Enjoy sustainable adventures on the green isle
Celebrate the island of Ireland’s wild beauty by choosing sustainable activities to enjoy while you’re here.
Fancy some foraging? For where to forage seaweed and how to eat it, look to The Sea Gardener: County Waterford’s resident expert and host of cookery demos, picnics and workshops. Over at Atlantic Irish Seaweed in Derrynane, County Kerry, husband and wife team John and Kerryann run seaweed discovery courses and workshops.
Switch off from the modern world and experience nature at your own pace with a Slow Adventure tour of Northern Ireland’s Sperrin Mountains. Guided by a local ecologist, you can explore the colorful habitats and natural mountain formations before heading to a working organic farm and a local cheesemaker to indulge in delicious traditional, local foods.
Of course, sustainable living doesn’t have to be slow — in fact, getting out into nature is likely to be the most invigorating part of any trip! Donegal Climbing makes the most of the rugged north-west coast of Ireland, offering rock-climbing and abseiling courses in spectacular locations. Up along the Antrim coast, Sheans Horse Farm takes you off road and to the beach for an epic equestrian adventure.
If you’ve never had the chance to see a sheepdog at work, then you’re missing out! Animal enthusiasts will appreciate the natural beauty of the healthy, happy herds of sheep and culture seekers will get a thrill from seeing shepherds do what they do best. Check out Atlantic Sheepdogs in County Sligo, Irish Working Sheepdogs in County Wicklow, and Glenshane Country Farm in County Tyrone — trust us, it’s a balm for the soul.
Take a tour around Wicklow Way Wines and you’ll see the commitment to sustainable food and drink production. The wine is made using only foraged fruit, or fruit from approved growers, and the leftover fruit pulp is repurposed into microbially-rich compost. If you travel further west, you can take a guided walk with DK Connemara Oysters in County Galway; treat yourself to some Linnalla Irish Ice Cream from the Fahy family farm; or indulge in award-winning fare from the Burren Smokehouse in County Clare.
No trip to Ireland is ever complete without the songs and stories of traditional Irish music. Experience some of Ireland’s best tunes at the Doolin Music House as they’re meant to be played: around a crackling fire, with the soft murmur of voices in the background and the kettle just about to boil. Take in the trad music scene of Belfast in the company of musician-guides on the Belfast Traditional Music Trail, or go for a folk and trad festival in Dublin city with the Temple Bar TradFest each January.
Which eco-friendly activities are you adding to your Ireland bucket list?