Fingal Showcases European Leadership in Sustainability with EcoCore Podcast Launch and Transnational Meeting in Dubrovnik
Balbriggan, Fingal County Council’s designated city for the URBACT EcoCore Project, has marked a major milestone in its sustainability journey with the launch of the EcoCore Podcast and the successful conclusion of the final EcoCore partner meeting held in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24–27 September 2025.
Balbriggan, Fingal County Council’s designated city for the URBACT EcoCore Project, has marked a major milestone in its sustainability journey with the launch of the EcoCore Podcast and the successful conclusion of the final EcoCore partner meeting held in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 24–27 September 2025.
The EcoCore Project is a European URBACT Action Planning Network focused on accelerating the green transition in small cities located along strategic transport corridors. Led by Fingal County Council, the project brings together nine European partner cities to build capacity for climate action, promote green economic development, and support local stakeholders in transitioning to low-carbon energy sources for transportation, heating, and electricity.
In Balbriggan, the project has focused on shaping the sustainable development of the Stephenstown Industrial Estate, with the ambition to transform the lands into a thriving centre for green industry, and the circular economy.
A major output for the project was the production of a podcast series sharing the work of the partner cities on how small urban areas are leading the green transition. The five-part EcoCore Podcast series is now available on major streaming platforms and features voices from across the EcoCore network. The series covers topics such as proactive climate action, sustainable mobility solutions, upskilling the workforce for the green economy, strategic planning, cross-border collaboration, and the future of small cities in a greener Europe.
The podcast series highlights the power of collaboration with European partners by sharing stories, strategies and lessons learned by the cities during the project.
The final transnational meeting in Dubrovnik brought together representatives from all partner cities for a dynamic programme of workshops, site visits, and collaborative planning. Highlights included:
• A guided tour of Dubrovnik’s historic centre and EcoCore action zones
• Visits to local producers and green business hubs
• Interactive sessions on storytelling, event planning, and peer learning
• A panel discussion featuring local stakeholders and international experts
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O'Leary, attended the meeting and praised the collaborative spirit of the network:
“The EcoCore Project has shown what’s possible when cities work together to tackle climate challenges. Balbriggan’s leadership in this project reflects Fingal’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth.”
Aoife Sheridan, Senior Executive Officer in Fingal’s Economic, Enterprise, Tourism & Cultural Development Department, added:
“The EcoCore journey has helped us shape a bold and inclusive vision for Balbriggan’s future. Through the podcast and our final meeting in Dubrovnik, we’ve shared the story of our journey, built strong partnerships at international, national and local level, learned good practices from our partners which we’re implementing locally and laid the groundwork for a strong green industrial transformation that will benefit our community in the future.”
As lead partner, Fingal County Council has driven the development of the EcoCore network’s shared vision for sustainable urban development. The podcast and final meeting reflect the project’s legacy of innovation, collaboration, and community-driven change.
Learn more about the EcoCore Project by tuning into the podcast series here: EcoCore Podcast clips - Omny.fm or visit the project webpage: EcoCore | urbact.eu