MBTAs: Who will be crowned Best Green Business?
Delivering plumbing solutions for projects big and small
Greenline Plumbing Supplies
About…
Whatever it may be, a bag of fittings delivered to site on schedule or the larger task of designing whole heating or renewable energy systems, Navan based Greenline Plumbing Services aims to deliver quick turnarounds for any project - big or small. The business caters for any situation whether it be a housing scheme, apartment block, sanitary ware, rubber rings for taps, gas/oil boilers, heat pumps, solar pumps or general advice, it has a wealth of knowledge through years of experience in the hardware and plumbing trade.
Some dates of note are being Finalist in the Meath Chronicle Business and Tourist Awards for Best New Business in 2019 and winning the Plumbers Merchants Awards for Best Customer Service. In 2020 it opened its second branch, this time in county Cavan and in 2021 opened its training centre and showroom in Cavan.
Its training centres have two different brands of heatpumps, underfloor, aluminium radiators and controls where it trains plumbers, electricians and the end user on how green energy is the way forward.
Lessons learned from the last 18 months
Like other businesses closing their doors in March 2020 was daunting but it was luckily deemed essential after closing for a short two weeks. It supplied emergency breakdown boilers to customers and products to the hospitals in Trim and Navan.
Greenline Plumbing Supplies was lucky to celebrate four years in business in Navan in July 2021. The business will continue to promote the use of heat pumps for its plumbers as it believes the Climate Action Plan announced by the Government which aims to reduce emissions and make Ireland Carbon Neutral by 2050 which will lead to a greater demand of heat pumps.
A haven of peace away from the stresses of today's hectic lifestyle
Decoy Country Cottages
About…
In 2007 Paula and Conor Irwin started Decoy Country Cottages, at Lismullin, Navan. While the timing may have been poor and the first few years were very difficult, it had at least some clarity of vision. The couple wanted to provide high quality accommodation in rural Co Meath but with a strong environmental ethos in mind. They used reclaimed building materials, installed a geothermal heating system and actively encouraged guests to recycle as much as possible. They have since added solar thermal heating and power panels.
While Paula is head of the business, she has great support from local businesses and employs housekeeping, cleaning and gardening staff to help with the cottages and grounds. The eight cottages are all unique in design and have very individual charm and range in size from 1 - 4 bedrooms and aim to provide a haven of peace away from the stresses of today's hectic lifestyle.
Paula collaborates with other local businesses as much as possible and is delighted to report that they are still very much in business and proud to be part of the hospitality sector in the beautiful Boyne Valley.
Lessons learned from the last 18 months
“We have learned that we should never think too far ahead of ourselves as you can never tell what is around the corner,” says Paula. “But we also realised that sometimes great challenges bring a sharper focus and help us reimagine the way we do business. Covid was very cruel to us in 2019 but 2020 was our best year in business.”
Glamping, ecotourism and activities on the banks of Boyne
Rock Farm, Slane
About…
Rock Farm Slane is a glamping, ecotourism and activity centre and organic farm on the Slane Castle estate stretching for 1.5km along the banks of the River Boyne. The long track to the farm takes in the views of Slane Village and the Hill of Slane beyond that wind through fields of barley, agri-forestry, cows, chickens and horses to the Limehouse Ecolodge, which has been built out of straw from the barley around.
The Farm Office has a small shop selling meat and eggs from the farm as well as a few local “goodies” from the Slane Food Circle and other great local producers including ice cream, cheese and local veg.
From there visitors can stroll around to the Glamping situated in a woodland glade with spectacular views across the river valley to Slane Castle beyond.
Carina and Alex Mountcharles founded Rock Farm Slane in 2010 when they took on Dean’s Farm or The Rock, as it was known as locally from Alex’s father Lord Henry Mountcharles. The farm had been in pasture and barley for many years and had not been inhabited in recent memory.
Carina and Alex were keen to convert the farm to organic standards and move up there as soon as possible. They had enjoyed walking on The Rock for years before that and thought that part of The Slopes would make a great spot for outdoor based events. It wasn’t until their friend Charles Preston from LPM Bohemia suggested that they looking at yurts as an option for accommodation, that they began their first foray into ecotourism and glamping.