Ballyhoura Development welcomed international partners last week for a two-day field visit as part of the iCEAR – Integrated Circular Economy Action Plans for Rural Areas project.
The visit highlighted the Ballyhoura region’s growing reputation as a hub for rural circular economy innovation, giving partners the chance to experience a diverse mix of community-led, business-led, and nature-based initiatives across Limerick and Cork.
The field visit formed part of iCEAR’s interregional meeting, bringing together 13 partners from nine European countries to exchange learning and strengthen policy approaches that support resource efficiency, bio-based value chains, and sustainable rural livelihoods. The iCEAR project aims to improve regional and local policies that foster the circular economy (CE), recognising that while activity is growing across Europe, policy coordination often remains fragmented. By improving access to information, building networks, aligning strategies across governance levels, and supporting innovative rural interventions, iCEAR seeks to create more coherent and effective policy frameworks that benefit communities, the environment, and local economies.
As the Irish partner in the project, Ballyhoura Development leads local engagement, coordinates regional stakeholders, showcases circular practices already underway, and contributes to policy learning with European partners. The organisation’s commitment to sustainability, rural enterprise, and community-led development aligns closely with the project’s ambitions.
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.”
Throughout the two days, partners explored a wide range of circular economy examples that showcased the depth and diversity of activity already happening across the Ballyhoura area. The visit began with a locally sourced lunch at Barnahown, demonstrating the importance of short supply chains and sustainable, low-waste catering. This was followed by a tour of Eight Degrees Brewing in Mitchelstown, where partners learned about sustainable production, material reuse and innovation in resource efficiency.
Community-led circular networks were highlighted through visits to Mitchelstown Leisure Centre and Kilbehenny Community Centre, where local groups shared how volunteer-driven initiatives support reuse, repair culture, rural resilience and intergenerational learning. A long-table dinner prepared by Galty Valley Catering further showcased local food producers and low-impact food systems in action.
Circular tourism and low-impact accommodation were explored at Ballyhoura Glamping, where reuse of materials, nature-based design and community benefit are central to the visitor experience. Outdoor recreation and land stewardship were demonstrated through a guided walk at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails.
The visit concluded with a locally sourced dinner at Spruce & Willow, followed by traditional music at The Village Inn, Ballyorgan, emphasising how cultural heritage contributes to circularity by strengthening local economies, community cohesion and pride of place.
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. The visit showed how much can be achieved when communities, enterprises and civil society work together to close loops, strengthen local value chains and support practical innovation. The commitment we witnessed - from circular production practices to community-driven initiatives - is truly inspiring and reflects the kind of grounded, place-based transformation that iCEAR aims to promote across all partner regions."
The learning gathered during the Ballyhoura visit will directly contribute to the refinement of local and regional policy instruments across the nine participating countries. Ballyhoura Development will continue working closely with local communities, enterprises and European partners to support a more resilient, sustainable and innovative rural region.
