RDS Announces Shortlisted Nominees for RDS Foundation Awards 2026
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07 April 2026
We are delighted to announce the shortlisted nominees for the RDS Circular Economy, Agriculture & Rural, and Forestry Awards, which will be presented on 16 April 2026 during the Finding Common Ground Festival at the RDS. These awards recognise organisations, social enterprises, and innovators across Ireland who are pioneering sustainable production, championing responsible resource use, and driving circular innovation.
Interviews with shortlisted nominees and festival organisers are available upon request.
The festival, taking place on 15–16 April, brings together industry experts, policymakers, artists, and the public to explore practical solutions to Ireland’s environmental and societal challenges, from climate action to skills development.
Shortlisted Circular Economy Nominees
Emerging Category
- Shareclub — Dublin
Tech-enabled reusable cup and bowl systems for workplaces, campuses, cafés, and events, helping organisations reduce waste and track environmental impact. - Lurra Bio — Tipperary
Biomaterials start-up producing biodegradable coatings for fertilisers, tackling microplastic pollution and improving nutrient efficiency. - West to West Pictures — Dublin
Production company delivering sustainable film and TV projects, combining climate-conscious storytelling with circular on-set practices. - The Toy Library — Cork
Ireland’s first free circular economy platform for toys, connecting families to share and reuse toys through digital and in-person initiatives. - EcoKinly — Wexford
Retail-first reusable nappy and family product brand, empowering parents to adopt zero-waste habits with convenience and style.
Social Enterprise Category
- Spraoi agus Spórt — Donegal
Social enterprise operating across textiles, homewares, and furniture, upcycling materials while creating community impact and inclusive employment. - Cycle Up Textiles, Roscommon Women's Network — Roscommon
Circular enterprise transforming donated textiles into handcrafted products, supporting skills development and reducing landfill waste. - Oxfam Ireland — Dublin
Charity and social enterprise extending the life of second-hand goods to fund poverty alleviation and climate-justice initiatives. - Accelerating Change Together CLG — Mayo
Social enterprise of architects and policy specialists delivering regenerative design, sustainable urban planning, and community co-design. - Rehab Enterprises — Dublin
Recycling-focused social enterprise providing inclusive employment for people with disabilities while diverting thousands of tonnes of materials from landfill.
SME Category
- Green Bubble — Dublin
Circular-economy enterprise transforming used packaging into reusable products, helping businesses cut waste and reduce CO₂ emissions. - AM Acoustic Materials — Wicklow
Sustainable acoustic and vibration-control products made from 100% recycled materials, advancing circular manufacturing in construction. - Carbon AMS — Sligo
Renewable-energy company turning agricultural feedstocks into biomethane, electricity, and fertiliser, supporting rural circular energy systems. - NEG8 Carbon — Waterford
Innovator in Electrostatic Direct Air Capture technology, removing CO₂ from the atmosphere to support industrial decarbonisation. - Second Life Battery Services — Cork
Repurposes EV and industrial batteries into flexible, cost-effective energy storage systems, leading Ireland’s circular-energy sector.
Shortlisted Agriculture & Rural Award Nominees
Sustainable Farming Award
- Glenbrook Farm — Cork
Family-run free-range pig farm offering antibiotic- and chemical-free pork, lamb, chicken, and beef through its farm shop every Saturday. - Murray Meadows — Galway
100-acre mixed farm focused on biodiversity, ancient meadows, rare native sheep, and social farming initiatives supporting endangered species. - Future Oak Farm — Donegal
Regenerative suckler farm using soil-improving grazing practices, community education, and volunteer programmes to support ecology and society. - Tom Barry — Cork
600-acre farm balancing high-yield tillage with forestry, embracing low-carbon, technology-led sustainable farming practices.
Sustainable Innovation Award
- Olly’s Farm — Dublin
8.5-acre farm combining migratory beekeeping with tech-driven biodiversity restoration and circular economy practices. - Woolow Limited — Galway
Sustainable wool-based products supporting wellbeing, education, and employment through eco-friendly manufacturing. - GasAbate by GlasPort Bio — Galway
Biotech company reducing livestock methane emissions by 78% while improving farm safety, nutrient retention, and sustainability. - Dooleys Wool — Tipperary
Irish wool bedding fully traceable to farmers, replacing synthetic materials and promoting ethical, premium production.
Sustainable Social Impact Award
- Tomhaggard Clean Coasts Group — Wexford
Community-led coastal clean-ups and recycling projects protecting marine habitats. - Meath Made — Meath
Creative collective supporting sustainable craft businesses through mentorship and showcasing excellence. - Laois Friends — Laois
Volunteer organisation creating accessible environmental amenities for social inclusion and rural wellbeing. - Dairy Women Ireland — Galway
Empowering women in Ireland’s dairy industry through networking, education, and community support. - Centre of Food Culture Ireland — Meath
Promotes sustainable, regenerative food culture via educational events, festivals, and national food networks. - Social Farming Ireland — Leitrim
National network of farms providing inclusive, community-based social care through sustainable farming practices.
Shortlisted Forestry Award Nominees
Silvicultural Excellence & Innovation Award
- Castlelough Forest — Tipperary
A historic native oak woodland on Lough Derg, showcasing Continuous Cover Forestry with walking trails and strong biodiversity. - Brookfield Farm Woodlands — Tipperary
Mixed broadleaf woodlands integrated with organic farming, agroforestry, and wildlife habitat, managed for timber, biodiversity, and recreation. - Poulaphouca Reservoir Forest — Wicklow
70-hectare lakeside forest transitioning from clearfell to Continuous Cover Forestry, enhancing native broadleaf composition and ecological resilience. - Offaly Mixed Woodland — Offaly
Diverse oak woodland managed for both ecological value and timber production, combining traditional forestry knowledge with conservation. - Manor Kilbride Forest — Dublin
Commercial Sitka spruce plantation on a hill farm, combining profitable forestry with environmental stewardship and farm integration. - Kilkenny Woodland — Kilkenny
Sitka spruce forest established post-ash dieback, managed sustainably for timber, biodiversity, and soil protection. - Meath Oak Woodland — Meath
Continuous Cover Forestry oak woodland enhancing timber quality, biodiversity, and long-term environmental resilience. - Westmeath Mixed Woodland — Westmeath
Family legacy woodland managed for continuous cover, biodiversity, and timber, supporting forest culture and long-term stewardship.
Teagasc Farm Forestry Award
- Bohola Forest — Mayo
Managed commercial and hardwood plots, balancing sustainable timber production with environmental benefits. - Clare Farm Forest — Clare
Mixed Sitka spruce and hardwoods integrated with the farm enterprise, enhancing biodiversity and long-term sustainability. - Wicklow Native & Douglas Fir Plantation — Wicklow
Former deer farm transformed into a managed mixed forest combining native and commercial species. - Kildare Organic Farm Forest — Kildare
24 hectares of native woodland planted alongside organic farming practices, including ponds, hedgerows, and fen conservation.
Native Woodland Conservation Award
- Ahenny Native Woodland — Tipperary
Ancient native woodlands preserving ecological and cultural heritage, including the iconic Ahenny High Crosses. - Furnace Native Woodland — Mayo
Native woodland managed for biodiversity, habitat conservation, and forest immersion programmes for wellbeing. - Kylemore Abbey Native Woodland — Galway
150-year-old native forest maintained by the Benedictine community, with ongoing Rhododendron clearance and biodiversity management.
Community Woodland Award
- Palace NeighbourWood Park & Sensory Garden — Roscommon
Community woodland developed for recreation, education, and environmental engagement. - Carrigmeal Woods — Laois
Thriving, biodiverse woodland providing educational and recreational opportunities for the local community. - Future Orchard Trust — Cork
Native woodland restoration project fostering biodiversity, learning, and community involvement. - Tuatha Terryland Forest Park — Galway City
Urban forest integrating meadows, wetlands, pasture, and heritage trails for people and wildlife. - Ballyfad Woodland — Kilkenny
Historic 200-acre woodland maintained for conservation, recreation, and ecological value.
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