Achill Tourism has been named winner of the Community Tourism Initiative category at the prestigious 2025 IPB Pride of Place Awards, recognising its outstanding contribution to community-based tourism and sustainable development on Achill Island and the Corraun Peninsula.
Now in its 23rd year, the IPB Pride of Place Awards – run in association with Co-operation Ireland – celebrate the selfless efforts of people and organisations who make their communities better places to live, work, and visit. The all-island competition highlights groups that show exceptional pride, resilience, and creativity in enhancing local life, culture, and environment.
Throughout the summer, judges travelled the country to meet community representatives, listening to presentations and seeing first-hand the impact of their initiatives. They were particularly impressed by the way Achill Tourism fosters collaboration across local businesses, volunteers, and public agencies, creating a united and welcoming tourism destination rooted in community values.
Founded to promote Achill’s unique landscape, heritage, and experiences, Achill Tourism serves as the island’s central hub for tourism information, marketing, and advocacy. It supports local enterprises and activity providers, coordinates communications, and represents the collective interests of Achill’s tourism sector. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisation played a key role in providing clear, timely information to both residents and visitors.
Manager Chris McCarthy said the Pride of Place process had been a valuable experience in itself:
“We’re absolutely delighted to have won. The whole Pride of Place process was a fantastic opportunity for our team to step back and evaluate everything we do – almost like putting together a progress report on Achill itself. We’re involved in so many projects and aspects of community life that it goes far beyond tourism. At its core, our work is about creating better opportunities and facilities for local people. Tourism is the vehicle, but community wellbeing is the destination.”
Among the initiatives showcased to judges were:
- Beach Accessibility Programme – providing beach wheelchairs and access mats at Blue Flag beaches in partnership with Mayo Sports Partnership.
- Ireland’s First Beach Toy Recycling Boxes – promoting sustainability and reducing plastic waste.
- Achill Greenway parkrun – part of the global parkrun movement providing a weekly, free, 5k run, jog or walk.
- Achill Half Marathon & 10K – a flagship summer event attracting over 2,000 participants each July.
- Easter Parade – a vibrant celebration of Achill’s culture and creativity.
- Be Safe Be Seen – a safety initiative run with local Gardaí and businesses.
With a resident population of around 2,500 swelling to 10,000 in summer, Achill’s success shows how a small island community can achieve big results through teamwork, vision, and pride of place.
