Darragh works on a variety of projects, including the Energy Learning Network, the Carbon Neutral Islands, and Cowal Community Wind Pioneers.

I’m passionate about sustainable development and supporting communities to thrive. In my role at CES I’m lucky to work across multiple different and exciting projects. This has included working closely with communities to plan and develop projects that will help them move towards net-zero and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. I’m keen to encourage new and emerging groups to enter the community energy world and help them get established – I think all communities should have some form of their own renewable energy. More recently I’ve been involved in working with community groups to secure meaningful shared ownership of commercial renewable energy developments in their area.

I’m from Ireland originally, where I grew up in a small rural community. I went to the University of Galway to study for a BE in Civil Engineering and worked for a time as an Engineer on public water supply projects. I came to Scotland in 2007 to do an MSc in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh. Since then I’ve worked mainly for community-based organisations and I strongly believe in empowering local communities to shape their own future. I am passionate about finding ways for people to live well and thrive while respecting our natural environment.

I live on the Isle of Colonsay with my wife Lizzie and our son River. We have a wee community-owned croft on the island where we are establishing a vegetable garden and planting a woodland. We have a small flock of Hebridean sheep, some laying hens, and a dog called Lad. In our free time we’re usually out exploring somewhere or playing on the beach.