The shortlist for Ireland’s Greenest Places 2026 has been announced and the Waterford village of Ardmore has made it through to the final stages of the competition.
The coastal village which has become an environmental hub for the local area is one of just 11 nominees across four categories now in contention to win a category award or the overall title of Ireland’s Greenest Place 2026.
Ardmore has been nominated in the Greenest Village category which means it will be a Waterford v Tipp final, as it goes head-to-head with Cloughjordan Community Development Association.
This is the second year of ‘Ireland’s Greenest Places 2026’, an initiative which is being run by The Irish Times in association with Electric Ireland. It began in late May when members of the public were invited to nominate a special place, person or project which they believe contributes to a genuinely greener environment.
Over the last couple of months, close to 90 nominations were received from across the island and after reducing that number to a longlist of over 20 the judging panel has now confirmed the 11 finalists.
Awards will be made to Ireland’s Greenest Community, Greenest Suburb, Greenest Town or Village, Overall Winner, and a new category for individuals this year, Ireland’s Net Zero Hero.
That award will go to someone who stands out for their exemplary work in driving a particular project or in inspiring others to act, in coordinating community efforts. Three people have been shortlisted in that category.
Eamon Ryan, a former minister for the environment and leader of the Green Party, is one of the judges. He said they had been inspired by the quality and diversity of the environmental projects being undertaken around the country.
“It was extremely difficult in the first instance for us to come up with the long list and more difficult again to come up with the shortlist. Congratulations to the 11 places, projects and people who have made it onto the shortlist but also to everyone who entered and is doing such valuable work all over the country.”
“Many of the locations have benefitted from truly transformative action, changing both physically and culturally as a result of collaborative green projects. And the new Net Zero Category has highlighted the role being played by climate action leaders across our communities. It is wonderful to see their work being recognised through this initiative.”
Judging in each category was based on specific criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community and evidence of behavioural change by people.
As well as the two villages, the shortlist includes two suburbs, four communities and three Net Zero Heroes. Dublin has emerged as the county with the most contenders with three nominees, followed by Tipperary on two. As well as Waterford, the counties with one nominee include Cork, Galway, Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow. (Full list below)
The category winners and overall winner of Ireland’s Greenest Places 2026 will be announced on the weekend of the 2nd /3rd of October.
Ardmore – Greenest Town/Village
Ardmore’s list of environmental collaborators includes St Declan’s GAA Club, Ardmore Tidy Towns, Ardmore and Grange National Schools, the community hall, local businesses and volunteers.
It is a Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) and recently completed a community energy audit funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), according to Henry Murphy, who nominated the village.
Ardmore boasts pollinator-friendly spaces, environmental education programmes in its schools, and a conservation grazing plan on its cliff walk.
“Environmental education is embedded in both local schools, inspiring future generations to care for nature. Together, these initiatives demonstrate that sustainability is not a single project but a shared commitment. Ardmore’s volunteers continue to show how a small rural community can lead by example—protecting biodiversity, embracing renewable energy and creating a greener, healthier and more resilient future for everyone” Murphy says.
For more information about ‘Ireland’s Greenest Places’ go to www.irishtimes.com/greenestplaces
Ireland’s Greenest Places Shortlist 2026
Ireland’s Greenest Town or Village
Cloughjordan Community Development Association, Co Tipperary
Ardmore, Co Waterford
Ireland’s Greenest Community
Treasure the Tolka, Co Dublin
Enniscorthy Community Allotments, Co Wexford
Ballon, Co Carlow
The Circular Square, Co Tipperary
Ireland’s Greenest Suburb
Rosewood Estate, Ballincollig, Co Cork
Airfield Estate, Co Dublin
Ireland’s Net Zero Hero
Caroline McCabe, Co Wicklow
J. Owen Lewis, Co Dublin
Jacinta Barrins, Co Galway
