​Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

Ballintubber Tidy Towns enhances the village through litter control, thoughtful infrastructure improvements, and vibrant public spaces — making the community more liveable, inclusive, and resilient.

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Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

By promoting recycling and creative upcycling projects, the group encourages responsible use of resources and a shift away from throwaway culture.

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Goal 13 – Climate Action

Through local clean-ups, native planting, and community education, the group takes direct steps to address environmental challenges and promote climate resilience.

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Goal 15 – Life on Land

The Tidy Towns’ pollinator-friendly planting schemes support local biodiversity and help protect declining bee and insect populations.

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Goal 4 – Quality Education

With school workshops and awareness events, the group promotes sustainability education among young people and the wider community.

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Goal 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Enhancements to signage, walking trails, seating areas, and village layout reflect innovation and a sustainable approach to rural development.

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Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

Strong collaborations with  local schools, the County Council, and national organisations underpin the success of every initiative — from planting projects to historic preservation.

 

Preserving the Past:

Ballintubberber Castle & the Castles in Communities Project aligns with Sustainable Development

 

Goals:

Ballintubber isn’t just investing in its natural environment — it's also protecting its cultural heritage.

At the heart of the village stands Ballintober Castle, a 14th-century fortress long associated with the O’Conor kings of Connacht. Since 2014, Ballintubber has been part of the groundbreaking Castles in Communities project — an international archaeological and community heritage programme that explores how castles were used and inhabited, and how they remain central to local identity.

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Led by archaeologists including Dr. Niall Brady and supported by Irish and American students, the project combines archaeological excavation with community participation. Discoveries have revealed layers of medieval history, earlier fortifications, and a deserted medieval village surrounding the castle site.

 

Ballintubber Tidy Towns has actively supported this work, helping maintain the site, hosting field schools, and integrating the findings into educational outreach and heritage preservation plans.

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These efforts strongly support:

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Goal 4 – Quality Education, by offering hands-on learning in archaeology.
 

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, through the conservation of heritage and local identity.

 

Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, by connecting universities, heritage professionals, and the Ballintubber community.

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Voices from the Village

“We do everything professionally, and we do it for the future generations.”- Ballintubber Tidy Towns volunteer

This guiding principle runs through every action taken by the group — whether it’s planting wildflowers, restoring stone walls, or unearthing the past to inspire the future.

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Think Global, Act Local

We at Ballintubber Tidy Towns want to remind others that sustainable development isn’t just about grand policies — it’s about local people taking care of the places they live. From environmental care to cultural preservation , the village is a model for how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can be brought to life in a rural Irish setting.

As more projects unfold, Ballintubber continues to set a powerful example: that global change begins at home.