“Best coffee in the world,” reads the sign outside Nicky’s Village Market in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow. With everyone at home over the past few months, people have been flocking to their local shops like never before. “The small shop has made a great comeback,” says owner Nicky Roe, with many locals used to long commutes and busy weekends, now having more time on their hands. “People are really valuing the quality of local living.”Shopping locally can be good for the environment too, with people walking or using their cars less or travelling shorter distances. Positive changes that we’ve made over the past few months in reducing or rethinking our consumption could be good news for the environment and the local economy – if we can stick with them.

Source: The Irish Times June 06, 2020 04:52 UTC