Activism & Volunteering

• A voluntary group set up last year to welcome asylum-seekers to West Clare welcomed the Department of Justice and Equality’s decision in August to close the emergency Direct Provision centre. • On August 12th - the day the closure was announced - the Miltown Malbay Welcome Group thanked Minister Helen McEntee for her prompt action. • Civil society voices who welcomed the move included Clare PPN’s Sarah Clancy, author Ruairi McKiernan, and human rights activist John Lannon.

The Covid-19 diaries of two experienced volunteers:

There has been a surge in people volunteering and the Government and the Department of Rural and Community Development has issued guidance and advice to volunteers and community groups.

We're one week down. Listen to editor Allen Meagher's take on the changed landscape.

Last year, 133 people drowned, the majority of them men in tragic circumstances. When a drowning occurs, bodies are usually recovered thanks in no small part to the many voluntary search, rescue and recovery groups. Meath River Rescue is one such group and it has twice benefitted from LEADER funding.

What motivates you as a volunteer? I see too many young people from my community dying. We need to change policy, practice and legislation so that it includes and is led by the marginalised.

Sometimes, when tragedy befalls someone, it makes them stronger. It makes them see the value in linking with others in the same boat to take collective action. This is how Larry Masterson responded when he joined others in Co Donegal in setting up the support group ‘Different Strokes for Different Folks’ (DSDF).

The drive to volunteer can come from anywhere. For Larry Masterson, it was something he was already committed to, but his volunteering took him in a new direction after he suffered a stroke.