Creevy & District Community Development Co-op

Molly Reynolds
Creevy & District Community Development Co-op
Creevy
Rosnowlagh
Co. Donegal

Tel: 071 9852896 086 8235034
Email: creevy@iol.ie

Website: www.creevyexperience.com

The first thing you do when you get to one of Creevy's exquisitely restored stone cottages, on the shores of Rossnowlagh beach in Donegal, is take a walk down to the sea. Maybe that is why one of the other priorities of this enterprising rural cooperative, after their extraordinary restoration work, was to create a ten mile coastal walk, also managed by cooperative members. Many are fishermen, who realised that diversifying into sustainable tourism was one of the best ways forward for their small community.

The traditional Irish craftsmanship that went into rebuilding several local stone cottages, with large traditional open fireplaces and drystone walls, is just one example of sustainability practices which are at Creevy's core.

They water gardens with conserved rainwater, manage recycled waste, and they have  compost bins,  made out of recycled wood by some of the Coop. members,  in all cottage gardens.  Lightbulbs are energy-saving, they reduce water flow, use green electricity and provide bird tables and nesting boxes, also from recycled wood. Cleaning products are all bio-degradeable. They provide visitor instructions on how to be green, and Creevy's unique touch lies in the lemon juice and vinegar bottles, with a note explaining the anti-bacterial and cleaning properties of both.

In true cooperative style, the education of community, staff and guests alike is central to the Creevy ethos. They will pick up any guests arriving by bus to Ballyshannon, and will also arrange bike hire. Visitors can charter Creevy's own boat, An Dúanaí Mara for fishing or bird and nature watching trips around the Creevy cliffs. One sign of the times for these fishing trips is that a catch & release policy is implemented. But at least these fishermen will never lose their sealegs, and continue to teach those who visit all about the seascapes they have grown up with and know so well.

Written by: Catherine Mack