IRD Duhallow Progress Jun 21/22.qxp_Layout 1 21/07/2022 12:53 Page 23
IRD DUHALLOW | PROGRESS REPORT
2020 - 2021
Community Development
Community representatives with PJ Murphy of IRD Duhallow taking part in the LEADER funded SMART Villages Training Programme
They rely on a participatory approach to develop and implement their strategy to improve their economic, social and/or environmental conditions. Smart Villages benefit from cooperation and alliances with other communities and actors in rural and urban areas. IRD Duhallow in conjunction with Kilkenny Partnership and Galway Rural Development Company came together to develop an inter territorial project to develop a curriculum for Smart Village training. The tender was awarded to ETownz and through this programme a number of communities have taken part in the pilot programme, where they learnt the skills to develop their SMART village strategy. This will now be rolled out across all communities in Duhallow in the Autumn of 2022.
Helen O’Sullivan and PJ Murphy representing IRD Duhallow at the OECD Local Development Forum Local Initiatives Market Place event in Cork City Hall.
Community Elections The Board of IRD Duhallow consists of 25 voluntary directors. Of this 25, 8 seats are reserved for community representation. Each of the 4 regions, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western & Mid Cork all have 2 seats allocated to them. This structure allows for the democratic election of community volunteers who have an interest in sitting on a LDC board and also allows a great spread of community activists from all across Duhallow. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Annette O’Mahony for her term on the Board representing North Eastern Duhallow and we welcome Paul Murphy to the Board from Newmarket.
Community Food Initiatives
Discover Duhallow Discover Duhallow is produced by a small team and circulated every second Friday. 4,000 copies are sent out across the region, and the focus is on Duhallow, its news, and its residents. The magazine is also placed online and boasts a readership across a number of countries. Community is the focus of each piece, and everyone within Duhallow is encouraged to send in their news – nothing is too small. During Christmas, the team released a bumper edition that included everything from photos sent by the community to a pull out Christmas recipe book. Social media has become a part of the effort to reach the community, and this has proved beneficial to both the team and the community.
A Community Food Initiative Box of ingredients received by families as part of Remote Cookery Programme. The CFI Programme encourages participants to closely follow the recipe as part of the Programme
IRD Duhallow was one of 14 initiatives to receive funding through safefood’s Community Food Initiatives (CFI) 20192021; the aim of the CFI programme was to positively influence the eating habits of families with children in lowincome communities. The CFI programme uses a community development approach in promoting availability and access to healthy foods. IRD Duhallow helped families make healthy food choices, learn about preparing fresh food and create healthy rituals around the consumption of food ultimately bringing families together to lead happier healthier lives. IRD Duhallow held a 3week Healthy Eating Practices Webinar Series covering topics such as Trying New Foods and Establishing Eating Rituals, Mindful Eating and Food Waste Reduction, Meal Planning, Savvy Shopping & Budgeting Tips. As well as supporting 24 families through two 4 week Remote Cookery Programmes where families received all ingredients, recipes, videos and support required for 3 meals a week.
The Discover Duhallow Team of Tadgh Curtin and Caleb O’Connor who design the community magazine inhouse and work closely with local communities and businesses for content.
Smart Villages Smart Villages are communities in rural areas that use innovative solutions to improve their resilience, building on local strengths and opportunities.
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