On 5 November 2026, we launched Malahide’s Energy Master Plan at Gibney’s Pub. It was a lively evening and a lovely opportunity to thank the local businesses and clubs that helped develop the plan. Their involvement has helped us understand where energy is used in Malahide and what we can do to use it better.
As Chair of the Malahide Chamber of Commerce Sustainability Group, I was delighted to join Chamber President Thomas Gibney in welcoming Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport. We were also joined by Australia’s Ambassador to Ireland, Chantelle Taylor, and representatives from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), alongside local business owners and guests.
How we got here
Earlier this year, our Sustainability Group began working with energy advisers ORS, with support from SEAI. We wanted to establish an energy baseline for Malahide. In practical terms, that means understanding how much energy we use, where we use it and where there is room for improvement. Local businesses and clubs volunteered to have their premises audited, giving us real examples of how energy is used in the day-to-day running of a business.
That starting point helps us identify which changes are worth pursuing, from more efficient lighting and heating to building upgrades and opportunities for local renewable energy. It also gives us something to measure progress against as those changes are made.
I wrote about the early work in Malahide Moves Closer to Carbon Neutrality and Building an Energy Baseline for Malahide.
Putting the plan into practice
Minister O’Brien warmly welcomed Malahide’s initiative and recognised the work that went into developing the plan. His strongest message was that it was time to move into implementation. With that phase due to begin in early 2027, our attention will turn to putting the recommendations into practice.
For me, one of the most encouraging things about this work has been seeing local businesses and clubs give their time and share what they know. That local knowledge will be just as valuable when it comes to deciding which measures to tackle first and sharing what we learn along the way.
Thank you to our partners at SEAI and ORS, to the Malahide businesses and clubs that helped develop the Energy Master Plan, and to everyone who joined us in Gibney’s. Here are a few photos from the evening.
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