County Offaly
Bord na Móna's peat-to-renewables transition transforms bogland economy—Tullamore D.E.W. whiskey and Birr Castle provide tourism while just transition retrains former peat workers.
County Offaly's boglands historically provided peat fuel and employment; Bord na Móna's transition from extraction to renewable energy transforms this legacy. Former bog workers retrain for biomass and wind energy operations; the just transition attempts maintaining employment while addressing environmental concerns.
Tullamore D.E.W. whiskey production provides distinctive industrial presence; distillery tourism complements production. Birr Castle's historic telescope and gardens attract heritage visitors.
Agricultural production on non-bog land continues; beef and dairy farming support rural economy. The county's midlands position limits accessibility advantages; neither Dublin nor Galway commuting is practical.
Offaly demonstrates Ireland's energy transition in microcosm: carbon-intensive legacy industry (peat) giving way to renewables (wind, biomass) while communities dependent on old economy seek viable alternatives. Success depends on new employment absorbing displaced workers.