chemistry and local marine resources can power global innovation.

🏨 5. Hospitality Is A Gateway To Behavioural Change

At the Limerick Strand Hotel, Sustainability Manager, Kate Wieczorkiewicz and her team are embedding sustainability into everyday operations – from pen placement and paper use in events, to certifications and social projects fuelled by the deposit return scheme. Her collaboration with marketing and tour operators like CIE Tours shows how hospitality can lead by example.

🎓 6. Education, Training And Micro-Credentials Are Key Enablers

The IKC3 and MTU initiatives offer micro-credentials that are government-funded and tailored to small businesses. We too encourage our members to commit to consistently improving in their sustainability efforts and to upskill their team through training. We have an array of training ideas here and a suite of free e-learning courses for our members on topics from responsible marketing, to sustainable governance and climate action. You can also get in touch to chat about how we can create a programme that fulfills you and your team.

🔍 Our Panellists Top Takeaways Across The Roadshow

  • Data is critical: Baselines and impact tracking are essential.
  • Patience & prioritisation: Sustainability is a long-term journey not a short term gain.
  • Community & culture: Emotional buy-in drives success.
  • Certifications: Certifications are valuable but resource-intensive – choose wisely. We can help you with that, just drop us a line.
  • Start small: Perfection isn’t the goal – progress is! So, get acting in whatever way you can!

Learn more about our Sustainability In Action Networking Events here and join us for our annual Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference on 22 January 2026 at Killeavy Castle Estate.