A series of bespoke street furniture pieces designed and crafted by local students has been installed at prominent public locations in Clifden, marking the first visible outcome of an international partnership supporting communities that conserve tropical forests in South America, bringing a fresh wave of creativity and sustainability to the heart of Connemara.
The initiative promotes responsible forest product use, out of which students from ATU Letterfrack have created a series of striking street furniture now installed in prominent public infrastructure around the town of Clifden.
Galway County Council, working with Atlantic Technological University (ATU ) Connemara in Letterfrack and the Cities4Forests Partner Forest Programme, is the first Irish local authority to join the initiative. The collaboration aims to help remove millions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere while promoting more responsible timber procurement in Ireland.
The installations follow a visit by Students from ATU Connemara’s School of Design & Creative Arts to Guatemala, where they examined low?impact forestry and community?led conservation across more than 320,000 acres of rainforest. The furniture now in place in Clifden was produced using conservation?grade tropical timber sourced from sustainably managed community forests in Uaxactún and Carmelita.
As part of the wider project, Galway County Council and its partners are developing a sustainable purchasing policy for timber used in furniture and construction across the county.
Galway County Council Chief Executive Liam Conneally encourages everyone to explore these remarkable new additions of street furniture at various locations throughout the town of Clifden.
“We were honoured to be the only Irish partner in this programme, and I encourage people to explore and enjoy these remarkable pieces of street furniture now installed around Clifden,” he said. “By using conservation timber sourced through partner forests, the initiative shows how thoughtful design can reduce environmental impact while improving public spaces.”
Head of ATU Connemara Campus Paul Leamy said the project demonstrates how design education can contribute to global forest protection while delivering tangible benefits locally.
“The students have produced exceptional pieces, and we now invite the public to view these installations and learn more about safeguarding tropical forests and the conservation benefits of using sustainably sourced wood,” he explained. “Whether you’re taking in the scenery or waiting for the bus, the furniture blends modern aesthetics with natural materials and is crafted to foster a sense of community.”
Scott Francisco, Director of Cities4Forests and founder of Pilot Projects, said the programme helps build “mutually beneficial relationships” between local authorities and forest?dependent communities abroad, supporting biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
More information is available at www.cities4forests.com
