Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　study　is　to　identify　a　comprehensive　list　of　main　enablers　of　successful　implementation　of　green　manufacturing　(GM)　practices　in　small　and　medium-sized　enterprises　(SMEs).　Based　on　the　inputs　from　Irish　SMEs＇　experts,　a　validated　conceptual　hierarchy　model　of　the　identified　enablers　is　developed　to　analyse　and　prioritise　the　most　dominant　ones.　Design/methodology/approach　Data　were　collected　using　a　questionnaire　survey　responded　by　various　professionals　in　Irish　manufacturing　SMEs.　Experts＇　opinions　were　analysed　using　interpretive　structural　modelling　(ISM)　and　cross-impact　matrix　multiplication　applied　to　classification　(MICMAC)　to　distinguish　the　mutual　influences　amongst　the　nine　identified　enablers.　Findings　The　findings　revealed　that　from　the　Irish　SMEs＇　perspective,　strong　green　supply　chain　relations　are　the　outcome　of　successfully　implementing　GM　and　not　a　driver　of　the　other　enablers.　Furthermore,　lower　manufacturing　costs　are　found　to　arise　as　a　result　of　GM　practices　in　SMEs.　Practical　implications　It　is　discussed　that　emulating　the　actions　of　larger　companies　will　not　necessarily　yield　the　same　results　for　SMEs.　Innovation　will　become　a　cornerstone　of　remaining　competitive　in　a　sustainable　environment,　which　is　facilitated　by　closer　green　supply　chain　relations.　Originality/value　The　reported　findings　in　this　article　contribute　to　theory　and　practice　of　GM　and　SMEs　research　domains　by　systematically　identified,　classified　and　ranked　enablers　in　a　conceptual　hierarchal　model　from　the　perspective　of　Irish　SMEs.　This　research　lays　the　foundations　for　further　analysis　of　the　GM　practices　enablers　in　a　time　when　UN　mandates　and　EU　regulations　are　increasingly　impacting　SMEs　all　around　Europe　and　especially　Ireland.