Rebekah Keaveney, Tutor, with participants,Helen Bracken, Hazel Green, Anne Marie Lawlor, Kevin Dooley & Jane Walsh Tutor

Celebrating Offaly’s Create Green Champions 

Offaly Local Development Company Celebrates Five Create Green Champions and Launches Flagship Programme

A very special morning celebrating five local businesses, their sustainability journeys and the launch of a new flagship programme for Fiesta Hall supporting rural enterprise took place today, as Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) officially launched the Create Green Programme booklet and 5 Year Strategic plan.

The event, “Celebrating Our Create Green Champions & Launching Create Green”, brought together local businesses, community representatives, programme partners and stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of five businesses that have successfully completed the Create Green Programme.

The five Create Green Champions – Anne Marie Lawlor of Luna Natural Soap Company, Hazel Greene, Helen Bracken of Fox Covert Farm, Antoinette Larkin of The Buddha Lounge, and Kevin Dooley of Dooley’s Wool – each shared their individual experiences of taking part in the programme and the practical changes, new opportunities and ideas they have explored within their businesses.

The event also saw the launch of a series of new Create Green Champion videos, showcasing the businesses, their journeys through the programme and the practical steps they are taking towards more sustainable and resilient business models. The programme aims to support rural businesses in exploring sustainability, innovation, diversification, product and service development, supply chains and opportunities for future growth.

Featured Series of short Videos 

  • Kevin Dooley, owner of Dooleys Wool with a blanket and two wool pilloews

    Create Green Champion – Dooleys Wool

    Meet Dooley's Wool, Create Green Champion of the Create Green Programme.Dooley’s Wool is a small family business run by Kevin and Noreen Dooley from the heart of County Offaly. Kevin grew up surrounded by sheep farming, wool, and the seasonal rhythm of rural Ireland.

  • Antionette Larkin, owner of the Buddha Lounge with a bog landscape

    Create Green Champion – Buddha Lounge

    Meet Antoinette's of Buddha Lounge, Create Green Champion of the Create Green Programme. Antoinette's business is the Buddha Lounge, a wellness hub offering online Yoga Classes and workshops. She also delivers online Breathwork , Reiki and Energy treatments to ease mind, body and soul.

  • Artist Hazel Green with one of her paintings in the background and some silk scarves to the forefront.

    Create Green Champion – Hazel Greene

    Meet Hazel Greene, Create Green Champion of the Create Green Programme.Hazel Greene is an award-winning visual artist based in Birr, County Offaly. She is a painter who creates silk scarves, a visual artist and fashion textile designer working with colour, texture, and the timeless beauty of silk.

  • Anne Marie Lawlor of Luna Natural Soap Company with her soap products

    Create Green Champion – Luna Natural Soap Company

    Meet Ann Marie of Luna Soaps, Create Green Champion of the Create Green Programme. Ann Marie developed her business, Luna Soaps in Tullamore, County Offaly, with one goal — to create honest, natural skincare made by hand

  • Helen Bracken of Fox Covery Farm with her products

    Create Green Champion – Fox Covert Farm

    Meet Helen and the Bracken family, Create Green Champion's of the Create Green Programme.The Bracken family's passion for sustainable farming and natural food production led them to cultivate hemp seed — one of the most nutrient-dense and environmentally beneficial crops available today.

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