Those who believe they live in Ireland's greenest community, suburb, town, or village are being invited to nominate their area for the Ireland's Greenest Places competition.
Nominations for the 2026 competition, run by The Irish Times, have opened.
Entries are open to projects big and small that deliver measurable environmental impact and bring people together.
A short submission of 300 words is required for each entry, with entrants asked to explain why their area is so special and to detail the tangible contribution it makes to a greener environment.
Each nominated place will be judged on a range of criteria including its beneficial environmental impact, level of ongoing collective engagement by the community, and evidence of behavioural change by people.
Former minister for the environment and leader of the Green Party, Eamon Ryan, is returning as one of the competition’s judges.
He said one of the main aims of the competition is to showcase what can be achieved when people work together to deliver more sustainable and greener communities.
“We were thrilled with the response to last year’s initiative and the buzz it created. It really highlighted the strength of collective climate action which is happening in every corner of Ireland," he said.
“We want to celebrate that, to share those learnings as widely as possible and to encourage more people to become involved in making their community a better place to live now and into the future."
Categories
The format is similar to last year but with a slight change to the categories.
Awards will be made to Ireland’s Greenest Community, Greenest Suburb, Greenest Town or Village, Overall Winner and, a new one this year, Ireland’s Net Zero Hero.
The Net Zero Hero award will go to someone who stands out for their exemplary work in driving a particular project or in inspiring others to act, in coordinating community efforts.
The Irish Times said all the entries will be assessed by a panel of judges and researchers before a longlist is compiled.
Over the summer, that longlist will be whittled down to a shortlist before the winners are announced in September.
A new judge for the 2026 competition is biologist, environmental consultant, author ,and radio presenter Éanna Ní Lamhna.
“This excellent competition gives recognition to community groups all around the country, who are making efforts to improve the environmental quality of where they live, for the benefit of all," she said.
“Biodiversity loss caused by land use change and indeed exacerbated by climate change, has caused the world around us to deteriorate sharply over the past forty years.
"It is still possible to change this for the better, but the reality is that the time left to do this is getting shorter and shorter. Those of us who focus on the positive differences we can make, and who take the practical steps to do this are an inspiration.
"It is this work that helps to keep positivity alive and make our communities healthier and more resilient.”
If you know a place in Ireland that deserves recognition for its contribution to a greener future, go to Ireland's Greenest Places - The Irish Times where you will find an entry form and submit your nomination.
