Conan Connolly

Engineering, ecology and a lifelong love of the outdoors — in service of land restoration.

Conan brings a rare combination of civil engineering, environmental science and outdoor leadership to Síolta Chroí's ecosystem restoration work.

Background

Conan is a South Monaghan native whose early years on the land progressed into farming and a deep love of the outdoors. That love took him into a military career and on to leading outdoor adventure activities. While studying for his degrees in civil engineering, focusing on natural and environmental processes, he became increasingly aware of the widespread mismanagement and exploitation of the natural environment. He holds a BAI in Environmental Engineering from the University of Dublin and a B.Eng in Civil and Structural Engineering from Dundalk IT, alongside a Certificate in Permaculture Design, and is completing a Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration through Gaia Education and the Stichting Ecosystem Restoration Foundation in the Netherlands. On his own farm, Conan is moving towards agroforestry and restoring his land through regenerative practice.

Approach & philosophy

Conan's work at Síolta Chroí brings engineering rigour together with ecological humility. He believes that meaningful land restoration starts with reading the land carefully — soil, water, biodiversity, history — and then designing interventions that work with those systems rather than against them. He is particularly interested in agroforestry and how working farms can be productive and restorative at the same time.

Recognition

Conan's farm has been profiled by Talamh Beo as an example of land moving towards regeneration. [Add any additional awards, publications or speaking engagements.]

At a glance

Based in

South Monaghan

Role

Team member / Project lead

Education

BAI Environmental Engineering, University of Dublin; B.Eng Civil and Structural Engineering, Dundalk IT; Certificate in Permaculture Design; Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration (in progress, Gaia Education / Ecosystem Restoration Foundation)

specialisms

Ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, environmental engineering, outdoor leadership

previous roles

Military service; outdoor adventure leader; farmer on his own land in South Monaghan

Get in touch

Areas of focus

Ecosystem restoration

Designing and delivering on-the-ground restoration work informed by environmental engineering.

Agroforestry

Demonstrating how trees, crops and livestock can work together to build resilient, productive farms.

Outdoor and experiential learning

Drawing on a background in adventure leadership to make Síolta Chroí's land courses physical, practical and memorable.

Conan Connolly

Conan brings a rare combination of civil engineering, environmental science and outdoor leadership to Síolta Chroí's ecosystem restoration work.

Background

Approach & philosophy

Recognition

Areas of focus

Ecosystem restoration

Agroforestry

Outdoor and experiential learning

Upcoming events

Grow More of Your Own Food: The 9-Month Homesteader Course

Webinar on Farm-Scale Seed Saving and Seed Sovereignty

An Introduction to Regenerative agriculture /Agroecology - Tyrone