Our Story

Cloughjordan Ecovillage is a pioneering sustainable community located in Co. Tipperary. Our story is one of innovation, environmental stewardship, and community building.

Origins and Development

A group of environmental activists and sustainable living enthusiasts conceived the idea for Cloughjordan Ecovillage in the late 1990s. Our vision was to create a model of sustainable living that could serve as an example for others. The project officially began in 1999, at which point we established Sustainable Projects Ireland Ltd. to develop the Ecovillage.

Site Selection and Design

After considering several locations, we chose a 67-acre site on the edge of the small town of Cloughjordan. We selected the site for its potential to integrate with the existing community and its suitability for sustainable development. Our design focused on minimizing environmental impact and promoting social cohesion. Key elements included:

Eco-friendly Housing: We build our homes using sustainable materials and methods. We design them to be energy-efficient, incorporating features like high insulation, solar panels, and passive solar heating.
Community Facilities: We included shared facilities such as a farm, and green spaces in order to foster a sense of community and reduce the need for private amenities.
Renewable Energy: We generate a significant portion of our energy from renewable sources, including a district heating system powered by biomass and solar energy.

Building the Community

The first residents moved into the Ecovillage in 2009. Since then we have grown and developed through ongoing construction and development projects. We uphold principles of sustainability by reducing waste, conserving water, and promoting biodiversity.

Educational and Outreach Activities

Cloughjordan Ecovillage has become a hub for education and outreach on sustainability. We host workshops, conferences, and tours to share knowledge and inspire others. We also collaborate with academic institutions and participate in research projects on sustainable living.

Achievements and Recognition

Our Ecovillage has received recognition for its achievements in sustainable development. We have been featured in various media outlets and have won awards for our innovative approach to community living and environmental stewardship.

Challenges and Future Plans

Like any ambitious project, we have faced challenges, including financial difficulties and the complexities of managing a diverse community. However, we remain committed to our vision and continue to work towards a sustainable and resilient future. Our future plans include expanding the housing stock, enhancing community facilities, and continuing to serve as a model for sustainable living.

Cloughjordan Ecovillage stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision for a more sustainable world. We offer valuable lessons in sustainable living and community resilience that are relevant not just in Ireland, but globally.

TWENTY YEARS A GROWING | CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF CLOUGHJORDAN ECOVILLAGE

Listen to short reflections from four ecovillagers on living and working in the ecovillage, followed by a panel of supporters reflecting on the importance of the ecovillage, its challenges moving forward and the lessons it offers wider society.

Our Achievements

Cloughjordan ecovillage has become a model for environmental sustainability and community resilience. This has been acknowledged around the world and the ecovillage has achieved a number of awards and achievements that demonstrate our determination and internal diversity. Some of our proudest are:

2024

Wider Perspectives Event

In seeking a more cohesive community-led response to the unfolding polycrisis, the ‘Wider Perspectives’ event provided a supported space for our community to consider how the growing challenges in the world today need to inform our plans to develop, live and work together into the foreseeable future. Featuring stimulations from expert speakers addressing global issues ranging from the climate crisis to the loss of care in today’s world, the day provided opportunities to help the community consider the challenges we face and how best we can respond. The purpose of the ‘Wider Perspectives’ event is to enable community level priorities to emerge and inform where and how we channel our collective efforts and resources going forward.

2020

Cloughjordan Ecovillage is finalist in Transformative Cities Awards.

The Transformative Cities “is an opportunity for progressive local governments, municipalist coalitions, social movements and civil society organizations to popularize and share their experiences of building solutions to our planet’s systemic economic, social, political, and ecological crises”. Judged on key areas such as equity and participation, sustainability and efficiency, and solidarity and public ethos, here at Cloughjordan we were proud to have been announced as a finalist in the Housing Category. There is a global need for radical, systematic transformation, and we were delighted to be placed amongst other fantastic projects.

2017

Cloughjordan Amphitheatre opened by President Michael D. Higgins

Culture and the Arts are central to our visioning at Cloughjordan Ecovillage, and we were most proud to have President Michael D. Higgins join us at the opening ceremony of the Cloughjordan Amphitheatre, as well as speeches and musical performances by Cloughjordan residents. Through art, we can turn our dreams into realities, which is why facilitating performance and expression is of utmost importance to Cloughjordan Ecovillage. An art installation at the Amphitheatre is dedicated to Thomas McDonagh, the poet, dramatist, and signatory of Ireland’s Proclamation of independence who was born in Cloughjordan town.

2014

Selected by the European Union’s Milesecure-2050 Academia project

The MILESECURE-2050 project aims to understand and overcome the political, economical and behavioural traits. and trends that led Europe to its difficulties in reducing fossil fuel consumption. Cloughjordan Ecovillage was selected as one of the Milesecure 23 projects due to its success ‘in terms of social recognition and excellent results from an energy and environmental point of view’. As such, Cloughjordan Ecovillage is considered as one of Europe’s leading ‘anticipatory experiences’ of the transition towards a low-carbon society with important lessons for EU policy.

2014

Cloughjordan Ecovillage has an ecological footprint of 2 global hectares (gHa), the lowest of any community recorded in Ireland.

The results were based on the first complete survey of ecovillage residents carried out in April and May 2013 by the Tipperary Energy Agency (TEA). This compares very favourably with estimates of other urban settlements in Ireland and of international estimates of Irish people’s average ecological footprint. A survey of 79 Irish settlements found an ecological footprint (EF) of 4.3 gHa.

2013

Gold Medal in “The Green Oscars”

Cloughjordan ecovillage was awarded the gold model in the 2013 International Awards for Liveable Communities Awards, considered the global “Green Oscars”. We were delighted to receive this award that recognised Cloughjordan ecovillage as being one of the world’s top “innovative projects that demonstrate sustainability and environmental awareness” that also has “a positive impact on the local community and environment”

2011

Woodland of 17,000 native trees planted

Cloughjordan Ecovillage aims to not only be a model for sustainable living and ecologically friendly food production but also to contribute toward safeguarding Ireland’s natural heritage and biodiversity. As such, planting 17,000 native trees across one-third of our 67 acre site is one of our proudest achievements.

Our Principles

" To serve as an education, enterprise and research service resource for all "

- Mission statement of Cloughjordan Ecovillage residents

Members of Cloughjordan Ecovillage have adopted the idea of shared purposes and principles and shared out responsibilities. By creating a process of mutual agreement, Cloughjordan Ecovillage represents a shift towards the new paradigm of self-organizing adaptive systems.

Every member of Sustainable Projects Limited has their say in the development of Cloughjordan Ecovillage. Each step of the project is decided upon as a community, from choosing the location of Cloughjordan to agreeing upon the ecological principles of the project.

This means that not only are the homes and infrastructure of the ecovillage built to be environmentally sustainable but that this is done in a collaborative and co-creative manner that is inclusive of the ideas and opinions of all members of the ecovillage.

Since then, we have grown and developed through ongoing construction and development projects.

At Cloughjordan Ecovillage, we celebrate events and initiatives that reflect our commitment to sustainability, community and education:

Annual and Seasonal Celebrations

Earth Day: We join millions around the globe in celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd, with activities that promote environmental awareness and action.
Féile na nÚll – The Apple Festival: We celebrate the harvest to mark the bounty of our land and farm. The festival often include communal meals, music, and other festivities.
Summer and Winter Solstices: We celebrate the changing of the seasons with events that honour nature and our connection to it. These solstice celebrations often include bonfires, storytelling, and communal gatherings.

Community Building Events

Cultural and Artistic Events: We celebrate the arts with events such as music performances and theatre productions. These events help to strengthen our community bonds and bring joy to our residents.
Social Gatherings: Regular social events like community meals foster a strong sense of community and provide opportunities for residents to connect and relax together.

Meitheals and Environmental Initiatives

Tree Planting Days: To enhance our local environment and contribute to global reforestation efforts, we organise tree planting days where residents and volunteers plant trees around the Ecovillage.
Biodiversity Events: We celebrate our local biodiversity with events focused on preserving and appreciating the natural flora and fauna of the area.

These celebrations and events are integral to life at Cloughjordan Ecovillage, fostering a sense of community, promoting sustainability and sharing our experiences and knowledge with others. They reflect our commitment to living harmoniously with the environment and each other.