CAP Network Ireland were delighted to recently host, in collaboration with the EU CAP Network, the 8th National Networks meeting in County Wicklow on 6 and 7 October 2026. The central theme of the two-day meeting was cooperation. CAP Network Ireland were delighted to be able to show case 4 examples of cooperation on Wednesday 07 October 2026, all of which are supported under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027.
The delegates were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 visited two European Innovation Partnership EIP projects and Group 2 visited sites related to LEADER funding and ACRES CP.
European Innovation Partnership Projects
The first destination for Group 1 was at the farm of Tommy Delahunt at Ballinaclogh near Redcross, Co. Wicklow to view collective problem solving between farmers and experts in the Organic Tillage and Vegetables EIP Project.
This EIP project is focused on addressing the challenges faced by organic tillage and large-scale vegetable farmers in Ireland, particularly in controlling weeds without the use of chemicals. The project aims to pilot a collaborative solution to this hurdle by validating innovative mechanical and thermal technologies under Irish conditions. It seeks to demonstrate enhanced collaboration between organic tillage and vegetable producers, focusing on integrated weed management best practices. Project Leader, Martin Bourke and his team explained how the OTV EIP Project is piloting advanced mechanical weeding, machinery sharing models, promoting crop diversity, and facilitating knowledge exchange among organic tillage farmers and organic vegetable growers. These efforts are expected to transform the sector by increasing production sustainability and exploiting organic market opportunities. Gavin Lynch, Chair of the Organic Milk Suppliers Organisation also spoke on the critical need for establishing domestic organic feed supply chains for his members.
The second destination was at a National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) managed site at Cooldross, near Lower Newcastle, Co. Wicklow to witness cooperation between State bodies and private landowners to secure existing Breeding Wader bird populations and support population recovery through landscape management and policy development. Donal Began and Karen Nugent from the Breeding Waders EIP explained how they will work with surrounding landowners to secure more suitable habitat for these birds.
The Breeding Waders EIP is a €25 million nationwide Irish conservation project, launched in 2024, aimed at securing and restoring populations of vulnerable breeding wader birds such as Curlew, Lapwing, Dunlin and Golden Plover. It is co‑funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), and delivered by a consortium led by Irish Rural Link.
LEADER and ACRES CP
Group 2 arrived at Vartry Trails Car Park at Mullinaveige, Co. Wicklow to be met by Carol Coad (Strategy Activation Officer – Recreation) and her colleagues to learn about a pilot initiative in which 3 LEADER-supported dry toilets were installed at sensitive sites around County Wicklow. It was an excellent example of innovation and cooperation between local stakeholders including Wicklow Outdoor Recreation Committee and Wicklow County Council and well as County Wicklow Partnership to find a solution to a very practical need. This project is also part of a transnational cooperation project with partner LAGs in Finland, Spain and Luxembourg.
Group 2 then had the treat of travelling up the Wicklow mountains and through the Sally Gap to arrive at Cunard Viewing Point just inside the border of County Dublin to be greeted with stunning views of the valley below and Dublin city in the distance. The group was met by Brian Dunne and his team from ACRES Leinster Co-operation Project, who explained the landscape actions being undertaken for biodiversity and water quality on commonage land in this area. The group got a unique insight into the challenges present in the locality, including an exceptionally high proportion of commonage land and proximity to densely populated areas. Complex land management issues are arising from the diverse interests of stakeholders with wildfire, recreational pressure, and the management of deer populations being particularly acute in the Wicklow Mountains.
CAP Network Ireland was proud to host the 8th National Networks Meeting, the first to offer delegates project visits that were fully supported under the current CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
To learn more about the supports available in Ireland under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027, click here.