Ballyhoura region highlights circular economy leadership during European visit

BALLYHOURA Development welcomed their international partners from across Europe, for a two-day field visit as part of the Integrated Circular Economy Action Plans for Rural Areas project (iCEAR).

The visit showcased the Ballyhoura region’s growing reputation as a leader in rural circular economy innovation, offering guests the opportunity to experience a rich blend of community-led, business-led, and nature-based initiatives across Limerick.

The field visit formed a key element of iCEAR’s interregional meeting, which brought together 13 partners from nine European countries.

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The gathering aimed to share learning and strengthen policy approaches that support resource efficiency, bio-based value chains, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

The iCEAR project seeks to improve local and regional policies that foster the circular economy, recognising that while circular economy activity is expanding across Europe, policy coordination often remains fragmented.

By improving access to information, building cross-border networks, aligning strategies across governance levels, and supporting innovative rural actions, the project aims to create more coherent and effective policy frameworks.

These improvements are intended to deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits to rural communities.

As the Irish partner, Ballyhoura Development leads local engagement, coordinates regional stakeholders, showcases emerging circular practices, and contributes to shared policy learning among European partners.

The organisation’s focus on sustainability, rural enterprise, and community-led development aligns strongly with the project’s goals.

Kate Longmate, development officer with Ballyhoura Development, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome our iCEAR partners from across Europe to the Ballyhoura region for lively and enlightening discussion of the role of networks in circular economy.

“It was inspiring to see and experience our region through their eyes, and we thank all of the businesses and community groups who welcomed us so warmly and professionally throughout the visit.”

Over the two days, partners explored a wide variety of circular economy examples already flourishing within the Ballyhoura region.

Highlights included a locally sourced lunch at Barnahown, a tour of Eight Degrees Brewing in Mitchelstown, and visits to Mitchelstown Leisure Centre and Kilbehenny Community Centre, both examples of community-led reuse, repair culture and rural resilience.

Additional visits to Ballyhoura Glamping and the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails illustrated how circular tourism, low-impact design, and land stewardship contribute to sustainable rural development.

Ballyhoura Development will continue working closely with local communities, enterprises and European partners to support a more resilient, sustainable and innovative rural region.

Reflecting on the visit, Christoph Mathias of the Institute for Rural Structural Research (IFLS) in Frankfurt, said: “As lead partner of iCEAR, IFLS highly values the opportunity to learn from regions like Ballyhoura, where circular economy solutions are rooted in strong local collaboration.”