Ballyhoura Development CLG recently hosted its second Regional Stakeholder Meeting as part of the iCEAR, Integrated Circular Economy Action plans for Rural areas project.

The blended session, held on 11th February 2026 in Coote Hall, Kilmallock and online, brought together representatives from local government, statutory agencies, social partners, and community organisations to review progress, deepen knowledge exchange, and further strengthen collaborative efforts to improve regional and local policies fostering circular economy (CE) in rural areas through supporting bio-based value chains.

Progress to Date and Shared Learnings

The meeting opened with a full recap of iCEAR’s activities and achievements, followed by reflections on the most recent Interregional Workshop and Study Visits, which took place in the Ballyhoura region in November 2025. Stakeholders expressed their thanks to the many communities, groups and businesses who contributed to the programme for these visits and demonstrated innovative examples of good practice in community engagement, communication and consultation for our European partners.

Stakeholders discussed the steps taken toward meaningful policy improvement, including the challenge of identifying a common and widely understood definition of Circular Economy with discussion held of the models shared during the November meetings.

Stakeholders expressed strong enthusiasm for upcoming knowledge exchange opportunities and welcomed the plans for the next iCEAR partner meeting, scheduled to take place in Poland in June 2026. 

Looking Ahead

Participants concluded the meeting by reaffirming their collective commitment to the importance of transregional and transnational collaboration in accelerating rural innovation

Through shared learning and collective action, the iCEAR partnership continues to empower local communities — fostering bio-based value chains that enhance sustainability, reduce waste, and strengthen regional economies across Europe.

To find out more, visit the iCEAR Project website below:

iCEAR Project Website