Charting the Future: How Offshore Wind Is Empowering the Next Generation in Arklow
- Brian Sheehan
- Jun 24
- 3 min read
When you meet Emily and Abby, two Sea Scouts from Arklow, you quickly realise the sea isn’t just a backdrop to their lives, it’s at the heart of who they are.
“We go kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding,” Abby says. “It’s the freedom of it. You're just out there on the water and everything else disappears.”
That deep connection to the waves, the coastline and their community is what defines life in many of Ireland’s coastal towns. And it’s exactly why the future of offshore wind, and projects like Arklow Bank 2, matter so much to the people who live there.
As part of Wind Energy Ireland’s Power of Tomorrow series, we sat down with Emily and Abby to hear what being a Sea Scout means to them, how a new sailing boat has expanded their horizons and why clean energy is part of the future they want to help shape.
Sea Scouts: Where Adventure Meets Responsibility
Sea Scouting is a proud tradition in Ireland, a unique strand of the Scouting movement that blends seafaring skills, environmental awareness and leadership development. From navigation to ropework, from dinghy sailing to marine conservation, Sea Scouts learn how to be safe, skilled and stewards of the sea.
In Arklow, Emily and Abby are part of a vibrant Sea Scout group with more than 300 members. Their programme combines sailing, kayaking, camping, water safety, and, more importantly, it builds confidence, independence and a powerful sense of belonging.
“You learn how to tie knots, how to stay safe in the water, what to do if something goes wrong,” says Emily. “But you also learn how to lead, how to work together and how to care for the sea.”
A Boat, A Boost, A Beginning
Thanks to funding from the SSE Renewables Sponsorship Fund, Arklow Sea Scouts received two brand new RS Toura boats, a versatile sailing boat that has opened the water to more young people than ever before.
“It’s a total game changer,” their team leader explains. “This boat allows us to bring Scouts from zero to confident sailors. It’s safe, adaptable and it brings everyone out on the water.”
In just the first week of having the boat, nearly 200 Beavers - Scouts aged between 6 and 8-years-old - from across Wicklow were able to experience sailing for the first time, many with wide eyes and nervous excitement as they set foot on the boat.
“It’s not just a boat,” says Abby. “It’s given us opportunities. It’s made us better sailors and more confident people.”
Clean Energy, Clear Purpose
For these Sea Scouts, protecting the ocean and supporting offshore wind go hand in hand.
“We want clean seas to swim in, to sail in and to protect,” Emily says. “The wind turbines that are here already don’t bother us, they’re actually kind of nice-looking! And they’re so much better for the environment than other energy sources.”
Abby agrees: “Offshore wind means less pollution and more clean energy. That helps the sea and it helps our future.”
Arklow Bank 2, being developed by SSE Renewables, is one of Ireland’s flagship offshore wind projects and is currently in the planning system. The project team is committed to delivering clean, local energy and to making sure the benefits are felt close to home.
From mentoring programmes with Glenart College to supporting sports, sailing and swimming clubs, the project’s community funding has already made a tangible impact in Arklow and beyond.
More Than Turbines — A Movement
Offshore wind development isn’t just about technology. It’s about trust. It’s about ensuring that as Ireland transitions to a low-carbon future, the people who live and work along our coasts are not just included, but empowered.
For Emily and Abby, that empowerment looks like time on the water, new friendships, greater confidence and a stronger voice in the future they want to see.
“We’re not just Scouts,” says Abby. “We’re part of something bigger. We’re helping the sea. We’re helping our town. And we’re learning things that might help us to help our community”
In a world where climate action can feel abstract or distant, their words are a reminder: when you give young people the tools, the skills and the belief that they belong, they’ll shape the future better than we ever imagined.
Explore more stories from Ireland’s coastal communities at www.poweroftomorrow.ie
