{"id":11081,"date":"2024-11-27T06:43:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T06:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coillte.ie\/development\/?page_id=11081"},"modified":"2026-02-12T16:33:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:33:30","slug":"community-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.coillte.ie\/development\/about-us\/sustainability\/community-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Community Engagement<\/h3>\n
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Coillte\u2019s forests and lands are a vital part of the Irish landscape. As Ireland\u2019s largest forester and provider of outdoor recreation spaces, Coillte takes pride in its commitment to social responsibility, ensuring its actions contribute to the development of local communities. In 2024, Coillte actively participated in a variety of community and educational initiatives across the country. Here are some of the highlights:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Nature Trust Acorn Collection<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the month of October 2024, acorn collection events were held in Coillte and other woodlands across the country in partnership with The Nature Trust. In total twelve events took place and were attended by schools and local community groups. Despite 2024 being a challenging year for acorns, over 5,000 acorns were collected and were transported to the Coillte Nursery at Ballintemple, Co. Carlow for grading, storage and germination. They will grow into oak saplings and will be planted when they reach between two and four years of age.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rowers plant oaks to mark Olympic prospects<\/strong><\/p>\n

In July, Coillte, proud supporting partner of Rowing Ireland, planted eight native Irish oak trees in Farran Forest Park, Co. Cork, to celebrate the eight Irish boats that successfully qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics in France. Bernard Burke, Regional Area Manager, Coillte, was joined by 2023 Junior Female Rower of the Year, Holly Davis (Lee Valley RC) and Men\u2019s Senior Athlete, Andrew Sheehan (UCC RC) at the ceremonial tree planting<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Night and Day music festival at Lough Key<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Night and Day outdoor music festival took place in June in Coillte\u2019s Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. The family friendly festival ran over three nights and revellers enjoyed performances from acts such as Bell X 1, Damien Dempsey and Mick Flannery as well as family games, poetry, drama, arts and crafts, all in the beautiful forest setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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MEDITE SMARTPLY Sponsor Girls U16 Clonmel Town Football Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

MEDITE SMARTPLY is the proud sponsor of Clonmel Town Football Club\u2019s U16 Girls team, helping to support and encourage the next generation of female athletes in the local community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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MEDITE SMARTPLY Support for the Waterford Viking Marathon<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Waterford Viking Marathon took place in June 2024, sponsored by MEDITE SMARTPLY. For the first time, the marathon included a section which was
\ndedicated to participants with autism who could run or walk a section of the marathon in a safe and enjoyable environment.<\/p>\n

AsIAm Forest Ramble<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coillte was delighted to facilitate the AsIAm Forest Ramble walks in June 2024 across six of its forest parks. AsIAm is Ireland\u2019s national autism charity,
\nand these walks aim to raise awareness about autism in Ireland and help raise funds for the charity. As part of this initiative, local community groups gathered for forest walks across the country including Avondale Forest Park in Co. Wicklow, Donadea Forest Park in Co. Kildare, Curragh Chase in Co. Limerick, Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Co. Roscommon, Rossmore in Co. Monaghan and Farran Forest Park in Co. Cork.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Educational Programmes <\/h3>\n
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World of Work Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coillte continued to participate in the Business Action on Education initiative. Existing partner schools Duiske College in Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, Mercy College in Woodford, Co. Galway and St. Tiernan\u2019s College in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, have now been joined by Patrician Presentation Secondary School in Fethard, Co. Tipperary. To date over 200 students have participated in the programme, receiving an introduction to the forestry sector in their community and learning about the roles and opportunities that are available. The programme included a field trip, a soft skills workshop and a sustainability workshop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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New forestry scholarship programme<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coillte launched its first ever scholarship programme during 2024 to give students the unique opportunity to pursue a full-time, third level programme within the area of forestry. Three students were selected including \u00c1ine O\u2019Dwyer (Co. Donegal), Mia Sibbald (Co. Kildare) and Alex Power (Co. Waterford) who are now in their first year at SETU and already benefiting from the programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Transition year programme in its second year<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2024 Coillte\u2019s HR team hosted transition year students as part of the organisation\u2019s Transition Year Student Programme with 22 students taking part. This
\nis a week-long programme showcasing how Coillte is focused on delivering the multiple benefits of its forests for climate, nature, wood, and people. The students visited forestry operations, recreation sites, a wind farm and one of MEDITE SMARTPLY\u2019s manufacturing plants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Celebrating National Tree Week with a photography competition for primary schools<\/strong><\/p>\n

In advance of National Tree Week in March 2024, Coillte launched a nature-inspired photography competition for all primary school students nationwide. The competition encouraged students to engage with nature and understand the importance of trees and forests for the planet. The four selected winners received an exciting class trip to \u2018Beyond the Trees Avondale\u2019 at Coillte\u2019s Avondale Forest Park in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow. The winners were: St Helens Senior National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, Corofin National School, Corofin, Co. Clare, Kilbannon National School Tuam, Co. Galway and All Saints' National School Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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MEDITE SMARTPLY Highlights Career Opportunities within the Forestry Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n

MEDITE SMARTPLY engaged with secondary schools and universities over the course of the year, highlighting career opportunities within the forestry sector. One such event was the SETU Women in Technology event held in Waterford. The event is in its fifth year and provides information on pathways for women to enter third level education at SETU and the array of diverse careers in the technology area. Over 1,000 female students from Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford attended.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\n\t\t\"UL\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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