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05 Dec 2025
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05 Dec 2025
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Laois County Council's Regina Dunne Tourism Activator, Elaine Moore Tourism Officer and Cllr Barry Walsh Cathaoirleach with the Green Pioneer winning rep Dubrovnik, Julijana Antic Brautovic.
Portlaoise and Laois made the top eight in a European green tourism competition.
Laois was shortlisted alongside the cities of Dubrovnik, Ibiza, Tartu, Geestland, Rebild, Marmaris and Mariagerfjord in the European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026 competition.
A small delegation from Laois County Council travelled to Brussels to make their pitch on the local initiatives taken to be a sustainable and smart destination of tourism in Ireland.
Elaine Moore Tourism Officer and Regina Dunne EU Just Transition Tourism Activator for Laois were joined by Cathaoirleach Fine Gael Cllr Barry Walsh.
They presented an application to members of a jury and expert panel in Brussels on sustainable and smart tourism on November 19.
They told them about Laois projects including Portlaoise being a national Demonstrator town as a low carbon Decarbonisation Zone. The Portlaoise 'town in a garden' concept as an initiative to transform the town by integrating nature and green spaces
into its urban environment, with Portlaoise Tidy Towns.
They spoke of the Abbeyleix Bog Project, the Ballinakill & Ballyroan Community Development Associations, and Regeneration initiaves to promote sustainable tourism. They referred to the many festivals in Laois that have a green, inclusive focus.
The listed the "sustainable visitor numbers" to Laois tourist destinations every year. These include Emo Court & Parklands (350k) Rock of Dunamaise (50K) Heywood Gardens (350K) Abbeyleix Bog (80k) Barrow Blueway (100k) Electric Picnic (80k) Forest fest (12k) Stradbally Steam Rally (20k) Scarecrow Festival (30k over 9 days) and Leinster Fleadh (35k over 3 days).
Image of the presentation shown in the competition.
CEO Michael Rainey congratulated them, speaking at the November council meeting.
“I commend all who went to Brussels, the Cathaoirleach and a few staff to represent Portlaoise and Laois in the European Green Pioneer Smart Tourism. Laois was one of eight destinations shortlisted. Well done to all involved for putting Laois on such a large European platform.”
The European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism is an EU wide competition, implemented by the European Commission, to raise the profile of Europe as a sustainable tourism destination. Its aim is to recognise and award smaller destinations that have implemented successful strategies to boost sustainable tourism through green transition practices.
Laois County Council's Regina Dunne Tourism Activator, Elaine Moore Tourism Officer and Cllr Barry Walsh Cathaoirleach.
Barry Walsh, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said it was an honour to take part.
“It was an honour to join Regina and Elaine at this prestigious competition in Brussels. The passion and commitment in Laois to establish our county as a leading sustainable tourism destination is evident, and achievements like this highlight the incredible work being done. I hope this recognition inspires even more visitors to discover all that Laois has to offer, both from across Ireland and beyond.”
Angela McEvoy is Director of Services at Laois County Council.
While Laois did not win, with the title of the "European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026" going to the city of Dubrovnik, the judges say they were impressed with three key pillars of sustainable tourism development in Laois, most especially the innovative ‘Town in a Garden’ concept, Community Driving Green Change and Sustainable Urban Development.
Read next: TD vows action as Portlaoise new courthouse plan overlooked for funding
There are further good outcomes, as Laois will now join all other shortlisted cities as being members of the European Sustainable Communities Network, and an invite will be extended to the tourism team to visit the winning Green Pioneer city of Dubrovnik and Smart city of Tampere in 2026. There they will engage with other European destinations like Laois, and support tourism growth on a European level.
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