Kildare farm in running to be ‘Ireland’s Greenest Place’
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DERRYBEG FARM in Celbridge has made the longlist of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 and as a result is a contender to win the title Ireland’s Greenest Community 2025 and potentially the overall title.
The country’s largest and longest established Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm still has a hurdle or two to cross as it was among over 120 places put forward by members of the public and one of the three Kildare projects or places nominated.
Thirteen communities made the long list in total making it the most challenging category in the competition, which also includes three suburbs, five villages and five towns.
Mayo and Dublin lead the way with a total of six nominations across the four different categories, with Kerry next on three. Clare has two with nine other counties, including Kildare on one.
‘Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025’, an initiative, which is being run by in association with Electric Ireland, began in late May when members of the public were invited to nominate a special place or project which they believe contributes to a genuinely greener environment.
Derrybeg is an organic CSA vegetable farm based on a one-acre site rented from Kildare County Council since 2012.
It has successfully ensured sustainable food production at farm level through a subscription model through which its 50 members pay €47 per month and get 36 bags of organic vegetables over a year.
“When we consider that 70 per cent of Ireland’s organic fruit and vegetables are imported, with food miles and plastic packaging, Derrybeg Farm offers a model of sustainable food production,” says Nicky Deasy who nominated the project.
Chairperson of the judging panel, features editor Mary Minihan said they had been hugely impressed by the quality and diversity of the environmental projects being undertaken around the country.
The panel of five judges includes Eamon Ryan, former leader of the Green Party, who said Ireland’s Greenest Places shows how much community-led- environmentalism has deepened and spread in recent years.
The shortlist for Ireland’s Greenest Places 2025 will be announced at the end of the month with the category winners and overall winner announced a fortnight later.
