One trend that’s growing in the MICE industry in 2019 is sustainable travel, as more organisers of MICE programmes search for experiences that are earth-friendly and less harmful to the environment.

Whether your delegates are food lovers, outdoor explorers or simply want to rest and unwind, the stunning natural habitats and culinary wonders of the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands offer something for everyone with a range of eco-friendly experiences.

To help you plan your sustainable MICE event, here are six perfect Irish escapes to enjoy.
 

Savour a colourful selection of Wild Kitchen fare

1. Wild Kitchen, Co. Clare

Ideal for incentive groups and based along the beautiful shores of Lahinch in the Wild Atlantic Way, the Wild Kitchen combines food and nature, offering a unique experience with guided wild food walks on land and along the seashore. Visitors can discover and taste amazing wild plants and connect with the beautiful scenery of Co. Clare, before picking up the Wild Kitchen Cookbook for culinary inspiration with over 25 recipes.
 
While you’re there… visit the Burren Centre and explore the flora, fauna, geology, legends, archaeology and natural history of the Burren region.
 

Cosy interior of Purecamping bell tent

2. Purecamping Eco Campsite, Co. Clare

Purecamping is a little piece of heaven in the west of Ireland and the perfect place to switch off and engage in some team-building. Accommodation options include cosy cabins and canvas bell tents with outdoor fire bowls, where delegates can wake as the sun rises to the tranquil sounds of the country. They also offer weekly yoga and meditation classes, as well as Wellness Weekends to recharge body and mind.
 
While you’re there…. head to Loop Head Lighthouse and take a guided tour up the tower with stunning views along the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way.
 

Outdoor yoga in Ard Nahoo

3. Ard Nahoo, Co. Leitrim

Tucked away in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands in the peaceful countryside of Leitrim is Ard Nahoo, an award-winning eco retreat which provides a different experience to the usual hotel spa break. With eco cabins offering amazing views from your own private deck to its unique detox sauna, using infrared rays that soothes muscles through heat and illuminates the skin, Ard Nahoo is the ideal location for teams to relax and find inspiration.
 
While you’re there… visit Glencar Waterfall which is mentioned by WB Yeats in his poem The Stolen Child. Even more impressive after rainfall, it can be viewed from a lovely wooded walk.

Bask in the hot tub at Rock Farm Slane

4. Rock Farm Slane, Co. Meath

Explore Ireland’s Ancient East and its beautiful scenery at Rock Farm Slane, an ecotourism glamping and activity centre with organic farm on the banks of River Boyne. Rock Farm offers a range of activities from walks exploring the countryside to kayaking on the River Boyne. There’s also a small shop selling meat and eggs from the farm as well as a range of products from other local producers.
 
While you’re there… take a trip to Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, the 5,200 year old passage tomb which is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza!
 

Wine and cheese tasting on the Burren Food Trail

5. Burren Food Trail, Co. Clare

For a foodie MICE experience with a difference, the Burren Food Trail is a must with over 30 food suppliers offering a wide variety of options to suit everyone’s taste. The Burren food story is uncovered along a path that takes you from field to plate, with each member of the food trail creating a signature dish to savour. All dishes use locally sourced produce and delegates can decide for themselves how to follow the trail — stop at every point or else dip in and out along the way, according to taste, interest and location.
 
While you’re there… take in the breathtaking sights of the Cliffs of Moher along the Wild Atlantic Way, which have majestically faced the Atlantic for over 350 million years.
 

Spend the night in a Shepherd Hut beneath the Blackstairs Mountains

6. Blackstairs Eco Trails, Co. Carlow

Clients can discover all that nature has to offer in the mountains of Ireland’s Ancient East with Blackstairs Eco Trails. Offering a wide range of activities, from workshops to hikes, the trails take visitors through local countryside and valleys, along the River Barrow track, revealing the secret wild life of Carlow’s extraordinary biodiversity. They also offer a unique Wild Herbal Workshop where teams can learn about wild herbs, their uses in medicine, cooking and cosmetics, followed by a delicious organic lunch.
 
While you’re there… visit the Delta Sensory Gardens set on a 2.5 acre site with 16 interconnecting gardens on the outskirts of Carlow Town.

For more information on Ireland's wild beauty and uniqueness as a MICE destination, contact the Meet in Ireland team today.