Visualising an Island's Green Transition
LocationInishturk, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Year2023
StatusComplete
Life in Inishturk is changing
Key factors affecting the island's population stability include lack of housing, sustainable employment, and public facilities. Solutions aim to protect the natural environment while ensuring a promising future for the island. Supported by the DAF Scaling Fund, ACT and Inishturk Community Club CLG co-designed a 2050 vision for Inishturk Island, involving community consultations. The resulting Inishturk 2050 consultation report raises awareness, supports funding applications, and aims to develop a 2050 Masterplan.
Lack of housing
The island has a shortage of homes available and accessible to new tenants. There are a total of 32 houses in Inishturk, of which only 20 are permanently inhabited. Of the remaining 12, some do not even have heating, making a stay in the winter months impossible.
What is a stable future island population?
Inishturk's population stood at 577 inhabitants before the Potato Famine which caused a 70% population decrease within a decade reducing the population to 174 people by 1851 compared to a 25% decrease in Ireland as a whole. Following this population collapse the island has experienced a gradual but steady decline in population, with just 62 residents in 2023. ACT consulted with the Inishturk community on what a healthy island 2050 population would be.
Inishturk’s development timeline
The community’s developing vision is for an island that is thriving on three fronts: a sustainable population, an enhanced experience for those living, working, and visiting, and both greater self-sufficiency and a lowered carbon footprint through renewable energy independence. ACT explored these potential futures through the lens of community, tourism, heritage, and sustainability.
A two-part workshop process
Co-designing of Inishturk's 2050 vision involved a two-part workshop process. The first workshop "Telling the Story of Inishturk" invited participants to tell their story of the island and helped ACT establish a collective project understanding and identify key themes. The second workshop "Visualising Futures" built on the learnings from the first workshop and encouraged expansive and solutions focused long-term thinking from participants. As with all our co-design workshops ACT followed three guiding principles of inclusion, equality and considered judgement.
Establishing vision objectives
The community’s developing vision is for an island that is thriving on three fronts: a sustainable population, an enhanced experience for those living, working, and visiting, and both greater self-sufficiency and a lowered carbon footprint through renewable energy independence. ACT explored these potential futures through the lens of community, tourism, heritage and sustainability.
Community
ACT visualised a range of island futures tied to community, showcasing scenarios where Inishturk thrives with a connected and engaged population. These images depict a supportive environment where residents collaborate on local projects, enjoy modern amenities and participate in vibrant community events. Essential services such as healthcare and education are easily accessible fostering a sense of security and belonging.
Community events
Kids events
Weekly doctor visits
Art exhibitions
Festivals
Increasing Ferries Routes
Tourism
ACT visualised a range of island futures tied to tourism highlighting the potential for a flourishing Wild Atlantic Way visitor economy. These scenarios focus on sustainable tourism practices that preserve the island’s natural beauty while providing unique and enriching experiences for visitors including its Dark Skys. Imagery includes eco-friendly accommodations, wellness facilites and cultural festivals that attract tourists year-round.
Winter tourism
Stargazing
Wellness spa
New facilities
Watersports
Heritage
ACT visualised a range of island futures tied to heritage ensuring that Inishturk’s rich cultural history remains a vibrant and integral part of the community. These images showcase the preservation and celebration of the island’s traditions, historical sites and the island's meitheal. The vision includes the community the island's local human heritage while at the same time conserving and regenerating the island's natural heritage including its Corncrake population.
Maintaining traditional sheep shearing
Maintaining the currach craft
Communicating local heritage
Conserving natural heritage
Sustainability
ACT visualised a range of island futures tied to sustainability focusing on achieving renewable energy independence and adopting circularity principles. These scenarios depict Inishturk as a model of environmental stewardship with widespread use of solar and wind energy, sustainable agriculture and waste reduction practices. The vision includes the development of green infrastructure and technologies that could make Inishturk a "Prosumer" of energy, ensuring long-term prosperity for the community.
Commonage renewable energy
Harnessing SEAI Grants for PV panels
Rainwater harvesting
Adopting circularity principles
Inishturk Community's 2050 Vision
By the year 2050, our vision is for Inishturk to emerge as a shining example of resilience, community spirit, and environmental stewardship. This small, vibrant island off Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way will have achieved what many thought impossible: to reinvent itself as a self-sufficient, sustainable haven, where the needs of its inhabitants are in harmony with the delicate balance of nature.
Team
Vision Development
- Simone Broglia
- James McConville
- Kevin Loftus
- Liling Martin