Local entrepreneur Jerome O’Loughlin has recently launched his own tour company, Ireland Eco Tours which is part of the Greenbox initiative, offers visitors to the North West the chance to tour the area in an eye-catching green bus which runs on rapeseed oil, therefore producing 'carbon neutral' emissions which are re-absorbed by rape seed crops the following year. Jerome outlined his philosophy: "The concept for Ireland EcoTours emerged from years of wandering through the lake-strewn green landscape of Fermanagh and Leitrim. "I was born in this delicate land, I have a bond with it and I want to share it with like-minded souls who appreciate nature and who strive to preserve it for future generations". He said he wanted people to feel 'this untouched place' with its millennia of history, to love it as he does and to give while taking only the minimum during their visit here.
Jerome has spent the last three years working as a tour guide on independent tours all over Ireland, so he knows all the'must-see' destinations for visitors to the country. One tour which he is currently developing is one based around the recently extended Marble Arch Caves European Geopark. Although it is in the early stages of planning, Jerome is enthusiastic about this tour which he hopes will include some mountain biking in Lough Navar. Recently Jerome took out his first tour, a group of German journalists, around the Greenbox area, and he described the feedback as extremely positive. With his tentative first steps taken in business, Jerome is positive about the future. He knows he has unique idea and is keen to market it. "I am the only tour company offering a uniquely 'Eco' tour from start to finish", he stated.
As well as his bio-bus, Jerome has backed up his plans with his own credentials. He is a member of theGreenbox, and is well on his way to getting some of his tours certified by the group, he has obtained a National Certificate in Ecotourism and has recently qualified as a 'Leave No Trace trainer’. For Jerome he is delighted to be achieving his dream, and this is reinforced by the fact he is giving something back:
"The eco side of the project was always important. Absolutely. It was there when I started looking at this idea at the very start. It's what it's all about really."
While building up his tours, Jerome is realistic in his approach to
business and as such is making his minibus available to business and organisations in Fermanagh who may want to hire an environmentally friendly minibus and driver, a move which can help them meet their 'green' credentials.
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