LEADER

The Sligo LEADER Partnership held a community showcase as part of Local Development Week in early October with hundreds of attendees gathering at the Clayton Hotel, Sligo, to celebrate this milestone event. 

A Budget package worth €472 million has been allocated to the Department of Rural and Community Development for 2025. A number of community and voluntary organisations, including Irish Rural Link were critical of the allocation, with CEO Seamus Boland saying the €472 million “pales in comparison to the amount of money available in the Budget”.

Physio and social entrepreneur Johnny Loughrey explains how the private sector fails us, how their gym is unique, and why it should be replicated across Europe.

Donegal’s Garage Project paves the way for safer roads as 130 young people complete LEADER-funded training.

Since 2021, 5,500 people have enjoyed exploring Lough Ree on Access for All’s accessible boat. The County Roscommon social enterprise started this year with two more boats and aims to treble passenger numbers. So far visitors have come from every county in Ireland bar one - Antrim.

Local Action Groups in counties Carlow and Tipperary were announced today as the first two local development strategies (LDS) approved to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme.

Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park is a true community endeavour - what was once a cow park has become one of Westmeath’s and the Midlands' most popular visitor attractions. An hour from Galway and 75 minutes from Dublin, it rates highly on Tripadvisor. Remarkably, the park which opened in 2015 is run by a dedicated community group and over 100 volunteers play their part annually - alongside staff - to keep the park running smoothly. KATHY MASTERSON spoke to three people deeply involved in the project.

“I’ll be honest. When we started I was very naïve. I thought we’d have a playground by Christmas." - Maria Fleming, Moate resident