Cloughjordan CoHousing was registered as a CLG in 2016 having changed its name from Mendes Limited following the passing of the 2014 Companies Act. Mendes was incorporated in 1995 and was involved in training, research and development in public transport, sustainable and active mobility, information and communication technologies in Ireland and as a partner in transnational EU projects. This included the establishment of GoCar in 2008, which now provides 1,000 vehicles for short term hire located in cities and towns in Ireland.
The current board members have between them many years’ experience of working in, advising and managing co-operatives, small businesses, social enterprises, community & voluntary organisations concerned with sustainability, community development, housing, mobility and the development and delivery of sustainable education and training. We also have a group of advisers with experience of architecture, finance, construction and renewable energy.
Using Permaculture, Universal Design principles and smart technologies Cloughjordan Co-Housing CLG prepared a prospectus in 2021 on a new concept in co-housing within Cloughjordan Ecovillage, which we called a Climate Smart Pocket Neighbourhood. This aimed to demonstrate an affordable, diverse and cooperative model of community and low-carbon development, with an emphasis on creative placemaking, regeneration and resilience. See the prospectus here.The purpose of this prospectus was to ignite conversations with stakeholders within the ecovillage and future residents who want to live and work in Cloughjordan and co-design this co-housing project. It was also an invitation to researchers and professionals from different sectors who can help test, validate and replicate the Climate Smart Pocket Neighbourhood concept on vacant sites countrywide.
The prospectus was based on sites next to the North Tipperary Green Enterprise Park. We are now preparing a prospectus for a Multi-generational Pocket Neighbourhood based on sites next to the proposed Market Square within the Ecovillage connected to the main street of Cloughjordan.
From 2023 we have partnered with Village Homes, which intends to develop a Toolkit and Community Construction Process.
The Village Homes Toolkit provides an approved construction method, logistical support, specialist equipment and trades experience to enable individuals, couples, small groups and local builders to construct radically simplified community-built housing, utilising Irish carbon negative timber and community participation resources.
The Community Construction Process delivers a partnership approach to house building through the sharing of resources, knowledge and labour, where the community, developer and builder can undertake a shared construction project for mutual benefit.
Over the past few years, Cloughjordan CoHousing has co-hosted several events titled ‘Housing Ourselves’, bringing together community-led housing activists, politicians, public servants, researchers and design professionals from Ireland, Britain and Europe.
During 2023, 2024 and 2025 Cloughjordan CoHousing, in partnership with Workhouse Union and SOA.ie, designed and delivered an Arts Council funded project called Making Neighbourhoods. We also received limited funding from the Community Water Development Fund for consideration of wastewater systems as part of the Making Neighbourhoods project.
In 2024 and 2025 Cloughjordan CoHousing has collaborated with the WEAll Hub Ireland to host Housing Ourselves 2025 in Cloughjordan on 14th February.