‘If we learn to sustain ourselves, we will learn to live a better and more holistic life’ – Discover Kilanerin, the Wexford community tackling a global crisis one step at a time

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

When faced with a global crisis, devastating storms, unprecedented rainfall and continuously rising temperatures, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed; to feel that there is little one can do to stem the tide. After all, we are but a tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic, a mere dot in the ocean, a nation responsible for just a fraction of the world’s emissions.

However, for those who believe that they alone can do nothing to prevent the globe from ruination, there are organisations like the Kilanerin-Ballyfad Community Development Association (KBCDA) to provide at least some hope of salvation.

Established in 2005, it always had – in the words of one of its members – ideas about the environment “percolating in the background”, but it wasn’t until the formation of its Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) in 2018 that those ideas began to come to fruition.

Within 12 months, the north Wexford group had been named the top SEC group in the country and, in the intervening years, it has initiated a number of sustainability projects in its local community.

In addition to more traditional ventures like a community orchard, polytunnel, and fruit and vegetable garden, KBCDA has branched out into water conservation, renewable energy and active travel schemes.

At the local community centre building, it has built a water collection point on the roof to conserve supply during Ireland’s occasional dry spells.

“We have a very big structure here which can collect a lot of water,” said KBCDA committee member Julie Sammiller.

“The underlining purpose is to collaborate with the other groups in the village. Being in close contact with them, we know what their needs are. The Tidy Towns group need to water flowers and plants, the school garden needs water for its vegetable projects. So we thought wouldn’t it be great to have a source of water available to them which came from the sky and was free to use?”

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With Kilanerin Community Centre in operation throughout the day for hot-desking, and during the evening for sports and activities, the group wanted to find ways to reduce its carbon footprint and make it more energy efficient. A planned solar panel project will save not just energy but also money, with an estimated annual reduction in costs of €4,000.

Eco-heaters have already been installed at the centre and there are future plans to couple them with energy-saving push buttons to promote sustainability.

A further project will see an electric bike scheme operated from the community centre, encouraging those in the area to stay healthy and reduce their carbon footprint. Electricity from the new solar panels will help to charge the bikes and create a mini-circular energy economy.

According to Jason Last, a long-standing member of the KBCDA, the focus on sustainability has enabled like-minded people within the community to come together.

“There’s a lot of volunteerism here and plenty of opportunities for people who have a passion or an interest in sustainability or the environment,” he said.

“For me, there are two benefits to being involved. If we learn to sustain ourselves, we will learn to live a better and more holistic life [and], apart from being the right thing to do, it’s also financially beneficial.

"Most of the time, when you see investment in the environment, it enables sustainability, which means cost-savings in the long run.”