Welcome to the Kinsale Home Page

Working today for a sustainable tomorrow

Welcome to the world's first Transition Town!

Transition Town Kinsale is a voluntary community initiative working to help make the transition from a dependency on fossil fuel to a low carbon future.

What began in Kinsale in 2005 has become something of a movement internationally. Rob Hopkins, teacher of Permaculture at Kinsale Further Education College, produced the groundbreaking Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan with his students, exploring ways in which the community could prepare for Peak Oil. One of his students, Louise Rooney, set about developing the Transition Towns concept resulting in the historic decision by Kinsale Town Council to adopt the plan and work towards energy independence. Rob moved to the UK where he established the second Transition Town in Totnes which has become an inspiring focal point of the movement.

Since then they have been springing up all over the place. Bristol, Lewes, Falmouth and Stroud have all taken on the Transition Town moniker while here in Ireland, FADA in Newbridge, and closer to home, Sustainable Clonakilty and Sustainable Bandon have all realised that governments aren’t facing up to the looming energy and environmental crises. So instead, each town is implementing its own version of energy descent and beginning a ‘Skilling up for powerdown’. So much so that the first Transition Network Conference took place on May 31 in Gloucestershsire.

Transition Town Kinsale is most notable for having the support of the Kinsale Town Council, who granted €5,000 for community garden projects, schools projects and information leaflets. We have a steering committee of 10 members, and the following sub-groups:

  • Food Forum: includes the "Roving Community Garden", and a proposal to establish the first Community Composting scheme
  • Energy Forum: Community Powerdown: Let us know if your household or business is making progress on saving on its electricity or fuel bills and we’ll pass on the information to others. Contact Liz at 087 2894077.
  • Transport Forum: investigating pedestrianizing part of the town, a cycle repair shop, and a land train
  • Strategy Forum: this group has been discussing the establishment of a Sustainability Centre in Kinsale to provide the community with information and tips on energy efficiency, recycling, gardening, composting etc. Contact has been made with the Council, so watch this space for future developments.
  • Waste and Recycling Forum: are in the process of doing a feasibility study for a prototype anaerobic digester for the Town (commercial food waste) and it’s environ (agricultural waste). Kinsale has now got a free cycle system – that is a means of passing on unwanted belongings for free to others instead of dumping them. There is a notice board in Fintan Lynch Hairdresser's window which is brought to the stall on Market Day.
  • Publicity Group: will work on increasing the profile and the awareness of TTK.


Next Public Meeting:

Thursday 20th November, 7pm, Hamlets. All welcome!


TRANSITION TOWN NEEDS YOU

We would like to ask anyone interested to help us to move forward the process of making Kinsale a more sustainable town.

  • Firstly, we are looking for ideas for sustainable projects that TTK can help promote. If you are interested or have an idea, please contact Eddie Farren at: eddie_farren@yahoo.co.uk or 087 1253336.
  • Secondly, we are looking for land in the Kinsale area which could be rented and used as gardening allotments. With an increase in energy prices inevitable over the coming years and a resulting hike in food prices, it will become important for people to have the opportunity to grow some of their own food. Contact Miles Cattell on: 021 4771021 or 086 8162528.
  • We are looking for premises in Kinsale to house a Sustainability Centre which will act as an informaiton hub for all things sustainable. If you know of somehere, or someone who could help please contact Klaus at klausharvey@gmail.com
  • TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS

National Schools in Kinsale have all been enjoying the benefits of a year of down to earth food producing classes provided free by Transition Town Kinsale. We would like to extend the scheme this year and ask for parents or local businesses to contribute to this important activity. No need to put your hand in your pocket though, unless you keep a trowel there! Have a look and see if you have any redundant tools that we can 'borrow'. Shovels, forks, wheelbarrows, etc. Bring them down to the Transition Town Tool Box at the Tuesday market and we'll look after the rest. Or phone 0870572929 and we'll arrange collection. No tractors please!

  • Finally we would welcome any feedback on any of the issues raised here at Transition Times and letters to the Newsletter editor are a useful way of doing this.

We are greatly inspired by the success of Transition Town Totnes and will keep in close contact with all that is happening over there.

Contact: info@transitiontownkinsale.org