Challenge Bank

Do you have a Challenge in your area that you think could be solved through Design Thinking? Take the next step in your Challenger journey by adding it to the bank!

Courses will be based on the Challenges that people like you, across the region, feel need fresh and innovative thinking. To do this, we’re asking everyone to submit the Challenges that they’d like to tackle collaboratively.

Like and comment on other people's Challenges to show support and increase its chance of being included in a Course. You can filter Challenges by county or category.

Roll over a Challenge for more details. Click to go to the Challenge and like it or leave a comment.

Click to go to the Challenge and like it or leave a comment.

add new challenge

Mental Health space

to create a space where people experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression can go to just "be". A safe space with a calming relaxing atmosphere, where people can just sit and be relaxed or complete a jigsaw, read a book, do some colouring in a colouring book, listen to some relaxing music on headphones or interact and chat with another person, their choice, no pressure. No professionals or therapists, just ordinary people who can listen without judgement or advice.

Sligo

River and lakeshore amenity development

Development of walkways around river and lakeshore areas. Incorporating biodiversity and water protection measures

Cavan

Celebrating and Safeguarding our Ancient Landscapes and Histories

Celebrating and Safeguarding our Ancient Landsc...

It's been widely reported that vandalism of Neolithic tombs is an increasing problem across Sligo. A visitor centre on our ancient landscapes could serve a variety of purposes - job creation, education opportunities for local schools, drawcard for tourists, and a way to publicise the importance of the sites and the need to protect them. It could be both a way fundraise for action and a central hub for the groups that are working towards greater education about, and protection of, Sligo landscapes and all its associated stories.

Sligo

The Tain Walkway

Creating a Walkway from Ardee to Dundalk through Tallanstown, Louth Village and Knockbridge using the historic Tain Trail as a guide

Louth

Encourage and enable street art, trails and tours throughout Monaghan

Encourage and enable street art, trails and tou...

Encourage street art, art trails and tours throughout Monaghan to increase visitors, tourism, culture and more. Electric box art, look at Dublin Canvas, by local and or national and international artists Murals, look at Waterford Walls festival = Monaghan's Murals Could result in an art trail incorporating murals and or electric box art work and Patrick Kavanagh existing trail plus more Or a Monaghan's Murals festival showcasing artwork

Monaghan

Develop a physical regeneration for the villiage

Regenerate the vacant and derelict fabric of the once thriving historic market village. Enticing new life and young families to the area and make our village vibrant once again. Regenerating these buildings would drive greater economic activity and footfall as well as acting as a catalyst for improvements to the wider area.

Donegal

Littering on Rural Roadsides

Littering in ditches and illegal dumping has spoiled many countryside roads and walks in Leitrim. At a glance, the Lough Allen loop (the roads through Ballinaglera, Drumshanbo, Drumkeerin and Dowra) is noticeably bad. Much of this rubbish has been expelled from passing vehicles. This issue threatens the natural biodiversity, local tourism and the environment. This challenge may well transcend county borders. Hopefully a collective discussion will follow with all those interested.

Leitrim, Cavan

Beside the Seaside

I would like Louth Co Co to provide beach huts for rental along the beach fronts in areas like Port, to get people to have more contact with the beach, it would bring a bit of colour to the areas and help people take a bit more pride in the area.

Louth

Community project to improve Drumkeeran Village

Small park/green area with seating and planted flower beds for residents and visitors to enjoy. The village has an elderly residential housing and day care facility on the back lane but very little green space near or in the village. A small park in the village would both enhance it and improve the biodiversity in the area. It would also be a communal area where people could meet and enjoy the outdoor space.

Leitrim

Better community integration

Moving to a different country is not an easy task. Once you arrive to your new country you can be faced with different barriers. One of the most common problem faced by families arriving to Ireland presently is that of language barrier and Culture shock. Culture shock can be experienced from difficulties of making new friends, worries of fitting in and finding job. You suddenly feels like the outsider. Your life has changed and your previous life seems so distant away. You become uncomfortable as you grow in different direction than what you have been used to. Life becomes stressful and tense. And you begin to look for clusters that reminds you of home in silo groups. Integrating becomes difficult. But remember you will not always feel this way. Our challenge is to use our unique skill set to bring together women from all the different nationalities living in Co Louth to work together with people they would normally not work with for better integration in our communities.

Louth

Cycle and Pedestrian lanes for Ballybofey-Stranorlar

Cycle and Pedestrian lanes for Ballybofey-Stran...

Ballybofey-Stranorlar has a population of approx 2000 children in schools and creches. We also have many people involved outdoor activities including walking, running and cycling in the community. The towns need to be developed to make it easier for school children and our community to move around safety without cars. Our town centres are walkable and easily accessible, but the pre-dominance of cars in the main streets, inadequate pavement width and lack of cycle lanes make it unsafe for non-car road users in most areas. Establishing proper cycle and pedestrian lanes would - link the heart of the towns with areas of recreation on the town boundaries - support the development of wellbeing activities for people of all ages and abilities - reduce the number of cars on the road, and congestion, especially at the start and end of the school day.

Donegal

Keeping towns and villages viable

Finding new uses for closed up buildings attracting more people to live work and spend time locally

Cavan

To set up an Independent Artists Studio Space in Drogheda

To set up an Independent Artists Studio Space i...

The Borrowed Ground Arts Collective was formed over three years ago with the support of and in association with the Droichead Arts Centre, with the mission to establish Artist Studio Spaces in Drogheda. The Collective consists of ten professional artists based in Drogheda. The collective has been searching for a suitable and secure building that could be used as artist studios. There is a vital need for designated studio spaces for artists in Drogheda. We intend to set up an independent artist’s space, which will allow us to work, and develop our professional practice, and ultimately this space will contribute to the vibrant Art scene in Drogheda. This will be the first independent artist studios in Drogheda and Droichead Arts Centre will continue to provide support in kind and in funding on the establishment of the studio space.

Louth

Creating infrastructure to develop sustainable craft enterprises in rural communities

Creating infrastructure to develop sustainable...

The last factory within the village was a guinness bottling facility that closed in the 1990s. We identified a pressing need for collective workspaces for the many creatives that live in the village. Creatives include; ceramic artists woodworkers, bakers, designers, furniture makers, antique restorers, textile workers, web designers. Despite living in a small village covid-19 lockdown has highlighted the massive potential of online sales and the support that is shown to Irish businesses by buying local. Creating a craft quarter in kiltyclogher could not only drive light manufacturing but also supply back to the local tourism industry. With higher footfall, ancillary services would be needed, including a cafe and craft shop that would also greatly benefit the community in its social aspects.

Leitrim

Glass recycling bin areas in the town of Drogheda should be re-imagined spaces

Glass recycling bin areas in the town of Droghe...

Instead of people perceiving the glass recycling bins that are positioned around the town, as areas to dump stuff, they should be transformed into areas that invite/encourage people to think sustainably/ about the environment. These spaces could fit a small sustainable type business- be that a place where people brought products to be refilled, some sort of area for growing fresh herbs/plants/veg or simply some tasty local produce could be sold. Currently they attract vermin due to rubbish strewn all over the areas which is really unfortunate because they are in interesting spaces with a lot of potential.

Louth

Omeath's forgotten History

Omeath has a unique history and potential for a cultural tourism destination as the village was the home to the first recorded Gaelic match, the first Galteach, a summer residence of Padraig Pearse, the famous blind poet Seamus dall Mac Cuarta, The Fadgies . However, none of the buildings associated with Pearse and the first Gealtach were preserved and neither the heritage or tourism potential has been recognised by either the local authority or failte Ireland, Support and resources are required to promote the history and unique culture and promote the area as a cultural tourism destination.

Louth

Local Museums

Every village in Ireland has a rich history. A history that American tourists, among many others come to find. Why don't we give them somewhere to experience this history. I wanted to open a museum in Drumkeeran, but..... With co-operation from other areas, and with the whole community pulling together, every village could have a little museum. Filled with pictures from the past. Stories from some of the families that have lived here forever. Something in every town or village for the tourists and new residents to learn about the locality, and of Ireland in general and it's place in the world. Most villages have an empty building that could be utilised. Every village have people who could man it. Volunteers to begin with, but in time, they could be paid from the income from the museum entrance fee. Local children could help build the exhibits, and then future generations could visit as part of history lessons. Depending on the ambition of the local community it could go prehistoric

Leitrim

Communities Working Together for Everyone's Benefit

Communities Working Together for Everyone's Ben...

To gather community groups together to garner support for each other community's project in a positive and procative way

Leitrim