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CYNTHIA NÍ MHURCHÚ RECEIVES A WARM CÉAD MILE FÁILTE TO IRD DUHALLOW
IRD Duhallow has been delivering European funding programmes in the region for over 30 years, including six consecutive LEADER programmes, two EU Life programmes, and various other initiatives. Since 1991, it has supported economic, social, and environmental development by funding projects such as community centres, recreation facilities, walks, playgrounds, tourism accommodation, training and cultural events. It has also helped small and medium-sized businesses establish and expand, creating jobs and sustaining rural communities.
In recent years, IRD Duhallow has taken an active role in promoting public engagement with the European Union through the Communicating Europe Programme, which is an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs. This initiative enhances public awareness of the EU’s role in daily life and improves access to information on European issues. By supporting locally led projects, this programme fosters dialogue between citizens and policy makers, increasing awareness of European affairs and democracy.
As part of this initiative, IRD Duhallow secured funding to develop and deliver a series of workshops for secondary school students across the region. These workshops have taken place in several schools, including Scoil Mhuire and Coláiste Treasa in Kanturk, Millstreet Community School, Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra in Rathmore, Boherbue Comprehensive School, and St Mary’s Secondary School in Macroom. Delivered by guest speaker Geographer, Analyst, and Social Researcher Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe, the sessions provided students with a tailored learning experience exploring the national, local, and regional impacts of Ireland’s EU membership.
Building on these workshops, Boherbue Comprehensive School and St Mary’s Secondary School in Macroom recently welcomed MEP for Ireland South, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú to speak to their students. In highly interactive classroom discussions, Ms. Ní Mhurchú encouraged students to take an active interest in European affairs and to reflect on the changes seen during fifty plus years of Irish EU Membership. In a highly engaging presentation, students gained insight into how European policies have helped to shape modern Ireland and local communities. They also learned about educational and career opportunities within the EU, including pathways into European institutions and the importance of the Irish language. The visits provided students with the opportunity to ask some very thoughtful and important questions, deepening their understanding of the role of an MEP and the European Parliament’s functions.
Students in St. Mary’s School Macroom are due to travel to Strasbourg as part of the Euroscola Programme, and Ms. Ní Mhurchú was delighted to hear about this upcoming visit. IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh also addressed the students in both schools, giving them information about what been achieved in 34 years of bottomup rural development for the rural communities locally, along with the Communicating Europe Initiative. Students in both Boherbue Comprehensive and St. Mary’s Secondary School demonstrated great interest in European affairs and are to be commended for their engagement in the Communicating Europe Initiative. Sincere thanks to Boherbue Comprehensive Principal Ms. Vera Leader and St. Mary’s Principal Mr. Stephen McLaughlin for their interest and support of the Communicating Europe Initiaitive. A very special thanks to Ms. Cora Dunne of Boherbue Comprehensive School and Mr. Sean O’Cuill of St Mary’s Secondary School for their coordination of the Communicating Europe events.
MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú Visits IRD Duhallow, Celebrating Community Initiatives and Rural Development
IRD Duhallow was delighted to welcome MEP for Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú in recent weeks. Ms. Ní Mhurchú toured the James O’Keeffe Memorial Institute Complex, Duhallow Community foods Services, Duhallow Furniture Revamp and IRD Duhallow Offices during her visit. At Duhallow Community Food Services Ms. Ní Mhurchú met with some customers who were enjoying their lunch in the restaurant. She also met with many of the staff members who work preparing and delivering meals to senior members of community and local schools. Ms. Ní Mhurchú also visited the DCFS bakery where she was able to view a sample of the wonderful cakes and desserts which are created daily on site by the very talented team of bakers.
Ms. Ní Mhurchú also visited Duhallow Furniture REVAMP where she viewed the array of good quality second hand furniture that is available for purchase at a low cost. The training and employment opportunities available in REVAMP were outlined in detailed during this visit, with samples of upholstery work completed on site displayed. Ms. Ní Mhurchú took time to see the Relove paint initiative and saw the wide variety of high-quality paint which is revitalized and made available for purchase through this environmental project. The initiative involves the diversion of unwanted paint from civic amenity sites and re mixing and repackaging it on site, where it is resold at a cost of €15 per five litre quantity to community groups and individuals.
Ms. Ní Mhurchú also visited the offices of IRD Duhallow at the James O’Keeffe Memorial Institute. Here IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh along with management team and staff gave an outline of the range of programmes and project activities that are in operation in the Duhallow area.
She was particularly interested in how the LEADER methodology was first introduced and how it has paved the way for 34 years of bottom up rural development for the communities of Duhallow and the more recent challenges faced by cuts to the LEADER budgets and fragmentation of Rural Development supports with many initiatives that used to be delivered locally, now being centralised instead.
Ms. Ní Mhurchú was given outline of how IRD Duhallow established a localised response centre in the James O’Keeffe Institute, working as part of the Cork County Council and the Community Response Forum and Local Coordination Group which consisted of the principal response agencies co-ordinating support across the region in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. Ms. Ní Mhurchú stated that IRD Duhallow is “a beacon and example of what can be achieved in our rural communities.”
