Can sports save the planet? Host Meghann Scully dives into the future of sports sustainability in Ireland, looking at how the world of sport can advocate for and implement major climate action.

In this mini-episode of the ESB Re:Energise podcast, we are joined by:

Sean McCabe – Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability at Bohemian Football Club (Bohs)

Oscar Carolan – Sustainability Consultant and Co-Founder of Green & Blueprints

Discover how Irish sports clubs, fans, and athletes are moving past token green initiatives to tackle the climate crisis head-on—and how local communities can do the same.

Loved this mini episode? Search "ESB Re:Energise" on your favourite podcast player to listen to the full-length episode!

Welcome to Re:Energise, a brand new show that looks at sustainability in all its forms, and what we can do to shape a clean energy future. Host Meghann Scully explores sustainability from all sorts of angles, asking the difficult questions, and providing practical advice to change the way you live and influence the world around you for the better.

Think of Dingle, in Co Kerry, and you might be picturing breathtaking

What you may not be picturing is a Sustainable Energy Community and hub of activity and innovation, focusing on smart agriculture, sustainable transport, rural regeneration, and bioenergy.

So on this, the final episode of the season, Meghann heads to Dingle to chat to three people who are at the forefront of Dingle’s sustainable future.

Deirdre de Bhailís is the General Manager of The Dingle Hub. It’s a non-profit, community enterprise that connects people and organisations to develop cooperative approaches to the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Dinny Galvin is a dairy farmer who describes himself as an engineer at heart. He’s been leading the way on sustainable agriculture since first getting involved with the ESB Networks Dingle Project, and the Dingle Hub.

And finally Rose Spillane, also a member of the ESB Networks Dingle Project, has been working to make her bar and restaurant as energy efficient as possible.

The many benefits of cycling - for your health, for the planet, for your pocket - are very clear. And yet Ireland is not a country of cyclists. On this episode, Meghann chats to two people who are advocating for a better society by embracing cycling and sustainable travel.

In Waterford, lecturer and activist Sadhbh O’Neill has completely ditched her car and fully embraced cycling. She talks through the practicalities of car-free life in Ireland with Meghann, and looks at how we can get more people into active travel. 

In Dublin, Stephen McManus runs the Bike Hub, a social enterprise that uses cycling to promote inclusion, healthy lifestyles and sustainability. He works with local communities on all sorts of fantastic bike-related projects, from maintenance courses and refurbishing bikes for people in need, to cycle safety for kids and promoting active lifestyles for the over 60s.

Out on the streets of Dublin, Meghann finds out how reliant people are on their car and whether they could get rid of it completely. And finally, inspired by everything in the episode, non-cyclist Meghann tries out the new e-mobility hub in Galway city.

Repurposing and upcycling can be a great way to breathe new life into old objects, but on this episode, Meghann sits down with three people who are repurposing on a grand scale!

Patrick Bradley is an architect based in Derry whose designs have reused shipping containers in incredibly creative ways. In fact, his own multi-award-winning house used four of them, and was voted as the “Grandest Grand Design” in 20 years of the Channel 4 show.

Meanwhile, Gordon Hickey, the owner of a cafe in a shipping container in Dublin, has found his creative choice of building has led to all sorts of benefits. 

And finally, at a company called BladeBridge, Angie Nagle and her team are repurposing wind turbine blades into all sorts of products. You would be surprised at how incredibly adaptable they are! 

These are all incredible projects, demonstrating how we can take what would otherwise be waste materials, and apply design, engineering, and huge amounts of creativity.

We can’t escape technology, but how much do we really think about the tech we use every day? Is it repairable, recyclable, reusable? Is it second hand? Is it going to become obsolete with a software upgrade in a year’s

On this episode, Meghann asks tech journalist and broadcaster Elaine Burke to walk us through some of the complexities when it comes to technology and sustainability. There are some huge issues to be tackled

Meghann also sits down with scientist and broadcaster Phil Smyth, to talk about his work with children – the scientists of the future – and how a whole new generation will use technology.

In this special bonus episode, recorded with a live audience at ESB Headquarters in Dublin, Meghann sits down with Marguerite Sayers, Deputy Chief Executive of ESB.

They chat about Ireland’s changing energy industry and the innovations being rolled out to empower customers and help Ireland’s climate targets.

As ESB prepares to celebrate its centenary, Marguerite gives an insight into what is required to power Ireland over the next 100 years.

How engaged are you with climate change and sustainability? What does climate activism look like today? How do we change the world around us as individuals, organisations, and communities?

Plenty of big questions on this episode, but Meghann has some help answering them from two guests who have been exploring these issues for a very long time. Dr Tara Shine is a scientist, policy advisor and science communicator. She is the author of How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time, a book that explores how we can change the world as individuals. Her company, Change By Degrees, tackles these same big issues, but for companies and organisations. 

Meghann also chats with Sharon McManus, who has had a fascinating career, from lieutenant colonel in the Defence Forces to Group Head of Sustainability at ESB. She too, is looking at the big questions around how we engage with the world around us to change the future for the better.

Earlier this year, Storm Éowyn left nearly one million homes without power, bringing widespread disruption to towns and communities across Ireland. It was one of the most powerful storms the country has ever seen, but was it a sign of what's to come? In this episode, we ask: are storms like this becoming more common, what role is climate change playing, and what might the future hold?

Meghann chats with Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick, a weather researcher and science communicator, who breaks down what’s really going on with our climate, why we name storms, and if storms are really getting worse.

We also hear from two very different sides of the storm. Limerick residents Neil and Maura share what it was like when Storm Éowyn hit their home. And from the other side, Siobhan Wynne (regional manager at ESB Networks) gives us a rare behind the scenes look at what happens when the well-known yellow vans are deployed, how teams prepare, respond, and restore power in the middle of a crisis.

Do you ever wonder how much food we as a country throw away each year? It’s easy to overlook what ends up in the bin after dinner or at the back of the fridge. But, with over 750,000 tonnes of food waste generated in Ireland annually, it’s clear we need to change how we think about food.

On this episode, host Meghann Scully chats with three guests who are tackling food waste from three very different angles, through AI solutions, kitchen creativity, and by examining how we can eat more responsibly. Whether you're a home cook, a food lover, or just trying to waste less, there’s something in this conversation for you.

Maurice Mc Geehan, Head Performance Chef at the IRFU, talks about the importance of food education and how using everything, from the main ingredients to the byproducts can make a difference He shares practical tips on food preservation and reusing leftovers, showing that reducing waste doesn’t have to be complicated. He also shares some behind the scenes insights into the type of meals that keep Irish rugby players fueled for the pitch.

Liam Murphy, Country Manager at Positive Carbon, explains how AI food waste monitors are helping businesses track and reduce their waste in real time. He highlights the environmental costs of throwing food away and how technology is offering real solutions.

Niall Sabongi, chef, restaurant owner, and founder of Sustainable Seafood Ireland, discusses what sustainable seafood really means. From eating the whole fish to choosing lesser-known species, he shares how we can all make more informed, responsible choices when eating seafood.