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Carnival to oysters, sports to biodiversity, new brand to new team, Cork to Galway via London and more... what a year 2025 has been!

2024 was the reboot - but 2025 was the relaunch and wow what a 12 months it has been! This year we hosted seven events and united thousands of clubbers from all over the world! We are so grateful for each and every one of you who showed your support, we couldn’t do it without you! A huge thanks to all our partners, sponsors, volunteers and team who made it possible. The Climate Cocktail Club would not be here if it wasn't for your shared vision, passion and frankly trust.


Together we travelled from coast-to-coast covering every corner to conduct crucial conversations around climate. To London, Dublin, Cork, Galway, and for our most special event yet, Laois! 


“With engaging speakers  and panel discussions ranging from youth activism and advocacy, to the richness of Irish marine life, Hen Harriers and bees, through to financing nature and government policy. The Climate Cocktail Club continues to go from strength to strength providing a relaxed, but informative forum for learning and discussion on the critical issues that we face in Ireland and globally” Thomas Ball, Director - Sustainable Futures, KPMG


The birds & the bees: Biodiversity for Adults


We started the year off strong with an important lesson: “The birds & the bees: Biodiversity for Adults”, at our favourite Dublin city venue, The Sugar Club class was in session! 


Dr. Mya-Rose Craig, Fintan Kelly, Anja Murray, Thomas Ball, Dr. Barry O’Donoghue, Grace Carr, Ray Ó Foghlú, Orlaith Delargy, and Paul Handrick spoke passionately, empathetically and urgently about protecting vulnerable populations, highlighting the unparalleled powers of the natural world and examining what it will take to ensure its proliferation. 


It was a strong yet sobering start to the spring, we quantified the depth of damage to our natural world and discussed how current legislation is massively lacking in providing strict protections. Some of the stats were staggering, it is simple, that there is a lot of work to be done. Yet, the room was overwhelmed with empathy, hope, and determination to make measurable change. Clubbers left with a renewed sense of loyalty to a planet that has given us everything even when it has been stripped of nearly everything. It was important to remember, there really is no wrong way to care. Taking action isn't something that must be left to someone else, as Mya-Rose reiterated we cannot get bogged down by a sense of climate doom, we all have a right and people power is a boundless resource.



Climate Rebels


As we settled into summer, clubbers new and old were united in a haze of bold ideas (and language), magical storytelling and espresso martinis down in Cork! “Just fucking do it” nicely sums up the electric atmosphere that night. At Rebels with a cause, Dr. Tara Shine, Fiona Kelleher, Paul Murphy, Val Cummins, Tom Cotter, Marilyn Lennon, Sean Taylor, Madeline McKeever and Killian O’Connor questioned everything we seemed to have understood about conventional climate action. 


With Dr. Tara Shine, CEO of Change By Degrees and captain of the CCC ship for the night, we were steering in the right direction. Speakers and guests alike proved that environmental activism cannot be bound by a certain definition, for us it, it seeps into every aspects of our personal and professional life; like a all encompassing feeling that urges us to push the limits of what's possible. In The Rebel City, we learned how revolting is something constrained to the streets, the revolution is alive and well in all of us and in therefore in every space we enter!




Reimagination Radicals


Across the pond, Mary Robinson, a rapper and rebellious radicals close LCAW with a bang for the London relaunch. As the unofficial closing party for London Climate Action Week, Reimagination Radicals proved to be revolutionary. Aisling McCaffrey, Nick Nuttall, Mary Robinson & Project Dandelion, John Eklington, Louis VI, Matt Smith, Lisa Merrick-Lawless, Edzard van der Wyck, Julien Vaissieres, Ingmar Rentzhog, and Siobhan Clarke all shook up the CCC stage. Clubbers charged ahead into the intersectional issues of the climate crisis; honest and humorous dialogues tackled the heart and humanity of the matter. 


Aisling McCafferty, our beyond brilliant London Chapter Lead led the charge, bringing our CCC magic to The Big Smoke, a nickname which has prevailed decades, earned by a city once suffocated by smog demonstrated how environmental action has made tremendous tangible change. The room was filled with exuberance, it was refreshing, like a breath of fresh air amongst the hot city heat.


Mary Robinson, The Former President of Ireland, Co-Founder of Project Dandelion and global climate justice champion restated the urgency in which we must act...the time for tinkering is over!


“What’s needed now is radical community, radical communication and radical collaboration” - Mary Robinson



Sea Change in Galway!


At the heart of the challenges facing our ocean lies a profound disconnect. Tonight’s event was a powerful reminder of the importance of reconnection — bringing people together to begin writing a new love story for the ocean, one rooted in creativity, courage, and community. Dr Easkey Britton



There is really no better combination that the crisp Galway air, stimulating conversation about our abundant coast, and of course a few fresh oysters and free prints. It is a dreamy design on paper, and proved faultless in person. If we put it to a vote I’m pretty sure our Galway “Sea Change” event would top the list for the most dramatic, fun, insightful and inspirational event ever hosted by the Climate Cocktail Club. In typical West Ireland style, the day kicked off by the sea with a quick field trip to Galway Bay, with local knowledge from Cuan Beo and local seafood from Kelly's Oysters.


The Molgoggers, truly curated the nautical vibe singing sea shanties, welcoming guests into an atmosphere to "sea change". Amazing voices, including Dr. Easkey Britton, Jack O'Donovan Trá, Prof. Frances Fahy, Dr. Rick Officer, Dr. Tom Gillespie, Gareth Murphy, Martha Farrell, Diane O'Connor, Melanie Lynch, Joe Joyce, Imelda McCarron, Ciara Herity, Michael Officer, Lucy Hunt, and Emer Shovlin covered a range of topics as vast as the ocean, each and every speaker as inspiring as the next.



Climate Carnival 2025



Galway was a tough act to follow, but Laois may have earned the top spot! The Climate Carnival undeniably transformed the way we, at the Climate Cocktail Club view climate action. Climate Carnival was the beginning of the beginning, over 500 clubbers gathered on the gorgeous grounds of Ballintubbert House in Tom’s home county, Laois. The 2 day festival felt like a fairytale, imagined by all our sustainable fantasies! 


"It felt like a warm hug"

one clubber remarked!


To commence the carnival, a family dinner full of fresh, local food by GIY was held; Clubbers ate mesmerising meals, drank whimsical wine, and participated in a dialogue around the foundations, fundamentals, and future of our food system. The next day, while some clubbers woke up on the grounds (giving it that fesitival feeeeel) others travelled far and wide to attend the Climate Event of the Year! The Climate Carnival captured all things that make being part of the climate and sustainability sector so special, not only was it outside to give us a breath of fresh air, but it was overflowing with feelings of deep caring and connection to the natural world.


The Carnival was dividing into 5 main stages, People Power, Landscapes, Leadership, Future of Food and Exploration.


We were thrilled to be joined by 50+ inspiring voices and performers, including a masterclass conversation with Blindboy, Hector Ó hÉochagáin and Tara Shine moved between absurdity and razor sharp critique – questioning everything from “landed gentry lawns” to how we get people to actually care about biodiversity. It was funny, furious and strangely hopeful. With 500+ carnival go-ers, the grounds were absolutely buzzing. From stage to stage the energy was effervescent, even in the stillness and quietness of a captive audience, there was a radiating excitement.


We can’t wait to make this a CCC tradition…dates for 2026 just dropped, we’ll see you September 16th & 17th back at Ballintubbert!



Fashion Faux Pas


As we entered into shorter and colder days, Fashion Faux was an energising force! RTE 2 Broadcaster, DJ, Influencer, and our Stylish Sustainability Superstar host, Fionnuala Moran dove into the what really means to be a environmentally conscious consumer and producer, and to get existential, if that really is a truly achievable feat or an antonym in itself.


We were delighted to hear from experts across the clothing, cosmetics, and creativity industry. Troy Armour, Rosy Temple, Lynne Walker, Shannen Healy, Shane Finn and Tracey Ryan were an incredibly refreshing blend, their honesty and passion is more of what is needed in 2026! At Fashion Faux Pas, we didn't just talk the talk, we walked the walk. Guests were stunned as AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" blared and they were uninterruptedly teleported to front-row seats to the Climate Catwalk as two Junk Kouture designers showed off their high fashion fits made entirely out of recycled materials.


Christmas Cracker: Game Changer


To rein in the year, our annual Christmas Cracker was the nightcap we all needed. Game Changer focused on the nexus of sports and climate, welcoming a range of elite athletes and sustainability professionals to huddle together and make a game plan for community-led climate action. The starting line up was undefeatable, with Linda Djougang, Sean McCabe, Alice Ward, Daragh Morgan, Ben Johnson, Laura Lahiff providing invaluable insight to the world of sport and creating concrete connections between two topics: Climate and Sport, that don't get discussed in tandem as often as they should.


Jack McHugh, opened and closed the evening serenading Clubbers with song, and of course it wouldn't be the most wonderful time of the year without the Crappy Christmas Quiz, happily proctored by Jane McDaid and Tom Popple.


Guests left questioning how athletes withstand rising temperatures, inspired to take on another year of dedicated action, and maybe a little tipsy. It was Christmas!



We can't believe we are now entering year 3 since the 2024 reboot! Seriously where does the time go? Once again, we would like to show some appreciation for those who have been by our side throughout it all!



A special shoutout also to those who have partnered & collaborated with us throughout 2025 on our various environmental escapades! We look forward to continued collaboration!


Stay up to date on our socials so that you don't miss a CCC event near you!

@climatecocktailclub everywhere!


Also please feel free to fill in our feedback form to let us know what you think & if you would like to get involved! We would love to have you!



 
 
 

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