Regenerative Communities

For generations, communities in Offaly were shaped by peatland work, shared traditions, and a strong connection to the land. When peat harvesting ended, it did more than remove jobs. It also affected people’s sense of identity and place.

The Regenerative Communities pillar supports this transition by working directly with people across the county. It listens to local stories, history, and shared memories to help guide community renewal.

Placemaking

My work within the Regenerative Communities pillar supports communities most affected by the energy transition. In partnership with Offaly County Council, the focus is on promoting decarbonisation through tourism and placemaking. The goal is to create vibrant communities with a strong sense of identity.

To achieve this, a partnership was formed between the Technological University of the Shannon Midlands (TUS), through the Just Transition Academy (JTA), and the Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC). Together, they work closely with local communities on a range of projects.

This approach places communities at the centre of change. By co-creating plans for regeneration, the project supports placemaking that reflects local identity and strengthens social ties. It celebrates Offaly’s culture through arts, heritage, and tourism. This creates economic opportunities while protecting biodiversity and preserving community pride.

The pillar also promotes sustainable tourism. It helps communities identify and enhance local assets, such as waterways and historic landmarks, that reflect Offaly’s rich heritage. By applying green and circular economy practices, these efforts create meaningful jobs, support eco-tourism, and deepen people’s connection to their environment.

The project aligns with local, regional, and national policies. It supports placemaking initiatives that build belonging and encourage resilient, confident communities. A key goal is to assist up to four communities in delivering locally led placemaking projects that match local authority and national plans. The selected communities are Clara, Daingean, Banagher, and Ferbane.

Further information:

Sustainable Business Development

Alongside placemaking, this pillar works with the Create Green Programme, established by OLDC in 2010. The programme supports the sustainable development of craft SMEs. It helps businesses adopt sustainable practices, access green finance, design measurable business frameworks and KPIs, and improve marketing and social media strategies.

Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, an assessment was carried out on the programme’s stakeholder engagement model. This involved OLDC and participating SMEs. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the process.

The work included:

• Group observations
• Training on Just Transition principles
• Sustainability advisory support
• Observation of OLDC training delivery
• A survey of participating enterprises

The data were analysed using IBM SPSS. The results were highly positive, showing an R² value of 1. This indicates that the stakeholder engagement process was fully effective and can be replicated in similar initiatives. These findings supported OLDC’s funding application to continue the programme.

I continue to support the programme by designing a cross-compliance framework. This aligns KPIs with national and international policies, including Climate Action Plans, the SDGs, the European Green Deal, UNWTO, UNESCO 2030, Planetary Health, and Community Wealth Building.

Further information:

In summary, the Regenerative Communities pillar supports communities (by providing e.g. training, initiatives, and skills) to turn ideas into viable projects. It encourages innovation and strengthens grassroots leadership. By combining pride of place with practical support, it helps build inclusive, future-ready communities that thrive socially, economically, and environmentally.

At its core, the Regenerative Communities pillar is about belonging and empowerment. It strengthens resilience, supports local identity, and helps ensure that Offaly’s communities emerge from the energy transition ready to shape their own sustainable future.

For more information, please contact me at raquel.herminio@tus.ie or call / text at +353 86 829 5970.