Let's Go Green with Aisling O'Rourke

After a nine year battle a group of climate activists from Switzerland have won a landmark case at the European Court of Human Rights that will force Governments across Europe to tackle climate change. On this week’s episode of Let’s Go Green with Aisling O’ Rourke Caroline O’Doherty Environmental Correspondent at the Irish Independent talks us through the consequences of this fascinating case. We will also hear from Joan Carthy of the Irish Wheelchair Association on the shocking lack of regulations on accessibility for our public transport system. It follows a new report from the organisation called getting nowhere which highlights serious safety concerns which affect all users of public transport not those in wheelchairs. And finally on this week’s show we’re joined by Colin O’Byrne of Voice Ireland to direct the progress of the deposit return scheme two months on from launch. For these stories and everything environmental tune into Let’s Go Green every Monday on Midlands 103 from 7 pm. All episodes are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The program is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

Is your company ESG ready? Do you even know what it stands for? On this week's Let's Go Green Aisling O' Rourke delves into the European Union's aims to have companies create environmental, social and governmental policies in order to ensure they are doing their bit for the environment. If you are a business owner this is a policy that will affect you and to break it down for us Sarah Blake of Earthology joins the show to explain what ESG is and how business owners can go about it. Staying with business and John McNally of Offaly County Council is back to give us an update on a new reusable coffee cup scheme in Tullamore. The deposit return scheme aims to ensure that Tullamore becomes a single-use plastic cup free town following the likes of Killarney who made the move last summer. A number of cafes and businesses are now on board tune in to find out how it works and how you can get involved. Let's Go Green is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid and airs every Monday. To get involved in the show email Aisling on hello@thecommunicationscoach.ie

Local authorities across Laois Offaly and Westmeath have recently adopted a new waste management plan but what does it mean for you? On this week’s Let’s Go Green Aisling O’ Rourke is joined by Kevin Swift of the Regional Waste Management Offices to talk about the new plan to get us to rethink our waste. Speaking of waste the French Parliament has recently voted to penalise fast fashion companies to explain why Solene Schirer of Voice Ireland discusses the vote and why they’re asking the Government here to create a definition of textile waste to try and stem the curve on those clothes mountains we see clogging up waterways on social media. Ryan Dolan also joins Aisling on this week’s show to talk about the 5th year student’s recent experience of debating environmental measures at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 airs every Monday from 7pm and is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group. If you would like to get involved in the show email Aisling here: https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/

Have you ever wondered if your lingerie is good for the environment? On this week’s Let’s Go Green Aisling O’ Rourke is joined by Siobhan Dunphy of Bon and Berg an Irish sustainable lingerie brand to discuss why she turned her engineering mind to making underway. Would you consider heating your home with recycled vegetable oil? Kevin McPartlan of Fuels for Ireland to discuss why he feels we should be using HVO to transition away from oil fired central heating. And there’s money available for heritage projects across the Midlands Catherine Casey of the Heritage Council is back to talk us through this latest round of funding and how you can apply, be warned though the deadline is fast approaching so be sure to listen to this episode of the show so you can get the details. Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 airs every Monday from 7pm and is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group. If you would like to get involved in the show email Aisling here: https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/

On this week’s episode of Let’s Go Green there’s something new and exciting in Roscrea! Artist Dan Leo has created a new mural for the town highlighting one of Ireland’s native species and it’s gone viral. Dick Conroy of Roscrea Tidy Towns speaks with Aisling O’ Rourke about the Hare that’s got Roscrea talking. Also on the show this week Dr Marie Donnelly Chair of the Climate Advisory Council says we have started to slowly turn the corner on Climate Change but we need to do more and act faster if we are to save the planet. And the controversial Nature Restoration Law has been passed by members of the European Parliament but what does that actually mean? Caroline O’Doherty of the Irish Independent has all the details. Tune into the Let’s Go Green Every Monday from 7pm on Midlands 103 with thanks to the Eirgrid Group.

Are you confused by your smart meter? As many householders look to reduce costs and become more sustainable in their electricity usage a former Minister for Energy says we’ve been let down by the Energy Regulator. Denis Naughten speaks with Aisling O’ Rourke on this week’s episode of Let’s Go Green to outline why we should all have access to and understand the information our smart electricity meters can create to help us cut down on our electricity cost and usage. Staying with cutting costs as we near meteorological springtime Eiblinn Fitzpatrick of the Refill Mill in Mullingar has some cost effective recipes to help you spring clean your home without blowing your bank balance. Let’s go Green airs every Monday from 7 on Midlands 103.com and is available to listen back to on Apple and Spotify. The program is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

In recent days Taylor Swift has the world talking about Carbon offsetting - do you know what it is? Well on this week’s Let’s Go Green with Aisling O’ Rourke we dive into the world of Carbon Offsetting and ask if it’s actually doing more harm than good. Environmentalist John Gibbons returns to the show to separate the greenwashing from fact.  Also on the show this week John Kelly outlines Laois Offaly Education and Training Board’s plans to build Ireland’s first construction demonstration park in Mount Lucas in Offaly. If a career in the construction industry is in your furture this is one conversation you are not going to want to miss.  And without flowers we have no food, Anna Browne of Big Sky Flowers talks to Aisling about why she thinks with need to take out beautiful blooms more seriously. Tune into Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 with thanks to Eirgrid every Monday from 7pm. If you would like to get involved in the show contact Aisling directly here: https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/

On this week’s Let’s Go Green Aisling O’ Rourke takes a deep dive into the EU’s Just Transition Fund for tourism operators in the Midlands. Paddy Matthews head of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands joins the show to explain how the fund will work and how businesses can apply. Following the recent publication of the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan local authorities around the country are now putting their own plans together and are looking for your help. Ricky Whelan Biodiversity Officer are Offaly County Council speaks with Aisling about how you can get involved. Tune Into Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 every Monday with thanks Eirgrid Group.

On this week's let's go green Aisling ask’s if throwing soup at paintings has any real impact? Environmentalist John Gibbons joins the show to discuss the government’s new biodiversity action plan. Aisling is checks in on The Factory in Birr to learn how their efforts to become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly design company. Founder Brendan Dooley talks renting signage and electric vintage tractors! And the European Union is working to ban greenwashing, to discuss what greenwashing is and to find out what the regulations might mean Clare O’Connor of Friends of the Earth discusses the issue. Tune in every Monday from 7 to Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 the program is brought to you by Eirgrid Group. To get involved in the show contact Aisling here: https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/

On this week’s Let’s Go Green Aisling O’ Rourke takes a look at air pollution and its impact on our health. Specialist in Public Health Dr Ruth McDermott joins Aisling to discuss the affects of burning fossil fuels on our lungs and how best to try and reduce the impact. There’s money up for grabs from a new tranche of funding from the EU’s Just Transition Fund for community and enterprise projects Terry Connolly from the Easter and Midland Regional Assembly joins Aisling to discuss who is eligible and how to apply for a portion of the five million euro fund. Let’s Go Green is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid, tune in every Monday from 7pm.

The European Centre for Climate Change says 2023 was the hottest year yet, but will it change anything? On this weeks Let’s Go Green with Aisling O’ Rourke Professor John Sweeney delves into what the latest stark warning means. You may have noticed large vending machines popping up at supermarkets as the deposit return scheme is due to kick off on February 1st. Environmental Correspondent with the Irish Independent joins Aisling to discuss how the machines work and what we need to know about the new system. Tune into Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 every Monday night from 7pm. If you would like to get involved in the shower contact Aisling here https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/

Let’s Go Green returns to Midlands 103 after the Christmas break this week and Aisling O’ Rourke is joined by Dr Eoin Galavan Consultant Psychologist to find out why it’s so hard to create a new habit. Dr Galavan is a member of Irish Doctors for the Environment and he argues that changing our routines to become more environmentally is harder than it might seem. Aisling also speaks with Laurence O’Reilly of the SEAI and Kevin Delaney of Durrow Sustainable Energy Community to talk about the town’s new Energy Master plan which hopes to save the environment and thousands of euro for residents and business owners alike. Tune into Let’s Go Green on Midlands 103 each Monday night from 7 pm the programme is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green with Aisling O’ Rourke Yvonne Carty of Hey Pesto returns to help us cut down on food waste this festive season. From approaching the food shop in military fashion to making the most of those left-overs Yvonne has you covered. Also on the show this week, Tullamore is investigating removing disposable coffee cups from cafes and retailers. John McNally Climate Action Officer with Offaly County Council talks to Aisling about how the project will work and what it means for picking up a cup of coffee on the go. Tune into Let’s Go Green every Monday night from 7pm, the program is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green we go festive and talk about all things sustainable this festive season. Eibhlinn Fitzpatrick of the Refill Mill in Mullingar joins Aisling O’ Rourke to give you some fantastic Christmas gift ideas from Irish businesses. From skincare to experience days out Eibhlinn has you covered, for even the most difficult to buy for. While Alena C comes up with some budget and environmentally friendly ways to decorate our homes this Christmas. Caroline O’Doherty Environmental Journalist with the Irish Independent rejoins Let’s Go Green from Dubai to give us the latest from Cop 28 negotiations. Tune into Let’s Go Green every Monday night from 7 pm on Midlands 103 with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green Aisling O’ Rourke is joined by a group of young entrepreneurs from Killina Presentation School to talk about their company that makes sustainable bird feeders and houses. Ministers Ossian Smyth and Pippa Hackett outline the new scheme that will provide schools with free solar panels for their buildings. Also, live from Dubai, Environmental Correspondent with the Irish Independent Caroline O’ Doherty speaks to Aisling about the goings on at COP28. Tune into Let’s Go Green every Monday night from 7 on Midlands 103, the programme is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid Group.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green it’s all things trees. We speak to the Cork man Colm Crowley who is the first in the country to allow us rent our Christmas Trees. Yes that’s right rent a Christmas tree you’ll have to tune in to find out how it works. We’re also joined by Orla Farrell of Easy Treesie who teaches school children about the importance of planting trees to help tackle climate change.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green with Aisling O’ Rourke we take a look at the Community Action fund in Laois. Dr Karen Moore from Laois County Council outlines how your community can apply for the Climate Action fund. Dr Andy Moore of the Agricultural Consultants Association explains why Forestry Farmers need more support and for the first time a Green TD has addressed the ICMSA conference Pat McCormack President of the organisation speaks to Aisling about Minister Eamon Ryan’s comments at the event. Let’s Go Green is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid.

On this week’s Let’s Go Green we check in on Science week, with almost two dozen events happening across the midlands we look ahead to Ireland’s Climate Future with Criodan O’Mhurchu of Midlands Science. Croke Park is working to make all it’s menus sustainable Executve chef Ruari Boyce talks to Aisling about the home of GAA’s efforts to protect the environment. And as the days get darker Sg Grhaam Kavanagh joins us to gibe us some personal safety tips for when we are out enjoying nature.

This week on Let's Go Green, we're celebrating a major milestone - we've crossed the incredible mark of 100,000 listens to the podcast! 🎉 Over the past 18 months, it's been an absolute privilege to delve into critical topics surrounding sustainability, environmental action, and community engagement. A massive THANK YOU to every one of you who has contributed to our success. Your consistent support, whether tuning in on Midlands103.com or your preferred podcast app, has been the driving force behind our show's growth. The positive response we've received has been nothing short of amazing, and I'm eagerly looking forward to expanding our reach even further. Your commitment to making Let's Go Green a part of your weekly routine is appreciated. In this week's episode, we're exploring the environmental impact of having a pet with Vet Ellen Hegarty. Plus, we'll be having a thought-provoking conversation with Professor John Sweeney on the vital role language plays when discussing Climate Change.

Would you consider a wedding gown made from recycled fabric? On this week’s Let’s Go Green Designer Jacinta Caraher of Purple Peach speaks to Aisling about creating stylish outfits sustainably. Brendan Guinan of Fiorbhia Farm in Portaloise outlines how he’s creating a thriving business that’s chemical free. After weeks of extreme weather conditions new research from ICARus outlines how the weather patterns in the midlands are now showing the effects of Climate Change. Professor Conor Murphy outlines their findings on the show this week. Let’s Go Green is brought to you with thanks to Eirgrid. If you’d like to contribute to the show contact Aisling directly here: https://www.midlands103.com/on-air/aisling-orourke/contact/