Latest news with #LEADER
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ambitious vision of community led development of County Sligo up to 2030 revealed
Minister Dara Calleary officially launched the strategy, which outlines an ambitious vision for community-led local development in County Sligo from 2025–2030. Stakeholders, elected representatives, community members, board members, and staff gathered to mark the beginning of this new strategic phase which sets out clear priorities in areas such as rural development, social inclusion, climate action, and enterprise support. Cathaoirleach Councillor Declan Bree opened the event and spoke about how Sligo LEADER Partnership has benefited the community over the last thirty years. Minister Calleary described the strategy as 'a brilliant and ambitious document' and commended Sligo LEADER Partnership Company for its dedication to supporting and empowering communities across the county. Finbarr Filan, addressed attendees on behalf of the Sligo LEADER Partnership Board, highlighting the essential role of LEADER funding in driving sustainable community projects and economic development, and commented that this was an important day to showcase the collaboration between Sligo County Council, Kingsbridge Hospital and Sligo LEADER Partnership in securing the purchase of the St. Michael's building. The event also included remarks from John Feerick, CEO of Sligo LEADER Partnership Company, who asked Minister Calleary for support on the new LEADER programme, SICAP (Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme), to review the extension period for people on Tús and the implementation of the recommendations from the Rural Social Scheme review that was conducted last year. Following the formal proceedings, Minister Calleary visited two LEADER-supported initiatives: the community garden at Northside Community Partnership and The Doorly Park Gate Lodge, a community-run café. Both projects are examples of how LEADER funding contributes to social inclusion, social enterprise and local climate action. The event was attended by public representatives including members of the Oireachtas including Minister of State Marian Harkin, Deputy Eamon Scanlon, Deputy Frank Feighan, Senator Nessa Cosgrove and elected members of Sligo County Council and Chief Executive Martin Lydon. Also in attendance were Mark Regan and Ruth Scott of Kingsbridge Hospital, members of the Sligo LEADER Partnership staff and Board of Directors, who were warmly thanked for their ongoing guidance and support.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Council sets out the key role festivals and events will play in Sligo over the next five years
This follows a wide stakeholder engagement process and is the culmination of a review that examined the broad spectrum of festivals and events taking place in the county all year round and best practice elsewhere. It acknowledges the key role that festivals and events play in the tourism offering in county Sligo and facilitates the delivery of a planned and coordinated approach to supporting festivals and events. Cllr Declan Bree, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, welcomed the strategy saying: 'This strategy values the huge commitment from the community as well as the business and creative sectors and I want to extend appreciation to all the festivals and event organisers, and organisations with a role in festival delivery, who have contributed to the development of the strategy and the stakeholder engagement process. 'You have helped shape this document by your insights and experiences from a practical and lived perspective.' The strategy, in setting out an implementation plan for the next five years, looks at a range of important issues in addition to funding such as marketing, capacity building and training, programme development as well as governance. The Chair of the Sligo Local Community Development Committee, Cllr Donal Gilroy, said:'It is significant that the LCDC could approve LEADER funding to help fund the development of the strategy and the success of the strategy will be enhanced by inter–agency and cross community collaboration.' This strategy, setting out a hierarchy of festivals, sits within the transformative Fáilte Ireland WAW marketing campaign and the County Sligo Destination and Experience Development Plan, as well as the Sligo 2030 vision. Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon commented that 'Festivals and Events are a huge driver for the economic, community and social fabric of our society. 'We are fortunate in Sligo to have an outstanding array of festival and events which complement and animate new public realm and tourism infrastructural projects delivered by the Council'.
Irish Independent
05-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
A Sligo community's innovative approach to health and well-being is praised
It is Ireland's first community-inspired and community-run hub based on the Hello GoodLife model. Building on the success of the commercially-run and well-established Hello GoodLife hubs in Castlebar and Roscommon, the Bunninadden hub is the first to be entirely operated by a local community group, now running the facility as a social enterprise in service of public health and wellbeing. Funded through the LEADER rural development programme, the initiative represents a new direction in preventative, place-based healthcare. Designed by Martina Calvey, CEO and founder of Hello GoodLife Health & Wellbeing Ireland alongside her partner Seamus Davitt, the hub offers a dedicated, inclusive space for holistic health featuring 14 power-assisted exercise machines — including two specially designed for wheelchair users. It provides an accessible and safe environment for people of all ages and abilities to stay active, maintain independence and foster meaningful social connections. Minister Carroll MacNeill hailed the project as a shining example of community-driven innovation. 'What we see today in Bunninadden is a shining example of what can be achieved when community spirit meets collaboration and innovation. 'The Hello GoodLife Hub is not only helping people live longer, healthier lives, it's giving them the ability to thrive. This model is a blueprint for communities across the country.' The Hello GoodLife concept is rooted in accessibility, inclusion and community engagement. The Bunninadden hub, in particular, showcases what's possible when local people unite to support each other's wellbeing — with mature and older adults, those living with chronic conditions and people of all ages simply seeking to stay active all benefiting from its presence. Hello GoodLife CEO, Martina Calvey, said: 'We created Hello GoodLife with people's physical, social and mental health in mind following my own personal journey through illness and having used Innerva's power-assisted circuit. ADVERTISEMENT 'What the Bunninadden community have achieved here is extraordinary — they took this idea and brought it to life for their people and their place. 'Seeing the smiles, the energy and the friendships being formed here every day — this is what it's all about. It's a movement for healthier, happier lives.' Already hailed as a national exemplar of best practice in community-led preventative healthcare, the Hello GoodLife Health & Wellbeing Hub in Bunninadden marks the next exciting step in a growing movement across Ireland — driven by local passion, powered by partnership and built for the health and wellbeing of all.
Irish Examiner
23-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Has climate change boosted the possibility of producing wine in Ireland?
Has climate change boosted the possibility of growing vines in Ireland? The question was asked by Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne in the Dáil after noting parts of the country have a similar terroir, or soil type, to parts of northern France. 'Indeed, just outside my hometown of Gorey, La Kav vineyard is producing some very fine wines,' he said, asking what supports were available from the Department of Agriculture and its agencies for those who choose to cultivate vines. Pointing out several boutique vineyards are starting to produce wine in greater quantities and of higher quality, Mr Byrne said: 'There is an opportunity to actively support those farmers and those involved in horticulture who want to move into the sector.' Minister of State Noel Grealish said the department operated two schemes in the horticulture sector. These may be availed of by wine producers in the context of the grape-growing aspect of their production. A budget of €8.5m was allocated for the implementation of these schemes in 2025. The schemes are for innovation and diversification, which supports feasibility and desk studies, and for funding capital investment in specialised plant and equipment in microenterprises and SMEs active in primary production. Mr Grealish said the call for applications closed in February. Should these schemes re-open for applications in 2026, this will be widely advertised through the department's website, on social media, in the farming press and through stakeholders such as Teagasc and An Bord Bia. Urging producers to engage with their local enterprise offices, he said these offices were a valuable resource to local small businesses because they could provide advice and sometimes funding. Producers may also wish to contact their local action groups in respect of the LEADER programme. Mr Grealish said his officials participated last year in the European Commission's high-level wine group, established to develop policy recommendations to address issues in the sector. While primarily aimed at reducing burdens currently impacting larger wine-producing countries, the final recommendations document produced by the group also recognised the importance of new and emerging wine-producing countries, including Ireland. This may present an opportunity for further expansion in the cultivation of vineyards for wine production in Ireland, he said, adding the department would continue to monitor the pace of growth in the sector and was happy to engage with producers wishing to pursue this as an agrifood business, as part of the horticultural strategy. 'I would be delighted to sit down with any producers the deputy would like to introduce to me. If there is any help, or support, we can give them, we will do so,' he said. Welcoming the support available already, Mr Byrne said: 'We also need to promote the development of Irish wines, perhaps through Bord Bia. "As the quantities start to increase, there will be an export market for some of these wines. I am very happy that officials are actively engaged on the issue,' he said. Read More US soya bean farmers left exposed in Trump's tariff wars
