TWICE THE SIZE - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of Technology

centres and high quality rural hinterlands running from East to West, enabled the region to
merge two distinct societies built on ‘urban knowledge’ and ‘rural wisdom’. The benefits
emanating from Dundalk as an ‘urban centre’ include exceptional labour mobility, links to global
financial markets and a highly educated workforce. Similarly, rural eco hotspots in and around
the region not only add to the cultural and social fabric of the area but play a pivotal role in the
much needed regeneration of tourism.
The near collapse of the Irish tourism industry back in 2010, due to the country’s widespread
neglect of the environment, marked a major decline in visitors to the area. At that time, illegal
dumping uncovered in the Mourne Mountains and the visible pollution of inland rivers and lakes,
caused a notable decline in visitors. In an attempt to prevent disaster in the region the concept
of sustainable development dominated the formulation of policy over the next 15 years. For
Dundalk, with a history environmental awareness, the transition to sustainability was not a
difficult one and by 2025 Dundalk could pride itself as having become a model of sustainable
urbanisation and rural development, setting the trend for Ireland’s ‘green future’.
Over the next ten years Dundalk’s focus
remained on the creation of new
sustainable energy technologies, and set
about building its reputation as world
leader in alternative energy research.
Through a series of aggressive and
ambitious awareness and efficiency
campaigns Dundalk, most notably the
Power of One initiated back in 2007,
Dundalk overturned the NIMBY attitude
that prevailed in Ireland since the turn
of the century.
Organic farming and ecotourism prospered around the Carlingford Lough, although local battles
and tensions had to be overcome between rivalry sites competing for their status as gems of the
Cultural and Heritage landscape of Ireland. Widespread green activism, combined with highly
subsidised environmental initiatives, ensured sustainable development became enshrined as the
key to success of the BMW region.
By 2030 almost 30 percent of electricity and heat requirements for an entire zone in Dundalk
were generated from renewable sources and today, a mere ten years later, almost 50 % of the
entire towns energy requirements are being met by sustainable resources. As a result of such
achievements Dundalk is fast becoming the envy of Ireland and indeed Europe.
Thank You.
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