West Cork Doughnut Economy Network

The West Cork Doughnut Economy Network is a collective of change-makers that started in April 2020. Its mission is to establish a network of people, businesses and organisations (across the West Cork region in Ireland) aiming to provide (mutual) support, ideas and examples in aid of developing sustainable practices that contribute to a thriving society and healthy ecological system. The group takes the principles of Doughnut Economics as its guideline. It is involved in IDEN (Irish Doughnut Economy Network) and is a project under the Green Economy Foundation. 
More info: westcorkdoughnuteconomynetwork@gmail.com

Since 2021, a local Doughnut group has been active in the small Village of Ballydehob in West Cork. It is called the Ballydonut. Following two years of explorations into "what we could do" (in meetings, workshops, through presentations and interactions with other local groups and organisations) the group obtained a grant to produce a Biodiversity Action Plan. This was funded by the Community Foundation Ireland and carried out by Cork Nature Network. It consisted of ecological surveys in the Ballydehob estuary, an intertidal zone that connects the land with a bay that is part of Roaring Water Bay, a special area of conversation (SAC). 

Three groups were named in the Biodiversity Plan - the Ballydonut, Ballydehob Tidy Towns and the Ballydehob Community Council. They were miles apart at the start but are now increasingly collaborating smoothly, which is great as it makes the local community more cohesive be cause there are open and direct lines of communication while enjoyable activities are shared.

The surveys came with a list of recommendations by the ecologists who had carried them out. Through a process of collaborative selection these were translated into 62 "action steps" that can be undertaken locally. The inclusion of practical steps that are doable galvanized quite a few people and there now are eight different subgroups:

Repair Café 

River Catchments Group

Ballydehob Waste Water Group

Sand Martin Wall

Ballydehob Green Spaces /Trees

Biodiversity Map
Danu Workshop for Global Donut Days

Doughnut Economics

The most recent developments are:
- A thriving monthly Repair Café
- A member of the Ballydehob Waste Water Group has just published a detailed report of the Waste Water Treatment plant in the Estuary that is not fit for service. The bay is polluted, there is insufficient research in how this affects the precious biodiversity in the SAC, and any recreational use of the bay is marred, at times, by floating faeces and sludge.
Politicians and local governmental bodies have received letters about the situation and a petition has been launched locally and online. See https://roaringwaterjournal.com/2024/10/19/ballydehob-biodiversity-threatened-by-shocking-government-neglect 
This situation is not unique, it happens all along the coast and all over the Island of Ireland. 
A big problem that could also be seen as an opportunity. We beginning to look at ways to introduce "nature-based" and biodiversity-friendly solutions. If we cooperate with other places facing similar obstacles it may become easier to arrive at significant changes. That is the intention.  
- The sand martin wall has effectively been built
- Local ecologists are leading the way when it comes to tree planting and increased biodiversity. And, we're looking for ways to share our insights with the local authorities
- Danu Figure for Global Donut Days, 2024
This has been developed in close collaboration with 49, North Street, a creative mental health space in the nearby market town of Skibbereen which has seriously embraced doughnut economics.   
A figure representing Danu, a prominent Celtic nature goddess, has been created over three workshop sessions as part of the West Cork Feel Good Festival in 49, North Street under the guidance of Abalonia Blue aka Abby. 

Danu is taking part in the Leap Scarecrow Festival and has now been installed outside the Harbour Bar in the neighbouring village of Leap. She is already much admired for her stunning appearance, which equally reflects the threats besieging nature; the bottom of her skirt contains waste materials, including plastic and nylon. 

 There is a letterbox installed next to her where visitors can post an envelope with their own view of "what makes them thrive". Following the festival, this information will be "harvested" and highlighted during a live stream from 49, North Street to the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) on 6 November, one of the Global Donut Days, during a public discussion aka  Community Think Tank About Local Economics. If she survives the autumnal weather, Danu will also be there and her potential role in all of this will be examined.

Launch video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEXpyoWS5CY