Housing and the impact of holiday homes on islands was a theme of this year’s European Small Islands Federation annual general meeting held on West Cork’s Bere Island.
Energy self-reliance and greener ferries were high on the agenda, according to secretary Rhoda Twombly.
Also discussed were the benefits for the islands in participating in the “30 Islands for 2030” Clean Energy 4 EU islands programme.
How to retain a stable population and ensure young people have a chance to stay or return to island homes was equally high, she said.
“We have too many ‘dark islands’ in the winter”, said Anette Larm Johansson from the Swedish delegation, “where there are hardly any year-round residents, due to the growing number of holiday homes.”
“Housing has now become our number one issue, " Johansson said.
Irish island policy was outlined by Bríd Ní Chonghaile and Aodán Mac An Mhíle, senior officials at the Department of Rural and Community Development, which part-funded the event.
The “Our Living Islands Action Plan 2023-33” places a high importance on “smart, sustainable, island futures,” with a suite of actions to enable people to live and thrive on their islands, they explained.
In a blue economy session, the Cork Education and Training Board presented an innovative island training programme where training is taken to the islands rather than the other way around.
It includes a new modular micro-credentials accreditation scheme, allowing apprenticeship to capture the older generations’ knowledge.
The “Strategic Plan for a Maritime Training Centre” presented by consultant Laura Foley was “equally inspiring, showing how a fair and just transition can be planned through re-skilling and upskilling existing maritime competency, and adapted for the renewable industry through cluster collaboration rather than competition”, Twombly says.
The event was hosted by John Walsh from Bere Island and aided by Aisling Moran (Chair, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann/Irish Islands Federation), Ivan Matić (Island Movement, Croatia) and Mairtín Ó Méalóid from Cape Clear.
Local historians Ted O’Sullivan and Barry Hanley provided interesting guided tours while the Bere Bakehouse and the Bere island Hotel served the delegates tasty local cuisine.