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Brenda O’Riordan BIM, Eve Savage BIM, Liz Maher CEO Inspired, Kevin Flannery BIM, Liam O’Connor BIM, Mathew Lostal Davern and Kyle Flahive celebrate receiving the funding.THE Tralee-based Inspired organisation has announce that it has been awarded €75,000 in funding through the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) South West Programme, administered by BIM (Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency).
The funding will support the development of their Blue Loop project at Scotia Village, an innovative marine plastic recycling and circular economy hub that combines climate action, social inclusion, and skills development for people with intellectual disabilities.
The funding will support the development of a dedicated marine plastic fabrication hub, enabling waste plastics collected from beaches and coastal areas, including discarded fishing nets, and marine plastics to be transformed into durable products for public use.
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The new facility will house specialist shredding, processing, and 3D printing equipment, allowing marine waste to be repurposed into public installations, and educational products for coastal communities.
Scotia Village is an inclusive social enterprise where people with intellectual disabilities learn practical skills while actively contributing to climate action.
Through this investment, participants will gain hands-on experience in digital manufacturing, recycling technologies, product design, and enterprise, creating new pathways to meaningful employment while protecting Ireland’s coastal environment.
The Blue Loop project builds on Inspired’s existing circular economy initiatives and strengthens partnerships with Munster Technological University, local schools, Kerry County Council, businesses, and community organisations.
The new hub will also become a centre for education and innovation, and in the future will welcome schools, students, researchers, and volunteers to learn about marine plastic pollution, sustainable design, and the importance of protecting our coastal ecosystems.
Liz Maher, CEO of Inspired, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this €75,000 funding through the FLAG Southwest Programme, administered by BIM. We sincerely thank FLAG Southwest and BIM for recognising our vision and investing in a project that brings together climate action, innovation, and social inclusion. This funding is a major milestone for Inspired and the people we support, enabling us to transform marine plastic waste into opportunities for learning, skills development, and meaningful employment, while demonstrating that people with intellectual disabilities can play a leading role in protecting our coastal environment.”
According to Programme Coordinator Rebecca O’Brien; “Our participants won’t just be recycling marine plastic, they’ll be designing solutions, developing valuable employment skills, and showing how people with intellectual disabilities can lead meaningful climate action within their own communities. Our own participants are so excited about the project and can’t wait to get stuck in”.
