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Cloughjordan eco-village continues to expand
By Peter Gleeson
A second phase in the development of Ireland’s only eco-village in Cloughjordan was launched in the village on Thursday last.
The event marked the official switching on of the village’s solar park, as well as the opening of a 32-bed eco-hostel and learning centre and the sod turning on a new 520sqm eco-enterprise centre.
There are currently 19 families living on the 67-acre site on which the ecovillage is located. A further 20 houses are under construction and a total of 80 sites have been sold to date.
One resident, Duncan Martin, told The Guardian that a further 50 sites are being offered for sale, but demand has slowed since the slump in the property market.
The 500-sqm Solar Park is the largest solar thermal array in Ireland and will provide energy for the housing and work units on the site.
Some 17,000 saplings for a community woodlands have also been planted, comprising mixed native trees.
The second phase also sees the reduction in a range of site prices for homes and green business start-ups, with a number of site prices reduced by up to 40 percent.
RTE Dragon’s Den panelist and entrepreneur Bobby Kerr and RTE's Ear to the Ground presenter Ella McSweeney were special guests at the launch, which was also attended by local Fianna Fáil councillor Jim Casey.
Ms McSweeney told residents she did not believe it was possible to create the eco-village when she first heard of the plans several years ago. “I’m so impressed now by what I see. What strikes me is that this extraordinary project is so ahead of its time”.
She said residents had managed to create the kind of sustainable community that everybody in Ireland was now talking about. “It’s a phenomenal achievement,” said Ms McSweeney.
Bobby Kerr told the gathering: “I’m blown away with what is happening. Here you have the real entrepreneurial spirit. People are pursuing their dreams here in a harmonious and sustainable way and I think it’s fantastic.”
The eco-villages is promoted by Sustainable Projects Ireland which is a not-for-profit educational charity. The development has attracted funding from EU, national and regional funds.
The site includes allotments for growing vegetables and fruit and when complete it is planned to accommodate a total of 114 low-energy homes and 16 live-work units.
All homes will be powered by a solar and woodburning community heating system and the site will be have pedestrian pathways lined with fruit and nut trees.
The site will also comprise a streamside walkway and homes and businesses will have hi-spec broadband. Residents will also have a car-sharing scheme. Caption: Dragon and entrepreneur Bobby Kerr and RTE's Ear to the Ground presenter Ella McSweeney pictured with residents at the launch Build Phase 2 of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage. PIC: PAUL SHARP/SHARPPIX |
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