Cork businesses bag sustainability awards

THREE Cork businesses scooped sustainability awards at the annual ‘Finding Common Ground’ festival at the RDS in Ballsbridge.

The two-day festival, which focuses on biodiversity and sustainability, took place on May 2 and 3, and featured a series of presentations, panel discussions, and awards ceremonies.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate the work of individuals, farm families, and organisations who are enhancing the economic, environmental, and social development of the Irish agriculture industry, and rural communities.

Among the Cork winners, Bo Rua Farm in Ballynoe, owned and ran by Tom and Norma Dinneen, was awarded the RDS sustainable rural enterprise award, which recognises individuals and organisations who are making a significant contribution to the economic, environmental, and social development of rural Ireland.

Mallow Castle Demense Town Park was also among the Cork winners, and was awarded the RDS community woodlands award, which is designed to encourage and reward projects involving the communal ownership and or management of forests and woodlands, which have been established and managed in a sustainable way.

Speaking on the community woodland award, the judging panel said: “When Cork County Council decided to buy Mallow Castle and its estate in 2011, they could have simply carried out renovations on the castle and put in a few extra paths though the park and there would have been a fine amenity created.

“They decided, however, to implement a hugely ambitious plan which involved a lot of work on creation of new woodland, and the management of existing woodland.

“They now have a town park which is attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to an amenity which is right in the heart of the town.”

The third Cork-based award went to Jim and Frampton Jeffery from Midleton, who were awarded the RDS-sheep Ireland lambplus award, which recognises excellence in breeders who are leading the way in performance recording and genetic gain.

The first instalment of the two-day event was delivered as one of the RDS Foundation social impact programmes.