Dingle resident Lorcan Fingleton was the lucky winner of a 2kW solar PV system for his home at the prize draw for the Dingle Peninsula Pathfinder Survey.
Lorcan was attending choir practice at An Díseart on Monday night when his name was drawn by nine-year-old Eoin McNamara from Ceann Trá.
The draw, which was held downstairs at An Díseart, was independently observed by accountant Seán O’Sullivan.
Local energy solutions company Solar Beo generously sponsored the prize, giving the winner the choice of a 2kW solar PV system for their home or an electric bicycle.
On hearing the news of his win, a delighted Lorcan had no hesitation which one he would opt for.
“Solar panels are the way to go and it was very much part of the plan to get them anyway so I’m delighted,” he said.
Lorcan was one of 385 people who completed the survey which will inform the Corca Dhuibhne National Sustainable Mobility Pathfinder Project.
The project is led by Dingle Hub and aims to identify and advocate for easy, affordable and integrated travel options that will lessen our dependency on private cars.
Its objective is to help cut emissions, support climate change goals and improve quality of life on the Dingle Peninsula.
It follows the successful introduction of Transport for Ireland (TFI) Local Link bus services on which 46,000 journeys were completed last year alone.
Dingle Hub was helped by volunteers from Corca Dhuibhne Community Forum to promote the survey.
Forum chair Dr Peadar Ó Fionnáin said the Pathfinder Project was all about figuring out ways to get around without driving everywhere and Dingle was once again leading the way.
“We’re going to show the rest of the country how that’s done outside a city, in a rural area,” he said.
“The Pathfinder Project started out with a survey where we were trying to find out how we travel, why we travelled the way we do and help us figure out how we can proceed and what type of interventions are going to work around here,” Peadar added.
He said the whole project was managed by Dingle Hub but with very few resources allocated for it, community involvement was crucial.
“We need people who are living here in West Kerry to be part of this. The Community Forum is involved and we’d really welcome anyone else who wants to come along to talk to the Hub or talk to the forum about getting involved.”
“By making some serious changes, we’re going to be a healthier community, a more sustainable community, a happier community and show the rest of the country how that’s done,” he said.
Watch on YouTube
- Corca Dhuibne Pathfinder Survey Prize Draw (October 7th, 2024)
For further information contact Deirdre de Bhailís at 087-2618180
