
Project Background
OUR MISSION: To bring the community together to protect this special place and all life within it for generations to come, by finding ways to give back more than we take.
We are delighted to have received funding from Creative Ireland to begin a creative climate project with our project partners, Dingle Hub and Dr. Clare Watson. Over two years, we are bringing together members of our community to explore what makes this tombolo special, how it is changing under the twin pressures of climate change and biodiversity loss, and what new perspectives and actions we can engage with to support and protect our home and way of life. Combining scientific research, artistic processes and local knowledge, we will explore how a creative approach can facilitate new ways of connecting to each other and our place, ultimately supporting us to co-create a vision and an adaption plan for the future of Maharees that we can all contribute to.
The aim of this project is to build upon the existing Strength of the Maharees (Neart na Machairí) through an exploration of how the community can prepare for the future in order to be resilient, engaged, equipped and well-placed to adapt to climate change.
Ultimately, this project aims to facilitate a creative, consensus-based approach to adaptation strategies and solutions that enable the communities of Maharees to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change. We believe there are three ways to achieve this:



Working closely with ten community partners, each with a unique connection and commitment to Maharees and its future, we have defined the goal of CREATIVE - COASTAL - RESILIENCE as:
Stewardship of the future of Maharees; working together to adapt to climate change, support local biodiversity and protect this special place we call home.
How?




Emerging Themes:
- Exploring the rich heritage of growing and local food systems as a way to support the climate resiliency of the community
- Exploring the development of an emergency action plan for current and future adverse weather events
- Exploring and sharing stories and memories of past resilience and change with the wider community, including seasonal and decade-long changes
- Exploring the rich histories of local and national crafts as a way to support the climate resiliency of the community, by returning to natural materials and supporting local livelihoods
- Communication projects around local and visitor awareness of the importance and fragility of our local ecosystem and how to live in alignment with our special environment
- A community culture* that gives back more than it takes, so that all life** can thrive beyond 2100.
* Agriculture, fishing, tourism, business, residents.
** People, nature and other species



Creative Coastal Resilience is a recipient of the Creative Climate Action Fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme. It is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Further information on the Climate Action Fund is available at the following link: www.creativeireland.gov.ie