The IRD Duhallow region includes North West Cork, South East Ker r y and Mid Cork It is an area of natural development and is predominantly r ural Over 85% of the population live in the open countr yside or in settlements of less than 200 people.
The IRD Duhallow region has five market towns: Macroom (Pop. 3765), Kanturk (Pop. 2350), Millstreet (Pop. 1555), Newmarket (Pop 976) and Rathmore (Pop 790)
Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transpor t, Jerr y Buttimer with Eileen Linehan, Assistant CEO, Maura Walsh CEO and Michael Twohig, Chair.
Chairperson’s Address
On behalf of the Board, as I come towards the end of my three -year term as Chairman of IRD Duhallow, I am delighted to present the 2024/2025 Progress Repor t, which was in many ways a transformative year having achieved independent Local Action Group status
The Company was challenged early in the New Year with not one but two severe weather events which saw unprecedented heavy snowfalls block people into their houses and suffer widespread power outages from the weight of lingering snow on the power lines Our deliver y vehicles had to be dug out of the snow to allow access in order for essential meal on wheels deliveries to be made IRD Duhallow was invited to be par t of both Cork and Kerr y County Councils Response Teams and our management and staff went to extraordinar y lengths to come into work , prioritising community ser vices mobilising community contacts and in par ticular farmers and Macra na Feirme members to assist us in reaching those hard to reach isolated homes, delivering not only hot fresh dinners but other essential supplies like water and groceries This bad weather was followed promptly by Storm Éowyn which caused fur ther havoc to already weakened power lines leaving some of our communities again without power IRD Duhallow ’ s response to these two major and unprecedented events proved once again our agility and flexibility and our reach through the deep roots we have developed in all our communities
Inspector Paul Aherne These new representatives bring a wealth of experience and exper tise and we look for ward to working with them
Margaret McSweeney, John Lyons and Tom O’Riordan retire from the Board having completed their two terms and I want to thank them for their commitment and dedication throughout their six years of ser vice No doubt they will continue to ser ve on their community structures and stay linked to IRD Duhallow The Company continues to maintain its gender balance on the Board
A huge thank you to all Board members who continue to govern this company through courageous leadership and faithful representation of our communities As volunteers they give generously of their time and exper tise
Following our mission of being a Vehicle Promoting Prosperity, Self-help and Quality of Life -Saibhreas a Cothú, and keeping true to our vision of Meeting the Unmet Needs of all Our Communities, IRD Duhallow has once again shown its value in the region, working with Local Authorities, Agencies, and Government Depar tments in delivering national policy locally
As par t of the company ’ s annual strategic review, the Board interrogate our values to ensure they reflect what kind of company we have become and want to be into the future Our values are therefore stated as Courageous, Innovative, Responsive, Caring, Driven and Trusted These values continue to guide IRD Duhallow at all levels
The Strategic Review determined the policy priorities that need to be pursued at all levels A position paper was agreed, and the CEO was tasked with drawing it up and publishing it so that all election candidates were made aware of where we stand and what we see as required for our Region It was published in our magazine Discover Duhallow and we have brought it to the attention of elected representatives at local, national and European level
As Chairperson I am satisfied that the appropriate controls exist and are managed effectively to meet the governance requirements of the Charities Regulator and the Governance Code through which we operate Board and Senior Management sign up to the Ethics in Public Office standards We have also maintained our NSAI Gold Standard in Excellence through People I therefore want to thank our Vice Chair and Chairperson of our Finance Committee Anne Maria Bourke for her suppor t and financial oversight and our auditors Westboro Par tners, Mar y Power, Deirdre Bardsley McGee and Aiman Bak ar for their diligence in carr ying out our annual audit I can attest that IRD Duhallow remains solvent with sufficient reser ves to carr y out and grow our function The Board is ver y proud of the progress we have made and the targets achieved, in implementing the programmes that we commenced in the past year as well as adding new programmes such as LAWPRO Farming for Water EIP and our application submitted for the development of new and additional walks through ORIS IRD Duhallow has refreshed our Board again this year with the addition of four new Board members while two members been renominated The Community Forum regions of Nor th Eastern Duhallow has nominated Michelle Green from Freemount to join Paul Murphy of Newmarket; while our mid Cork region have nominated Cáit Ring and Joseph Cronin to the Board From the Statutor y sector An Garda Síochána will be represented by
IRD Duhallow conducted a mid-term review of its strategy implementation and identified priorities for the remainder of the year The consensus was that we drive our response to the possible impacts of current global uncer tainties and threats on this region I n addition, we looked at the changing policies regarding the multi fund framework at European level which we now know could wipe out 30% of the Common Agricultural Policy funding to this countr y I was however hear tened to see that LEADER has remained a focus of European Polic y and M inister Callear y has issued a statement that as negotiations begin that his Depar tment is reiterating the impor tance of CAP and his commitment to advocate for LEADER stating that since 1991 it has revitalised rural Ireland, suppor ted jobs and ser vices and he therefore wants to see LEADER as a core element of the new CAP framework , keeping rural I reland front and centre in all negotiations The fact that Ireland will hold the EU Presidency for the final negotiations should auger well for LEADER
IRD Duhallow continues to build on it ’ s strategic alliances through our networks and through our elected representatives It was our great pleasure to welcome Jerr y Buttimer, M inister of State at the Depar tment of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Depar tment of Transpor t; M ichael Moynihan, M inister of State at the Depar tment of Education and Youth and M ichael Healy-R ae, M inister of State at the Depar tment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, each of whom gave generously of their time visiting our Social Enterprises and the projects specific to their briefs, which are detailed in this report We also welcomed MEPs Cynthia N í Mhurchú, Billy Kelleher and Sean Kelly who as par t of our Communicating Europe I nitiative visited post primar y schools in R athmore, Boherbue, K anturk, Millstreet and Macroom where they each got a rapturous welcome
Our two newly elected Senators N icole R yan from M illstreet and Eileen Lynch from R ylane have attended events including the Women’s Forum Conference and the opening of Boherbue Looped Walk While former Board Member and newly elected TD John Paul O’Shea has assumed Cathaoirleach of the Dail Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, he has continued to suppor t our work throughout the region
I t's been an eventful year for the board, management and staff I want to thank each and ever yone of them for their commitment, guidance and suppor t As a founder member I step down as chair in September k nowing Duhallow is in a better place because of the existence of our organisation I'm sure it will continue to grow under the guidance of a strong board and management team into the future
Michael Twohig CHAIR
Manager’s Repor t
IRD Duhallow ’ s focus over the past year has been firstly to commence deliver y of the programmes that we had successfully tendered for last year like LEADER, SICAP, Skillnet, Work ability and the Community Centres Fund (R ylane) Secondly to build on and advance the implementation of those programmes already in place, like our Local and Employment Ser vice (LAES) Community Mental Health, Social Farming; Home Carers, Addiction CE Scheme as well as Rural Social Scheme, Tus and Community Employment and thirdly to support and grow social enterprises based within IRD Duhallow as well as those that are independent and whose star tup we have assisted
This Progress Repor t outlines the achievements and illustrates the activities that we have continued to grow and fur ther develop again this year A few to note are LEADER €525,000 committed to 15 projects and SICAP has committed €60,844
Through our Skillnet programme we have a engaged 352 companies and funded 2,535 training days and held an outstanding Enterprise awards night recognising the achievements of 18 local enterprises culminating in an excellent Recognition of Learning event with M ichael Moynihan, M inister of State at the Depar tment of Education and Youth with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion and Dave Flynn of Skillnet Ireland presenting almost 200 awards including QQI Level 5, 6 and 8
Work ability has progressed with 14 par ticipants benefiting from our suppor t this year Our Walks Scheme was expanded in the past year with 6 farmers added to the Duhallow Way achieving an additional 4 Km of waymarked way In addition, two looped walks in Kiskeam and the popular Boherbue Ditch Walk were completed with Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Funding and great work done by RSS and Tus par ticipants
The Community Centre Fund, our major project in Rylane is going to tender with a completion date in 2026 Our Afterschools has increased its capacity and is currently serving 40 school children opening from 7 00am for Breakfast Club and up to 6 00pm with all day ser vice when school is out
Our Community Mental Health Project has expanded its reach with a listening service and increased emphasis on and suppor ts offered to rural men and farmers in par ticular While our Social Farming Programme continues to expand with new farming families coming on board and the James O’Keeffe Memorial Foundation Social Farm is accommodating over 20 par ticipants
We were disappointed not to get an EIP project for the River Allow moreover given the pressure on the river after the chemical incident last year, however we are delighted to have the LAWPRO farming for Blue Dot on the Owentaraglin river while Waters of Life suppor ts improvements with farmers on the Awbeg
IRD Duhallow has been addressing climate change and sustainability for over two decades All our programmes and activities are contributing significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Local Authorities’ Local Economic Community Plans (LECP) Climate change has meant that we are experiencing more frequent and more extreme weather events as the Chairman has outlined Government policy is seeking a whole of society response IRD Duhallow has initiated and supported a strong response from this region through a number of programmes with our Warmer Homes project suppor ted by SEAI retrofitting homes across the wider region, delivering 4,937 homes and 33 community centres retrofitted to date, which is the equivalent of 4,473 tons of carbon and greenhouse gas removed Our environmental programmes have over the past 15 years addressed key areas to mitigate climate change including our uplands, rivers and agriculture, we know that farmers are key to proving solutions and driving change not only mitigating climate change but also to improving Water Quality
Likewise, our Furniture Revamp has rescued 280 tons of furniture from going to landfill and has added paint rec ycling with 11 tons saved from costly expor t for incineration This affordable Relove paint project which is supported by Cork County and City Council has benefited 58 community buildings in the past year funded by the Local Authority
I am mindful that all these social enterprises rely heavily on RSS, Tús, CE par ticipants as well as Community Ser vice Programme funded staff IRD Duhallow suppor ts Duhallow Community Food Ser vices as it grows to meet community demand for Meals on Wheels and School meals, reducing food miles while delivering hot nutritious meals and freshly cooked dinners to the Secondar y and Primar y Schools in our area Finally, through LEADER IRD Duhallow along with par tner companies Galway Rural Development and Kilkenny LEADER Par tnership
jointly commissioned experts Etownz to develop a Curriculum for other LEADER Groups and communities to implement Smar t Village plans for the sustainability of their communities’ futures
IRD Duhallow is blessed with a professional versatile and capable staff and exceptional leadership at Board and subcommittee level Since coming to IRD Duhallow, I have ser ved 11 Chairpersons, all of whom have shown great strength and character and have given generously and freely of their time Our outgoing Chairperson Michael Twohig has cer tainly led by example with hands on suppor t and courageous leadership Through his attendance at least weekly and often more at our office he has made himself freely available to all staff as well as the Management Teams and me Michael has several businesses and spor ting interests to which he will now be able to dedicate more time Thank you for your strong suppor t throughout your tenure Likewise, Anne Maria Bourke has ser ved previously as Chairperson and ViceChairperson and has too given ver y generously of her time and exper tise to the Company Like the Chairperson she is frequently at our office and available to all of us for advice and guidance, as well as ser ving on a number of our sub committees
It is vital that IRD Duhallow continues to have the people, skills and experience to grow and develop the programmes and implement the strategies the Board decide and oversee We have lost some staff members to Local Authorities but also regrettably because of the lack of childcare places in the region This is something that we need to address into the future by suppor ting the existing creches and perhaps getting new facilities established
We have recruited six great people with a range from enthusiastic and newly graduated to those with several years outside experience which they now bring to enhance our teams Welcome to Lenora Kelly, Melissa Holland, Ellie Donovan, Aidan Suar t, Shane McHale and William Lucid who have joined a robust body of staff and super visors that have shown agility and determination to add value to all our programmes and also have developed a great rappor t and commitment to the communities they ser ve, embracing the culture and values of the organisation We remember DJ Sheehan, from our Warmer Homes team who succumbed to terminal illness this year He was a multi-talented and skilled RSS par ticipant who worked on all of our large scale projects He is sadly missed by all who knew and worked with him
IRD Duhallow, uniquely in our sector, has an all-female management team, that I am for tunate and proud to lead Five courageous, innovative, responsive, caring and driven young women who guide and lead their teams professionally and collaboratively We pride ourselves in having a truly integrated approach in the deliver y of all programmes to ensure the best outcome for Duhallow and its people Eileen Linehan, Triona Dennehy, Helen O’Sullivan, Louise Bourke and Jack ie Kelly through their work have made my job all the more enjoyable and easier I thank each and ever y one of you Eileen as Assistant CEO and I have been working ver y closely on all our major projects, and I commend her for her excellent work in producing this year ’ s Progress Repor t
Looking to the future, IRD Duhallow remaining true to its values and mission, will continue to work closely with our communities, target groups and our stakeholders to address their unmet and emerging needs We k now from the demographic changes that we are facing, that childcare and elder care will need to be ratcheted up We are already addressing the staffing needs of both sectors through Sk illnet and upskilling, but we will have to look to government to see how infrastructure and expansion as well as new facilities can be built as a matter of urgency
Duhallow Community Food Ser vices will need a significant expansion of its facility in order to meet the needs of a growing elderly population as well as suppor t local schools’ hot meals Our Ukrainian response continues and unfor tunately there does not yet seem to be an end in sight to the war Geopolitical influences, that are often most manifest far from Duhallow, can and do have a massive impact on our work
We are reading with interest the European Commission and Parliament process in agreeing the next round of financial suppor t with the Common Agricultural Policy coming under pressure Within CAP LEADER has resided and therefore will too come under pressure, but I am heartened that commentators at all levels have emphasised its importance to the Social and Economic and Environmental future of Rural Europe
So, with confidence in the extraordinary commitment of our Board, sub-Committees, communities, as well as the agility, professionalism and dedication of our management team and entire staff we look back on the past year ’ s achievements and look for ward to the next year To borrow a phrase from someone close in IRD Duhallow we do not just state our values we work and live them
IRD Duhallow Board Members
M I C H A E L T W O H I G
M ichael is a founder member of IRD Duhallow and currently ser ving his second term as Chairman of the Organisation, having previously been Chair from 2011 to 2013 He sits on the Finance Committee as well as the HR and Environment Work ing Groups M ichael represents K anturk Chamber of Commerce on the Board With his wife Noreen and family, M ichael owns Super valu Stores in K anturk , Abbeyfeale and Askeaton A keen angler and countr y spor ts enthusiast he has developed a number of angling projects in Duhallow
B R E E DA M OYN I H A N C R O N I N
Breeda re -joined the Board in 2014 to represent Duhallow ’ s Social Enterprises and held the position of Chairperson from 2019-2022 Breeda was a member of Dáil Éireann from 1992 – 2007 and a member of Kerr y Co Council from 1999- 2003 and from 20112013 Ser ving her community for over 20 years, her constituenc y included the East Kerr y area of Duhallow She is involved in a number of voluntar y and charitable organisations
PA D R A I C O ’CO N N E L L
Padraic is from K anturk where he lives with his wife and two teenage daughters He is Chairman of the IRD Duhallow Enterprise Work ing Group In his work Padraic is Director of Energy Security at Gas Networks Ireland having held senior management position there in Human Resources, Energy Polic y, Commercial, PR, Marketing and Legal for over 20 years Padraic is actively involved in various community, school board and spor ting clubs in K anturk He is also an avid golfer and is a member of K anturk where he is Captain for 2025 and Killarney Golf Clubs and plays a little Tennis in Lombardstown Tennis Club
B A R RY O ’CO N N O R
A N N E MA R I A B O U R K E
Anne Maria is the current Vice Chairperson of IRD Duhallow She represents the INTO on the Board and held the position of company Chair from 2015- 2018 She is a former National School Principal and continues to work closely with State agencies in an advisor y capacity She is currently the Chair of the Finance Work ing Group and Vice Chairperson of the Women s Forum Work ing Group as well as sitting on the HR Committee She is a keen bridge player and is a member of the K anturk Bridge Club
CO R MAC CO L L I N S
Cormac is a former Chairman of IRD Duhallow holding the role from 2012 to 2015 He is from Gneeveguilla and works as a Senior Manager in the ESB He was appointed to the Board to represent the State sector having previously ser ved as Community Representative for Western Duhallow He is the current chairman of Gneeveguilla Community Council, who developed a cultural centre in Gneeveguilla village, “ Teach Failte” He ser ves on the HR, Finance and Community Development Work ing Groups
A MA N DA O ’S U L L I VA N
Amanda comes from Boherbue and is a primar y school teacher in Ballyclough National School She was nominated to the Board of IRD Duhallow in 2022 as the Macra Na Feirme representative Amanda is the current chairperson of Banteer Macra, is the Rural Youth representative for Avondhu and she is also on the National Rural Youth sub- committee Amanda represented Macra na Feirme on a Study Session entitled “Food as a Human Rite “in Budapest last year Amanda has previously been the PRO for her club
PAU L A H E R N E
Paul is a member of An Garda Síochána holding the rank of Inspector He is employed as a Community engagement Inspector attached to the Cork Nor th West Policing area which incorporates the entire IRD Duhallow region He is currently attached to Mallow Garda Station He previously ser ved as the Sergeant in charge of K anturk Garda station from 2011-2019 He has 27 years ’ experience in Policing both rural and urban environments Paul holds a BSc in Police Leadership & Governance from UCD He is a native of Co Clare and has resided in K anturk since 2006 with his wife and two daughters He is actively involved in both Banteer Camogie club and K anturk ladies Football club as an underage coach
D O M I N I C C R O N I N
Barr y represents Inland Fisheries Ireland and joined the Board of IRD Duhallow in 2024 He is the Director of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Development Programme where he oversees the administration of funding schemes, the restoration of damaged river habitats and the stock of angling access infrastructure Barr y is a Char tered Civil Engineer with over 20 years experience in river engineering and flood risk management G E R A L D I N E G A LV I N
Dominic joined the Board in July 2021 representing the ICMSA He is a dair y farmer from Boherbue and is the current Chairman of Duhallow ICMSA, as well as Vice Chairman of Nor th and East Cork ICMSA He is currently a Member of the ICMSA National Council, Dair y Committee and a member of the ICOS Dair y Committee Dominic has ser ved as a Board member of Boherbue Co-Op since 2005 and is a member of the National Water Forum He is a former Chairman of the National Dair y Council and currently sits on the Board of Ornua cooperative
Geraldine is the Administrator of the Lee Valley Enterprise Board that promotes business and all aspects of Macroom town and the greater surrounding area of the beautiful Lee Valley A qualified Financial Advisor and former Commercial Bank Manager, with experience in por tfolio management in the Business and Agri sector and in credit risk , Geraldine holds a T T T QQI 6 and Diploma in Specialty Food Production from UCC Geraldine in involved in the local community as a volunteer with a number of local organisations and clubs in Macroom
IRD Duhallow Board Members
G E R A L D I N E O ’L E A RY
Geraldine was elected to the Board of IRD Duhallow in July 2021 representing South Eastern Duhallow She is the current vice chair of the Enterprise Work ing Group Living in M illstreet with her family, Geraldine is a volunteer on M illstreet Town Park Committee She recently concluded a 20-year tenure with Aon Ireland to focus on family life and other commitments During her career at Aon she progressed to the role of Senior Retirement Consultant, managing a por tfolio of multinational clients and trustee groups
C A I T R I N G
Cait was elected to the board in July, 2025 representing M id Cork Cait is ver y involved in her local community committees of both Carriganima Community Development & is the Treasurer of Carriganima Community Association - CART Rural Bus Transpor t She is married to Christy ands they run their family business an Agricultural Tractor & Machiner y Business in Carriganima Cait also works as a full time Civil Ser vant in the Financial Area in the Dept O f Justice Equality & Law Reform
M I C H E L L E G R E E N E
M ichelle Green is a native of Freemount and lives there with her husband K arol and their children, M isha and Luk a She holds a degree in Government and Public Polic y, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and a Master ’ s in Public Management With over 20 years ’ experience leading environmental projects, she has managed Cork County Council s Environmental Awareness O ffice since 2019 An active member of her local community for many years, she recently co-founded the Freemount Women’s Shed and now ser ves as its co- chair
PAT B R O S N A N
Pat was elected to the Board to represent Western Duhallow in July 2020 He has over 20 years ' experience as an online marketing consultant Pat has lived in Gneeveguilla for over 40 years and has been involved in the GAA, Walk ing and Basketball Clubs He is an active member Gneeveguilla Development Association He also updates Rathmore Parish website He is the Chair of our Equality Work ing Group
MA RY WA L L AC E
Mar y Wallace is the Board's former Chairperson and sits on the Women & Childcare Work ing Group, she is also a member of our Finance Committee and chairs the Social Enterprise Work ing group and our HR committee She was originally elected to the Board in 2015 representing the communities of our South Eastern Region She is a retired Civil Ser vant having ser ved in the Depar tment of Employment & Social Protection She has ser ved on the Boards of Management of both primar y and secondar y schools and is an active member of Donoughmore Community Council ser ving as Treasurer and coordinates the Community Aler t scheme
R O S I E H E A LY
Rosie joined the board of IRD Duhallow in July 2023 and represents the South Eastern Region She sits on our Social Economy Work ing Group She is involved in various groups locally on a voluntar y basis including Banteer, Lyre Nadd and Districts Community Council, Lyre School Parents Association & Lyre Pre School Board She is from Banteer where she lives with her husband and twin boys Rosie works with Eli Lilly where she has held various management roles over her 13 years tenure with the company
J O S E P H C R O N I N
Joseph is a resident of Macroom and deeply involved in community and environmental initiatives across M id Cork Actively work ing with Macroom Tidy Towns, Macroom GAA and local organisations, he has helped coordinate volunteer effor ts and environment focused projects Jospeh is a qualified commercial pilot holding both MEI (Multi-Engine Instrument) and CFII (Cer tified Flight Instructor Instrument) cer tifications in the United States and Ireland
PAU L M U R P HY
Paul is from Newmarket where he lives with his wife and two children Paul works in Cork College of FE T – Mallow Campus where he has been deputy principal since 2013 He was nominated to the Board in July 2022 to represent the communities of Nor th Eastern Duhallow Paul is currently involved in a number of voluntar y organisations, ser ving as vice chairperson of Newmarket Spor ts & Leisure and as treasurer of the Board of Management for the local primar y school
B I L LY D E N N E HY
Billy Dennehy was elected to the Board of IRD Duhallow as a community representative for the Western Duhallow region He is the chairperson of IRD Duhallow ’ s Community Development Work ing Group He is an active member of the Kiskeam Community and is the current Development O fficer of the Kiskeam Development Association, Treasurer of Kiskeam District and Social Action Group and member of Kiskeam GAA Club He is work ing as an Area Engineer with Cork County Council Billy is married to Emily and they have two children
J U DY O ’L E A RY
Judy first joined the Board of IRD Duhallow in 1997 representing women ’ s ’ groups She Chairs the Women and Childcare Work ing Group and is a member of the HR Work ing Group Judy is a founding member of the Duhallow Women’s Forum She hails from Dromtariffe and is actively involved in her local community She is a long standing member of the Irish Countr y Women’s Association and is a member of the Kiskeam Guild She has also ser ved as Vice Chairperson of IRD Duhallow for three years
IRD Duhallow Board Members
J O H N B R E E N
John represents the Environment Work ing Group on the Board He retired in September 2022 as Director of Ser vices with responsibility for Environment & Water Ser vices, Fire and Emergenc y ser vices, Civil Defence and Librar y ser vices as well as Municipal District manager for the Castleisland / Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District with Kerr y County Council He has also previously ser ved as Director of Ser vices in Limerick City and as Town Clerk in Tralee and Town Manager of Listowel and Killarney Town Councils A native of Kilkenny city he presently resides in Castleisland
C L L R G O B N A I T M
OYN I H A N
Gobnait joined the Board of IRD Duhallow in June
2016 Gobnait was elected as a County Councillor by the people of M illstreet / Macroom Municipal District, and has been representing the people of the area since 2016 Gobnait works closely with her brother Aindrias Moynihan TD to represent the people of the area The IRD Duhallow region was expanded to incorporate the greater Macroom, Inchigeelagh, R ylane area Gobnait continues to build bonds between IRD Duhallow ’ s existing networks and communities in her own constituenc y
C L L R F I O
N N Á N F I T ZG E R A L D
Fionnán is a secondar y teacher and was first elected Councillor for the Castleisland Area in May 2019 He was nominated to the Board of IRD Duhallow to represent Kerr y County Council at that time and has remained on the board since He has been a community activist for many years par ticularly in the field of social inclusion for elderly, community aler t groups and also the provision of spor t for youth
DAV I D D OYL E
David Doyle joined the Board in July 2015 as a nominee of the Chief Executive of Kerr y County Council David holds the position of Senior Engineer in the Operations & Safety section of Kerr y County Council He is currently work ing on the development of proposals for URDF projects in Killarney and Tralee, and RRDF projects in Caherciveen and Valentia Cable Station He previously worked in Roads directorate and as Killarney Town Engineer David lives in Beaufor t, Killarney and is an active member of the local Tidy Towns
J
A M E S O ’K E E F F E
James is the Blue Dot Farmer Representative on the Board He is a four th- generation dair y farmer from Lismire He is Chairman of the Newmarket Charleville ICMSA and was elected to the National Council of ICMSA in 2021 James was on Kerr y co- op advisor y committee from 2011 – 2021 and ser ved as a Board member of Kerr y Co- op from 2018 to 2024 He is an outdoor enthusiast who is married to Aine and they have two children
C L L R MA R T I N CO U G H L A N
Mar tin joined the Board of IRD Duhallow in 2019 He is a member of Cork County Council representing the Macroom Municipal District Mar tin was previously a Town Councillor in Macroom for 20 years Mar tin is a retired FAS super visor who lives in Macroom and is an active Community worker He is the current Chairman of the Macroom Tidy Towns group and on the Board of Directors of the Brier y Gap and also works with the Enterprise Board organising the Food Festival, the St Patricks Day parade and the erection of the Macroom town Christmas lights
C L L R I A N D OYL E
Ian joined the Board in 2019 Hailing from Charleville he was a founding member of Charleville Agricultural Show He is a member of the St Vincent de Paul, Holy Cross Conference and was its President for many years He is Vice Chairman of the Charleville Heritage Society, Chairperson of the Charleville Tidy Towns Committee and he is currently a board member of Ballyhoura Development, Charleville Sheltered Housing and Community Care, Charleville Community Hall, Charleville Chamber, and Newtownshandrum Community Association He also sits on the Board of Management of St Mar ys Secondar y School and the CBS Primar y School Charleville
IRD Duhallow CLG. Company Str ucture
IRD Duhallow is a Community based Rural Development Company established in 1989 I t is a Company Limited by Guarantee without share capital I t has charitable status and our directors are voluntar y and receive no remuneration for their ser vices
The Board of IRD Duhallow adheres to the Governance Code Principles Statement since 2013 and is listed on the Register of Compliance The Constitution reflects best practice and is in accordance with the Charities Act, 2011 The Board membership reflects the integration of S ocial I nclusion and Rural D e velopment, the impor tance of the environment and community volunteers and the democratically elected Local Authority Members Reflective of the integrated nature of our work , the Company ’ s Board and Sub Committee Structures have evolved over the years and enjoy a massive amount of good will and voluntar y contribution in the region
Upwards of 3,500 people, par ticipate from the bottom up approach through these struc tures IRD Duhallow has a number of Work ing Groups with representatives from our Board and staff as well as community and State sector representatives This structure allows us to target specific exper tise beneficial to the implementation of the strategic aims assigned to the par ticular wor k ing group IRD Duhallow continues to str ive for excellence through the ongoing training and development of our staff We have attained the Excellence Through People Standard, I reland ’ s standard for Human R esource Management which is now administered by the National Standards Authority of Ireland
Details Of Staf f
EILEEN LINEHAN
B A (Econ & Geog), MBS (Business Economics), Dip Personnel Mng
Dip in Public Procurement EU funded projects
Eileen is the Assistant Manager and suppor ts the Manager in the day-to- day running of the company including Human Resources & the financial operations of a number of programmes & Social Enterprises She manages the LEADER programme and monitors LEADER through its IT system
Eileen suppor ts the Team Leaders in their roles to ensure effective and efficient running of their teams and programmes She represents Local Development Companies on Cork County Childcare Committee, which she currently chairs
HELEN O’SULLIVAN
B Soc Sc(Batchelor of Social Science) , Masters of Social Science, Dip Com Leadership & Mgt, Cer t in Agri
Helen is the Community Ser vices Team Leader She oversees the Rural Community Health Initiative, Towards Occupation, Work ability Programme and Afterschools She co- ordinates our Uk rainian Response & New Arrivals Programme and liaises with other agencies involved at regional level
Helen works on both the LEADER & SICAP Programmes suppor ting community groups in Duhallow access suppor ts and funding She also oversees the Community Development& Youth & Equality Work ing Groups
NOLLAIG MURPHY
Masters of Social Work, H Dip Social Policy, B A (hons Sociology and Histor y), Q Q I level 6 Training Deliver y and Evaluation
Nollaig is employed since 2017 as a Development O fficer with IRD Duhallow She works on both LEADER and SICAP programmes She coordinates the Communicating Europe Initiative, organising events that foster public engagement with EU matters Her role includes work on heritage projects She also works on social inclusion activities that suppor ts integration of new communities She is a tutor on the T TRS computer classes, which are par t of IRD Duhallow ’ s Literac y Suppor t Programme aimed at enhancing children's reading, writing, and spelling sk ills
LENORA KELLY
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Agricultural Science
Lenora joined IRD Duhallow in November 2024 as a Development Officer she is responsible for the assisting with the SICAP and SAOI Programmes and has worked with the Communicating Europe Programme Lenora is also Case Officer with the Local Area Employment Ser vices Her responsibilities include identifying local employment oppor tunities, sourcing relevant training to enhance clients’ sk illsets, and suppor ting their pathways to future employment
P.J. MURPHY
MA Sociology (Youth, Communit y and Social Regeneration), B A Economics and Sociology
P J joined IRD Duhallow ’ s Community Ser vices Team in November 2021 as the Social Enterprise Development
O fficer P J works with social enterprises across Duhallow by organising training and workshops to help their development and increase their social impact PJ also works across LEADER and SICAP in his role as a Development
O fficer He is also a Case O fficer on the LAES Programme and he helps with the coordination and implementation of the LAES He works one -to- one with long-term unemployed clients to help them find employment
TRIONA DENNEHY
MBS Cooperative and Social Enterprise, B Sc Public Health & Health Promotion, IMCV Professional Manager Award, Training Deliver y & Evaluation(QQIL6)
Triona is Employment, Training and Social Inclusion Team Leader with overall responsibility for SICAP and the Local Area Employment Ser vices Programme She oversees the Equality and Training briefs including: Duhallow REVAMP, the Walks Scheme, CE Rehabilitation Scheme, Social Farming, RSS and Tús She works with communities in Western Duhallow and M id Cork to access LEADER funding and suppor ts the work of both the Community and Employment Work ing Groups
LOUISE BOURKE
B C L , Masters in Criminal Justice, Masters in Management, Dip in Learning & Development, Cer t in Agri , IMCV Professional Manager Award; Training Deliver y & Evaluation(QQIL6)
Louise joined IRD Duhallow in November 2010 and is the Enterprise & Environment Team Leader She coordinates the Enterprise and Tourism suppor t measures of LEADER and SICAP Louise implements the sk illnet programme in the region, coordinating quality affordable training for local businesses and she is the appointed staff liaison for the Enterprise Work ing Group She oversees the Environment measures and has responsibility for the Community Investment Fund
MONICA GILMORE
Diploma in Learning & Development, Diploma In Business, Digital Marketing Institute Professional, Training & Development QQI Level 6
Monica joined the IRD Duhallow team in June 2021 as Development O fficer on the Enterprise Team Monica works as Business Development Manager for the Company ’ s Community Enterprises through the Community Ser vices Programme She promotes good business practices, developing the social enterprises and suppor ting their staff Monica also assists with IRD’s Sk illnet Programme, suppor ting local businesses to upsk ill and develop talent She coordinates the enterprise and tourism actions of the LEADR programme
MELISSA HOLLAND
PG Dip in Sociology (Youth, Communit y & Social Regeneration), BA in Sociology and Psychology, Cer tificate in Low-Arousal method
Melissa joined IRD Duhallow in March 2025 as a Development O fficer She coordinates the Afterschool’s programme and the WorkAbility programme The WorkAbility programme focuses on progressive employment pathways for individuals with diverse needs through education, training, sk ills development, and tailored suppor ts She also oversees the Youth, Children, and Families actions under SICAP and ser ves as the staff resource for the Youth and Education Work ing Group
SHANE McHALE
BA Social Care
Shane joined IRD Duhallow in May 2025 in the role of Rural Community Health Worker, with a strong focus on suicide prevention and inter vention Shane suppor ts initiatives that seek to promote awareness of mental health issues and that empower members of the community to take charge of their own mental health Shane also acts as a bridge to various suppor t ser vices both within IRD Duhallow and in the broader region Men’s mental health, and the greater par ticipation of men in health initiatives, are a par ticular focus of his work
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JACKIE KELLY
BBus Honours, Bachelor of Business, BBus Advanced Cer tificate in Accounting, Training Deliver y & Evaluation (QQI L6)
Jack ie joined IRD Duhallow in September 2020 and is the Accounts Manager She is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the company ’ s financial systems and procedures She presents financial repor ts for management and the Board of Directors monthly She prepares financial returns for programs such as LEADER and SICAP, monitors Budgets and prepares variance analysis along with commentar y Jack ie liaises with company auditors for yearend accounts
MAGGIE O’CALLAGHAN
Maggie joined IRD Duhallow in Januar y 2020 She is currently suppor ting the finance depar tment through the preparation and processing of monthly accounts for both Duhallow Community Food Ser vices and IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp Maggie is responsible for compiling associated financial repor ts, which are presented at the monthly Board and Social Economy Work ing Group meetings, whilst also offering suppor t to Management Maggie liaises with the Duhallow Community Food Ser vices company auditors for the preparation of the yearend financial statement Maggie also contributes to the main accounts within IRD Duhallow through the preparation and processing of Accounts Payable
AIDAN SUART
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science
Aidan joined IRD Duhallow in March 2025 as the Farming for Water Agricultural Community Animator He is responsible for the recruitment of farmers into the Farming for Water EIP project, promoting best practices and assisting in community led work to enhance the reach and impact of the Farming for Water EIP Aidan is the staff resource to the Environment and Agriculture Work ing groups
C I A R Á N C A R M O DY
B A in Economics and Geography, M A in Rural Futures Planning and Innovation
Ciarán joined IRD Duhallow in April 2024 as a Development O fficer, work ing mainly as a case officer with the Local Area Employment Ser vices Ciarán’s responsibilities include exploring employment oppor tunities in the area and identifying training to improve the client ’ s sk illset and increase their chances of employment in the future Ciarán meets clients of the LAES in our Newmarket and Macroom offices Ciarán also suppor t communities in LEADER & SICAP Applications
A N N A C I E S LO W S K A
MSc Management Information and Managerial Accounting Systems, B A Economics (Through Transformational Learning)
Anna has joined IRD Duhallow in June 2024 as a Development O fficer on the Enterprise Team She is responsible for coordinating LEADER projects to suppor t local businesses based in Duhallow, creating vibrant rural areas She is also involved in facilitating affordable training & sk ills through our Sk illnet programme to drive the development of local enterprises Anna also provides suppor t to our Social Enterprises
Margaret is the Senior Accounts Administrator and has been employed by IRD Duhallow for twenty- eight years She has responsibility for Duhallow Sk illnet and Out of Schools Accounts She prepares monthly accounts and completes the financial returns for both Programmes and submits them to Depar tments on a monthly and quar terly basis She prepares budget v actual repor ts for Management and monitors Debtors for each Programme She repor ts to the Social Economy Work ing Group each month on the financial information for Afterschools
JULIE O’FLAHERT Y
Bachelor of Business Studies & Finance, Training Deliver y & Evaluation QQI6
Julie joined IRD Duhallow in March 2015 and is par t of the Finance depar tment Her primar y responsibilities are in relation to Payroll for various programmes within the company Her role includes processing week ly payrolls and generating associated repor ts She is also responsible for CSP returns in relation to the Wages Grant received from Pobal Julie’s role also includes reconciliation of Creditor Accounts and processing payments to Suppliers on a monthly basis Julie also processes the applications for Personal Alarms units through the Senior Aler t Scheme
COLM O’CONNOR
Super visor y management QQI Ll6, Training deliver y & Evaluation QQI L6, Manual Handling Instructor QQI L6 Major award in carpentr y and joiner y QQI L6
Colm joined IRD Duhallow and the Furniture Revamp Team in 2016 and in 2020 has been the Revamp Kickstar t Programme coordinator He was appointed RSS Super visor in November 2021 and Rural Recreation O fficer in 2025 Colm looks after the transpor t por tfolio in the company and coordinates the maintenance of our fleet of vehicles He also suppor ts our Circular Economy Initiatives Colm is a member of the Health and Safety committee and is one of the in-house manual handling instructor
E L L I E D O N O VA
N
Environment, S ustainabilit y and Climate (QQI L7), Training Needs
Identification & D esign and D eliver y & Evaluation (QQI L6), H D ip Applied S o cial Studies, Royal Hor t S o c Hor ticulture & Applied Propagation
Ellie joined IRD Duhallow in April 2025 as Social Farming Coordinator She manages our Social Farm and Community Gardens and facilitates Towards Occupation and Work ability gardening groups, as well as Gardening CE Scheme par ticipants She is responsible for recruiting and suppor ting host farmers and project par ticipants Ellie is a committee member of Community Gardens Ireland and is the current secretar y of The Environmental Forum’s board of directors
DERVAL CORBET T
ECDL, Cer t in Super visor y Management
Der val is employed as an Administrator based in the Reception O ffice She has been employed by IRD Duhallow on a par t time basis for 25 years She deals with initial queries to the company and provides administration suppor t to Management and Staff Her areas of responsibility include the company ’ s administration requirements and is editor of the company ’ s monthly Newsletter, which is circulated to over 14,000 homes Der val is one of the Liaison Persons with the National Vetting Bureau on behalf of Par tnership Companies suppor ting Garda Vetting Applications nationally
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MARIE FLEMING
BSc Rural Development; Super visor y Management, (QQI L6); Payroll Manual & Computerise (QQI L 5); Cer tificate in Health & Safet y in the Workplace
Marie is super visor of the Rural Social Scheme and oversees the par ticipant ’ s placements throughout the Duhallow region She is secretar y of the Health and Safety Committee and coordinates company training and development in line with Excellence Through People guidelines Her other duties include overseeing the Company ’ s IT and Phone Systems and ensures we are compliant with national bodies such as the Charities and Lobbying Regulator and the Standards in Public O ffice
COLM CROWLEY
Diploma in Rural Development, Cer tificate in Business Studies, IMCV Professional Manager Award, Building Energy Rating Assessor
Colm joined IRD Duhallow in July 2007 as the Warmer Homes Scheme Coordinator and is responsible for the implementation of a number of SEAI programmes which include the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme, Home Incentive Scheme, Better Energy Communities and Senior Aler t Scheme Colm coordinates staff training in line with the National Standard Authority of Irelands Cavity Wall Insulation System Colm is responsible for the preparation of monthly accounts for Warmer Homes and processes the Payroll on a week ly basis Colm chairs IRD Duhallow s Health and Safety Committee and is a fully qualified Manual Handling instructor
Amanda joined IRD Duhallow in September 2022 as the CE Assistant Super visor and is currently responsible for work ing alongside Paddy O’Connor in assisting people who are long term unemployed to work towards their personal and career goals developing their sk ills and encouraging them back into mainstream employment, helping each par ticipant develop a tailored progression plan She also oversees the payroll/finances and administration for the CE scheme
Y U L I I A I L I A S H E N KO
Batchelors of Civil Law (BCL), Masters in Criminal Law
Yuliia joined IRD Duhallow in September 2022 as an Integration Officer She supports both refugees and asylum seekers across the region, offering tailored information to help them navigate local systems Yuliia organises a range of workshops and training programmes focused on building employment-related skills and supporting mental health and well-being She also continues to provide interpreting support at the weekly GP clinic She works closely with the local Housing Department under the Offer a Home scheme, helping newly arrived families access accommodation In collaboration with our Tús supervisors, she also supports Ukrainian participants engaged in the Tús activation programme, guiding them through the process and helping them integrate into the local community
E L MA R I E YO U N G
B Soc Sc - Batchelor of Social Work QQI L6 Social and Vocational Integration Diploma in Events Managements, Irish Academy of Public Relations QQI L5 Psychology QQI L5 Communit y and Healthcare Cer tificate in Teaching Adult Learners
Elmarie joined the IRD Duhallow team in Februar y 2024 as the Rural Community Health Worker and in 2025, she was appointed to the role of Co- ordinator of the C E Rehabilitation Scheme She works with individuals in recover y from substance misuse and addiction around their employment and education needs, in order to reintegrate them into the community and enable them to gain employment in their chosen area
PADDY O’CONNOR
Communit y Employment Super visor
Paddy has over twenty four years ’ experience in the role of CE Super visor In that time, he has suppor ted par ticipants on the scheme to develop their sk ills and encourages them to access training in their bid to return to mainstream employment using the online Individual Learning Plan Computer System whereby each par ticipant receives a tailored progression plan Paddy liaises will all sub sponsors on the scheme to ensure we are providing maximum benefit to the communities we ser ve He also works closely with the IRD Duhallow Job Centre Employment O fficer
DON MURPHY
Cer t in Archaeology ; Cer t in Oral Histor y; Training Deliver y and Evaluation (QQI L6)
Don was appointed Tús Super visor in June 2011 His main areas of responsibility include placement, induction, training and super vision of scheme par ticipants in the areas of built heritage renovation and vintage machiner y restoration Don has over 20 years experience as a subcontractor in the construction industr y in Ireland and abroad He is a master craftsman and stonemason and trains par ticipants on the LTI, T O and other in house programmes
MA R I I A PA LC H A K
Masters in Philology, English and French language and literature, Cer t in Administration
Mariia is the Integration O fficer, CFI Coordinator, and Interpreter at IRD Duhallow She joined IRD Duhallow in June 2022 as a par t of Uk rainian Response team In her role, Mariia organises a wide range of activities including work-related training courses, mental health and wellbeing events, and integration initiatives She also provides tailored career guidance and suppor t to individuals navigating employment pathways Since April 2025, Mariia has taken on responsibilities under the Community Food Initiative (CFI), where she actively promotes healthy eating habits among vulnerable groups, with the goal of improving nutrition and reducing health inequalities across the community
A L I N A O ’MA H O NY
Masters Diploma in English Language & Literature
Alina joined IRD Duhallow in 2022 as a par t-time interpreter and has been work ing full-time as a Uk rainian Suppor t Worker since Januar y 2023 She assists the Uk rainian community through interpretation, event coordination, and social media updates Alina helps organise drop-in clinics and suppor ts newcomers settling into Duhallow In addition, Alina works as a Case O fficer with the LAES, guiding individuals through personalised employment plans She suppor ts clients with job searching, CV preparation, and accessing training or education, helping them integrate into the workforce and achieve their goals
W I L L I A M LU C I D
B
of Eng, Mechanical Fitter & Machinist
Billy was appointed as Tús super visor in July of 2025 His main areas of responsibility include – recruiting, managing and super vising scheme par ticipants in several different community development settings He provides on-site direction to ensure effective per formance and personal development of par ticipants Billy has 40 years of experience involving industrial maintenance & upkeep , with experience in hydronic and steam heating systems and RTU maintenance along with vintage machiner y restoration Initiatives on Irish heritage and historic sites are of great interest to him
Environment
IRD Duhallow since its inception has had the environment as one of the four pillars of our strategic plan M ichael Doyle continues to chair the Environment Work ing Group, which has made great strides in developing a range of projects across Duhallow We continue to promote projects that positively impact the environment we live in One of the key objectives of the environment work ing group is to raise awareness about environmental issues with an emphasis on safeguarding endangered species and habitats
Fluvial Geomorphology Assessment of Owentaraglin River IRD Duhallow has engaged a consultanc y agenc y to deliver and complete a field study of the r iver O wentaraglin sub basin The assessment will have two phases
Phase 1 will involve the collection of geomorphic data which will be used to assess reach scale pressures on the O wentaraglin The information that will be gathered will include floodplain morphology, riparian bankside cover, instream channel mor phology conditions, r iver engineer ing pressures and constraints, water management and other land pressures
Phase 2 will include a Restoration Options Assessment Repor t, the repor t will identify site specific, net work-wide and sub basin scale restoration measures within the context of phasing and prioritization, based on these outputs a recommendation of measures will be made following best practices and the scientific evidence with an emphasis on measures that can be applied by landowners through the likes of an EIP project that will maximize the impact on the catchment
Discover Duhallow Ecology Column
wildlife throughout the year Discover Duhallow is distributed widely in local shops and community centres, as well as online at https://w w w.irdduhallow.com/discover- duhallow-local- communitynews
River Blackwater Catchment Programme
A new catchment group for the Black water Catchment was formed in Spring 2025 IRD Duhallow will be work ing in collaboration with a diverse group of k e ystak eholders on the Black water R iver from the dair y and meat sec tors to gover nmental agencies and agr icultural advisors to deliver a whole catchment approach to water quality and environmental sustainabilit y along the Black water and its tr ibutar ies from source to sea The programme was launched in Apr il at The Firgrove Hotel, M itchelstown The programme led by Dair ygold which will tak e place over three years was launched by M inister for Agriculture Mar tin Heydon The programme is being suppor ted by LAWPRO’S Farming for Water EIP and will focus on three key areas including nutrient management, farm management and land management
Communities Planting for Biodiversity
Under the LEADER 14-20 programme sub theme ‘Protection and I mprovement of Local Biodiversity ’ IRD Duhallow was approved an umbrella project for communities across Duhallow This project has enabled communities to plant a variety of native hedgerows, woodland plants, fruit bushes and trees, nut trees, herbs, pollinator and butter fly friendly seeds, plants, and bulbs across the greater Duhallow region
The projec t has positively impac ted all par ticipating communities by increasing awareness of how local biodiversity enhances our quality of life I ts innovative focus on empowering communities to take ownership of local biodiversity is key By providing native and heritage trees, plants and mater ials, the projec t ensures long-ter m communit y suppor t of biodiversity I t will also lead to a significant reinstatement of the native flora and fauna lost through development and inappropriate actions of the past I t was great to see such significant uptak e from groups in communities, ranging from tidy towns committees and GAA clubs to community childcare facilities and schools
Sustainability Seminar
For mer IRD Duhallow Ecologist R owan Lanning will be publishing an ecology column throughout 2025 in IRD Duhallow ’ s for tnightly magazine Discover Duhallow, highlighting the flora, fauna, and wider environment of Duhallow both past and present Segments include information on the folk lore & ecology of native trees, plants, seasonal festivals, exploration of Duhallow ’ s water resources including holy wells and river ecology, the seasonal life c ycle of animals as well as tips and tricks to work ing with
I n November 2024 IRD Duhallow ’ s Environment Work ing Group was delighted to host a Sustainability Seminar Organised with the view of encouraging people to incorporate an attitude of sustainability into their lifestyles, this event included speakers offering guidance on food wastage and financial planning This event was organised under the SICAP Community Education and Lifelong Learning Measure with Waste Down and MABS The subject matter included waste prevention and green waste management, composting, and environmental awareness
IRD Duhallow has approved LEADER funding to develop Nature Calendars for 2025-2027 through the LEADER programme
Our Environment Working Group erected 5 swift towers across the Duhallow region and The JOK tower in Newmarket continues to be a busy spot!
Macroom Tidy Towns engaged with the LEADER 2014-2020 project Communities Planting for Biodiversity project, pictured is an example of the groups tree planting activities in Macroom Town
“Fox Among The Flowers” by Neily Cur tin IRD Duhallow received some amazing entries as par t of its 2025 calendar photography competition Follow the Discover Duhallow magazine’s regular nature columns for fur ther insights into local nature habitats
The Waters of LIFE Project
The EU Waters of LIFE project aims to reverse the decline of Ireland's most pristine rivers by work ing with landowners and communities to develop new solutions The project will operate a results-based agri- environment scheme from 2025 to 2028, Six sub catchments have been chosen as demonstration catchments for the Waters of Life Project
The famers that par ticipate in the scheme will under take initiatives to trial and develop water qualit y solution measures The Six Sub Catchments included in the Waters of Life project include the Avonmore, Duhallow ’ s Awbeg River as well as Graney, Sheen, Islands and the Shournagh
Waters of Life Approach: The continued loss of high-status waters is among the most concer ning, protrac ted and persistent water qualit y trend in I reland O ther water quality trends have well-understood cause and effect, with detailed plans in place to mitigate impacts More actions are necessar y to protect pristine waters Many of these waters are small, upland streams The protection and restoration of these waters is one of the key underpinning principles of the Water Framework Directive The overall objective of the Waters of LIFE IP is to suppor t the implementation of measures to protec t and enhance H igh-Status Waters and thus to suppor t the work of the Blue Dot Catchments Programme
Vision and Projec t Targets of the Waters of Life Projec t: The Waters of LIFE EIP will act as a catchment-scale demonstration project to test and validate the effectiveness of implementing locally tailored ‘best practice’ measures across a range of landscapes and land-uses typically associated with the catchments of high-status waters The projec t will tr ial and validate the implementation of measures at catchment scale across six pilot catchments with the view to:
• Building a technical understanding of the design and implementation of measures across a var iet y of k e y land-uses to deliver effec tive solutions at a catchment-wide scale for the protec tion of high-status waters
• Promoting communit y and landowner ownership of the ac tions
proposed and ensuring local communit y involvement in developing the land-use management actions to be implemented
• Mak ing recommendations that will inform the development of future agri- environment and forestr y policies and provide for the long-term sustainable management of high-status areas
• Enhancing public appreciation of the ecology, ecosystems and natural capital value of high-status waters and their catchments
• Developing and building synergies bet ween measures implemented to address water qualit y considerations and related biodiversit y objectives within the catchments of high-status waters, and:
• M onitor ing and demonstrating the effec tiveness of the measures implemented
The projec t will demonstrate the effec tive implementation of an integrated catchment-based approach for the application of measures to protect and/or restore all waters for which a high-status objective has been identified in I reland ’ s R iver Basin M anagement Plan I t will be implemented across six high-status river sub catchments comprising a mix ture of land-uses typical of such catchments
M easures to address var ious pressures including hydromor phology, forestr y, agriculture, wastewater and other pressures will be trailed in five of these areas, with the six th acting as a control Apar t from the control, these catchments have been chosen because the y at r isk of failing to meet the high-status objective that has been set for them under the River Basin Management Plan for I reland 2022-2027
Waters of Life in D uhallow : Awbeg (Kilbrin): This demonstration catchment is the sub catchment of the river Awbeg (but not the one that flows through Buttevant) which rises to the South of Liscarroll in Co Cork and flows Southwards to join the main channel of the Black water East of Banteer
The catchment has an area of approx 80k m² Both the water bodies that mak e up the demonstration catchment have a high-status objective However, one has fallen to good status for the last t wo monitoring c ycles, the other is not monitored, but has recently been assigned a predicted status of high by the EPA The significant pressures in this area are both agriculture and hydromorphology
A Riparian Zone which reduces pollutants and sediments entering watercourses
Cattle photographed overseeing proceeding’s during the completion of field work
The Freshwater Pearl Mussel a protected species found in the Duhallow region
Far ming for Water EIP
The Far ming for Water projec t is a ne w initiative under the European I nnovation Par tnership, the projec t aims to address water qualit y challenges throughout the countr y The 60-million- euro initiative led by LAWPRO and in par tnership with both Teagasc and Dair y Industr y Ireland, launched in 2024 and the projec t will run until 2027 The Far ming for Water EIP aims to improve water quality at local, catchment and national levels while also adding additional environmental benefits The project is open to farmers in priority catchments which are other wise k nown as priority areas for action These are specific areas within a larger catchment that have been identified as requiring focused attention for water quality improvements of farmers in these priorit y areas are potentially eligible for funding under the project There is a total of 43 mitigation measures available to assist in mak ing improvements in these areas
IRD Duhallow and the Farming for Water EIP
IRD Duhallow successfully secured a competitive a bid for 1 of 5 National Agr icultural Communit y Animator Posts The Communit y Animator is work ing with farmers in the Duhallow Region as par t of the Farming for Water EIP This will build on all the great work achieved by IRD Duhallow ’ s project farmers to date throughout previous LIFE & EIP projects, such as the Duhallow Blue Dot EIP and the O wentaraglin EIP
The Agr icultural Communit y Animator ’ s role includes wor k ing to communicate and promote the impor tance of good agr icultural prac tices to protec t and restore water qualit y in the Duhallow region, recruiting farmers into the project and showcasing areas of best practice
How does it work?
The Farming for Water project works by providing funding to farmers for the implementation of measures A total of 43 measures have been designed to assist in the protec tion of water qualit y by reducing the impacts of pollutants such as nitrates, phosphorus and sediment with a fur ther focus being placed on the reduc tion of pesticides into our watercourses Far mers with the help of the advisor identify k e y target area ’ s where mitigation measures are required These measures which go be yond regulator y requirements will assist in both maintaining and improving water qualit y across the countr y S ome of the measures available through the project include;
• Riparian Margins
• Bovine Fencing
• Nutrient Management Planning
• Tree Planting
Events
IRD Duhallow hosted an information event in June in the James O’Keeffe I nstitute The event was attended by farmers from catchments across the Duhallow R egion including the Allow and O wentaraglin catchments Far mers lear ned about the projec t, an over vie w was provided to the far mers on the projec t which included infor mation on the measures
available through the EIP, how the project works and the overall benefits of the projec t in fur ther improving their far ms contr ibution towards enhancing water quality and also promoting environmental benefits
Next Steps
This highly innovative project will continue to run until the end of 2026 The availabilit y of funding for additional mitigation measures on farms will assist in continuing the great wor k car r ied out by far mers in the Duhallow region
There is great enthusiasm amongst far mers in the Duhallow region to continue the success of the Duhallow Far ming for Blue D ot EIP and O wentaraglin EIP and the introduction of the Farming for Water EIP is a welcoming step in providing fur ther improvements to water quality and enhancing biodiversity
IRD Duhallow will continue to wor k alongside the farming community in Duhallow throughout this project in fur ther de veloping the great wor k achieved to date by the community by liaising with far mers on the nex t steps that can be tak en to fur ther build on ac tions and measures completed to date
IRD Duhallow ’ s CEO Maura Walsh opens an Information Evening held in the James O’Keeffe Institute
Farming for Water Community Animator Aidan Suar t presenting at an Information Event Held in May
The River Allow close to Freemount on a glorious summer s day
Local farmer John Walsh with IRD Duhallow s Aidan Suar t, Community Animator
Agriculture
New Sustainability in Agriculture training programmes
I n 2023, af ter consultation with K er r y Agr ibusiness milk suppliers, IRD Duhallow Sk illnet, co -funded and ran a pilot sustainable dair y training programme, which was delivered by University College Cork (UCC ) The training programme ran online over nine weeks with one interactive inperson training day at UCC, and demand was such that a second programme was immediately required to facilitate interested par ticipants
Feedback from the course led to the programme being fur ther developed into a fully accredited Level 7 Cer tificate in 2024 which will run again in 2025 along with a second and hopefully fur ther modules This allows local milk suppliers to de velop their k nowledge, de velop sustainability on their farms and gain a UCC accreditation in Sustainable Dair y Development
Farming for Water EIP: Agricultural Community Animator Post IRD Duhallow successfully secured a competitive bid for one of five national Agricultural Community Animator posts in order to roll out the new Farming for Water EIP in the Duhallow region This ground-break ing
and highly ambitious national EIP is led by LAWPRO in par tnership with Teagasc and Dair y I ndustr y I reland nation-wide with a budget of €60 million, and the Agr icultural Communit y Animator will wor k to communicate and promote the impor tance of good agr icultural prac tices to protec t and restore water qualit y in the Duhallow region, recruiting farmers into the project and showcasing areas of best practice building on all the work of IRD Duhallow ’ s projec t farmers throughout the t wo previous LIFE programme and both the Araglin and Allow EIP projects
Duhallow Beekeepers:
The Duhallow Beek eeper ’ s Association organised another successful ser ies of lectures on beekeeping at the James O ’K eeffe I nstitute in Ne wmar k et for Spr ing 2025 This course ran over three e venings, with ver y interesting presentations being delivered by Fr James M cSweene y and M r J ohn M ar tin The pur pose of this project was to keep members up to date on the most moder n aspec ts of beek eeping The insights shared throughout the course will be of help to all attendees to keep their colonies strong and thr iving this year Their lear ning will be fur ther suppor ted by the availability of the apiar y space that was created on the grounds of James O’Keeffe I nstitute This has provided a fantastic area for demonstration and teaching to new and experienced beekeepers
Home Tree Changing Landscape Conference 2025:
I n May 2025, an inspiring event took place in Ennistymon Co Clare The conference entitled Changing Landscapes – Beyond G ood I ntentions, bought together exper ts and prac titioners to explore where oppor tunities and challenges exist in the area of ecological restoration The welcome address was delivered by Ray Ó Foghlú Development Lead at Hometree M aura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow was a panellist at the conference and contributed to the discussion “ What Actually Moves The Needle?” Her fellow panellists included Fergal Anderson of Talamh Beo, Laura Costello of Think house, Chr istopher O ’K eefe of M - Co and Peter Smyth of Broadlake This solution focused panel discussion was a deep dive into the actions that can create tangible and meaningful progress in the area of ecological restoration This full day e vent was r ich with inspiration and insight, centred on transforming ambition into reality
Farming a Look At The Year Ahead:
I n Januar y 2025, Maura Walsh CEO of IRD Duhallow featured on the R TE R adio One Countr y Wide programme, alongside dair y far mer Thomas Duffy, Professor Yvonne Buck ley who manages the co - centre for Climate and Biodiversit y and Jack K ennedy, editor of the Far mer ’ s J our nal Presented by Philip Boucher Hayes, this broad discussion looked at the potential challenges, oppor tunities and changes the year 2025 would bring The panellists considered issues such as potential changes in CAP, the nitrates derogation, the nex t carbon budget, water quality pressures, sustainability and the nature restoration laws The uptake, par ticipation and interest in ambitious environmental initiatives delivered by IRD Duhallow were discussed as par t of the programme
Pictured at the launch of the newly developed Level 7 Cer tificate in Sustainable Dair y Development were: Monica Gilmore IRD Duhallow Skillnet Mar y Buckley Kerr y Dair y Ireland Belinda Gascoigne University College Cork Zita McCar thy Kerr y Dair y Ireland and Elizabeth O Carroll Kerr y Agribusiness
Celebrating their graduation are the first group who completed the Level 7 Cer tificate in Sustainable Dair y Development pictured with Belinda Gascoigne and Dr Séamus O'Tuama from UCC Mar y Buckley Communications Director Kerr y Dair y Ireland Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow and Monica Gilmore IRD Duhallow
Duhallow beekeepers at the Apiar y at the JOK institute
Social Far ming
What is Duhallow Social Farming?
IRD Duhallow ’ s Social Farming Project is a voluntar y, locally led, community-based initiative suppor ted by the Depar tment of Agriculture, Food and the Marine I t is inclusive of people with mental health conditions, people with physical or sensor y disabilities, people who acquired a disability, people with intellectual disabilities, people with autism and those with hidden disabilities Duhallow Social Farming operates as a voluntar y model to enable real work ing relationships and friendships to develop
Host Farms
Since the Social Farming programme was established in 2021 we have engaged with 10 host farms and 27 par ticipants The farms are not specialised treatment farms; they remain typical work ing farms where people in need of suppor t can benefit from relationship building in a non- clinical environment Duhallow Social Farming aids in covering the costs of any health and safety adjustments that need to be made on the farm for social farming activities, as well as providing funding for relevant training oppor tunities No two farms are the same, and inputs and measures that work on a dair y farm may not be applicable in a hor ticultural setting Each par ticipant is matched to the host farm depending on their own abilities and interests Some par ticipants require a suppor t worker with them on the farm, whereas others are able to work and travel independently to and from the farm
User Led and Person Centred
I t must be understood that ever y individual is different, with different needs, abilities and expectations From the planning to placement the Social Farming project offers a comprehensive response, which takes into account the abilities of par ticipants and capacity of host farmers to meet their individual needs One of the guiding principles for the social farming project is that suppor ts are tailored to individual need and are flexible, responsive and person- centred
oppor tunities and increasing their chances of progression oppor tunities The Work ability programme is ongoing and the par ticipants are attending the IRD Duhallow Social Farm on Fridays Two of the par ticipants volunteer their time to help with garden maintenance on their time off
IRD Duhallow Community Gardens and Social Farm
The gardens and social farm here at James O’Keeffe I nstitute continue to offer a safe space for par ticipants and biodiversity We are growing a multitude of fruit, vegetables and pollinator friendly flowers for our resident bee hives We now have 4 polytunnels so we can continue to grow together all year round The latest addition is the large tunnel, pictured below We have been busy weeding and feeding the soil with manure from the horses in the top field We are installing a timed irrigation system to make sure plants have optimum growing conditions Our CE Scheme par ticipants are work ing hard preparing beds, sowing seeds and planting out We are so grateful for the huge contribution they make
Volunteerism
Par ticipants from the Towards Occupation and Work ability groups have been attending the IRD Duhallow Social Farm since the star t of the programme
The aim of TO is to facilitate and encourage those in the community who are ver y distant from the labour market, providing them with education and training
We are honoured to be chosen as one of Gileads Charity par tners and look for ward to welcoming them to volunteer each year We have 4 garden volunteers from the local community helping in the gardens on Wednesday mornings
Gearoid, Social Farming Par ticipant at Leonora and Denis’ farm in Newmarket Gearoid is a member of the Workability group and volunteer with IRD Duhallow Social Farm
John, Denis, Patrick, Jack, Brian and Tomas sor ting seeds in the Student Tunnel
Gilead team members with Towards Occupation par ticipants busy seed saving in autumn
Patrick and Denis feeding Alpacas at the IRD Duhallow Social Farm Open Day
Klaus Laitenberger speaking at the IRD Duhallow Social Farm Open Day, June 2024
Host Farmer Kathleen White with Tim and the Alpacas at Fine Oaks Alpaca Farm
Nathalie and Moira Eduard and Mike planting tomatoes in the tunnel
Enterprise
IRD Duhallow offers a comprehensive range of suppor ts to enterprises in the Duhallow region Through the LEADER Programme, businesses can access capital grants for equipment and business development The IRD Duhallow Sk illnet programme delivers subsidised, locally accessible training across all sec tors, enhancing wor kforce sk ills and business competitiveness Entrepreneurs can benefit from the Star t Your O wn Business Programme, tailored mentoring, and guidance on welfare -towork schemes like the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Additionally, the annual Duhallow Business Awards celebrate excellence among local enter pr ises, foster ing communit y recognition and net wor k ing oppor tunities These initiatives strengthen the region's economic resilience and entrepreneurial spirit
LEADER Programme
The LEADER Programme at IRD Duhallow is k e y in suppor ting rural development and enterprise in the Duhallow region Funded by the EU and the D epar tment of Rural and Communit y D e velopment, the programme provides financial and de velopmental assistance to local businesses, community groups, and social enterprises I t aims to stimulate economic ac tivit y, innovation, and enhance the qualit y of life in rural areas
For businesses, LEADER funding offers a valuable oppor tunit y to grow and diversify Suppor ts include capital grants for equipment or facilit y upgrades, feasibilit y studies, mark eting and training ser vices These are par ticularly beneficial for micro and small enterprises in sectors like food produc tion, tour ism, and craf ts Through LEADER, IRD Duhallow also provides guidance with business planning, funding applications, and navigating regulator y requirements
The programme places a strong emphasis on sustainability, job creation, and adding value to local resources I t encourages collaboration and community engagement, ensuring that development is tailored to the unique needs and potential of the Duhallow region With a proven track record of success, the LEADER Programme at IRD Duhallow continues to be a vital driver of rural enterprise and innovation
SICAP Suppor ts
IRD Duhallow, through the Social I nclusion and Communit y Ac tivation Programme (SICAP), offers vital suppor ts to local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs These include one -to - one mentoring, business planning assistance, access to training, and guidance on funding oppor tunities The program focuses on promoting self- employment and enhancing entrepreneur ial sk ills, par ticular ly among disadvantaged groups IRD Duhallow also facilitates net wor k ing e vents and wor kshops to build capacity and confidence among par ticipants Their tailored suppor t helps individuals turn business ideas into viable enterprises, encouraging local economic de velopment and job creation B y foster ing inclusive entrepreneurship, SICAP plays a k ey role in empower ing communities across the Duhallow region
IRD Duhallow Business Awards
The 2024 Duhallow Business Awards celebrated excellence, innovation, and resilience among local businesses Hosted by IRD Duhallow, the e vent recognised outstanding achie vements across var ious sec tors, highlighting the vital role businesses play in the region’s economic growth The awards suppor t entrepreneurship and showcase the talent and dedication driving success throughout the Duhallow area
IRD Duhallow Business Award Winners 2024: Award Categor y Winner
Best Overall Duhallow Business Ath Trasna Medical Centre
Best Emerging Business The Sewing House
Best Established Business Ashgrove Renewables Joint Winners Ath Trasna Medical Centre
Best in the Creative Industr y Moon Balloon
Best Women Led Business Auntie K atie’s
Best Community Enterprise Duhallow Community Food Ser vices
Best Food Business Toons Bridge Dair y
The 2025 star t your own business class celebrating the end of their programme which was run by tutor Ruth Cosgrave at IRD Duhallow through the SICAP programme
The IRD Duhallow Business awards launch with Chairman of IRD Michael Twohig, CEO Maura Walsh, Enterprise Working Group Chairman Padraic O’Connell, Development O fficers Louise Bourke and Monica Gilmore and MC Reggie
IRD Duhallow Vice Chairperson and Chairperson Anne Maria Bourke and Michael Twohig, MC Reggie, IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh, Chairperson of Enterprise Working Group Padraic O’Connell, and IRD Duhallow board member Cllr Fionnán Fitzgerald FRONT: IRD Duhallow Team Leader Helen O’Sullivan and Development O fficer Monica Gilmore Dr Ber tie Daly and Zelie Gaffney of Ath Trasna Medical IRD Duhallow Team Leader Triona Murphy and IRD Duhallow Assistant CEO Eileen Linehan
IRD Duhallow Skillnet
The IRD Duhallow Sk illnet programme provides high- quality, subsidised training to businesses and employees across the Duhallow region D esigned to upsk ill the local wor kforce, the programme offers a wide range of courses tailored to industr y needs, including leadership, digital sk ills, health and safet y, and technical training By work ing closely with employers, IRD Duhallow Sk illnet ensures that training is rele vant, practical, and impactful The programme suppor ts all types of enterprises in enhancing productivity, innovation, and competitiveness I t also helps individuals improve their professional de velopment, contr ibuting to regional economic development IRD Duhallow Sk illnet is a key driver of lifelong learning and workforce development in the region
Duhallow Skillnet Programmes
Sk illnet offers several programmes to suppor t workforce development
The Sk ills Connec t programme helps to upsk ill jobseek ers and career changers, ensur ing a ready pipeline of sk illed talent for businesses Duhallow Sk illnet has run a number of Sk ills Connec t Programmes including QQI Le vel 5 Healthcare Suppor t and QQI Le vel 5 in Ear ly Childhood Education as par t of their Sk ills Connect programme
The Training Networks Programme ( TNP) enables groups of companies to collaborate and develop industr y-specific training solutions tailored to shared needs
ESF+ (European S ocial Fund Plus) co -funds initiatives aimed at enhancing sk ills and employabilit y, especially for disadvantaged groups This programme is co funded by The European Union and The Government of I reland
These programmes benefit organisations by reducing training costs, improving staff capabilities, and suppor ting business innovation
The y offer flexible, high- qualit y lear ning aligned with labour mar k et needs, allowing companies to remain competitive By par ticipating, employers can address sk ills gaps, retain talent, and contribute to a stronger, more adaptable workforce, all while availing of significant co -funding suppor t
25 Years of Skillnet Ireland
In 2024, Sk illnet Ireland celebrated its 25th anniversar y, mark ing a quar tercentur y of advancing workforce development across I reland Established in 1999 with just ten Business Networks, it has expanded to 70 networks and four national initiatives, suppor ting over 26,000 businesses and nearly 98,000 wor k ers annually through tailored training programmes The milestone was commemorated with a gala event which was attended by the team from IRD Duhallow, bringing together industr y leaders and par tners to reflec t on Sk illnet I reland ’ s impac t on upsk illing and innovation
Cantillon Conference
IRD Duhallow Sk illnet were delighted to once again co -sponsor the MTU Cantillon Conference this year
The 2025 Cantillon Conference, themed “Leadership Rewired”, took place on Februar y 13th at Ballygarr y Estate Hotel & Spa in Tralee
This one - day event brought together industr y leaders, polic ymakers, and academics to explore innovative strategies for building resilient futures in business
International Women’s Day - Mná
Pause Brunch at IRD
Duhallow
On I nter national Women’s Day 2025, women from all over the community gathered for a special event dedicated to health, wellness, and empower ment IRD Duhallow hosted the ‘M ná-Pause’ Brunch, a gather ing designed to provide valuable insights and suppor t for women navigating menopause
The sold- out e vent took place at the James O ’K eeffe I nstitute in Newmarket and was attended by over 70 women Attendees heard from exper t speakers who specialise in menopause and women ’ s health
Recognition of learning 2025
On Fr iday the 20th of June we were delighted to welcome more than 200 people to our marquee to celebrate our course graduates at the 2025 Recognition of Learning ceremony We were honoured to have special guest our local M inister M ichael Moynihan TD in attendance to join the celebrations The recognition of learning recognises the hard work and achievements of people who completed programmes from Duhallow Sk illnet and many other programmes at IRD Duhallow, including Level 5 Healthcare Graduates, QQI Le vel 5, QQI Le vel 7 and QQI Le vel 8 Ear ly Childhood Education and Care Graduates, Le vel 7 Sustainable Dair y Development Graduates and more
Development O fficer Monica Gilmore attended the 2025 MTU Cantillon Conference in Ballygarr y Estate Hotel Tralee which was sponsored by IRD Duhallow Skillnet, Rural Food Skillnet, South Kerr y Skillnet, Southwest Gnó Skillnet and Tech Alliance Skillnet
Guest speakers at the Mná Pause Event to celebrate International Women’s Day were: IRD Development officer Elmarie Young, CEO Maura Walsh, Guest Speakers Dr Máire Clear y, Triona Casey, Kevina Reel, IRD Team Leader Helen O’Sullivan, IRD Assistant Manager Eileen Linehan, Development O fficer Monica Gilmore and Chair of the Duhallow Women’s forum Judy O’Lear y
Pictured at the 2025 Recognition of Learning Ceremony are Denis Galvin who completed the QQI Level 7 Cer tificate in Sustainable Dair y Development, Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow, Dave Flynn Director of Networks Skillnet Ireland, Belinda Gascoigne and Dr Séamus O'Tuama UCC, Mar y Buckley Communications Director Kerr y Dair y Ireland, Johnny Doris Development Advisor Skillnet Ireland and Padraic O Connell Chair of the IRD Enterprise Working Group
Monica Gilmore was par t of the discussion panel at a recent Skillnet Ireland Cluster meeting that discussed the ESF programme requirements
Pictured are students from the Level 5 Healthcare and Level 5 Early Childhood Education classes which ran recently fully funded through the IRD Duhallow Skills Connect programme
Rural Recreation
Rural Recreation
IRD Duhallow continues to suppor t the strategic development of rural recreation across the region in order to help preser ve and enhance our natural environment, thereby suppor ting and dr iving local economic growth The outdoors plays a key role in health and wellbeing providing a wide var iet y of recreational oppor tunities and social interac tion for people of all ages IRD Duhallow ’ s Environment Work ing Group is guided by the objec tives set out in the National Outdoor R ecreation Strategy 2023-2027 Embracing I reland ’ s Outdoors The strategy aims to protec t our landscapes, habitats and built heritage by better planning where and how we develop outdoor recreation infrastructure by providing guidance on the process and prac tices for de veloping outdoor recreation infrastructure in a sustainable fashion Given the cross-sectoral nature of rural recreation, IRD Duhallow adopts a strategic and coordinated approach by engaging with the rele vant stak eholders including Landowners, Local Community Groups, Local Authorities, National Trails O ffice, Coillte, Fáilte I reland, Spor ts I reland, National Par ks and Wildlife, Farming Organisations, Heritage Council etc
Outdoor Recreation Infrastruc ture Scheme (ORIS)
The Outdoor Recreation I nfrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastruc ture I t also provides suppor t for the necessar y repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastruc ture in rural areas across I reland The focus of ORIS is to suppor t outdoor recreational infrastruc ture that not only provides an outlet for the communities in which the y are situated but also delivers added value from a tour ism perspec tive With the assistance of ORIS, IRD Duhallow completed essential upgrade wor ks to three walks in 2024/2025 including the Slyguddal Pass Phase 3, Boher bue Ditch Walk and the Glen River Walk , Banteer Phase 1 I t is impor tant to note that the buy in from the local communities and landowners was of critical impor tance to the successful implementation of all these projects
Buttimer TD M inister of State for Rural and Communit y Development, Charities and Transpor t Together with local public representatives on the night, a huge crowd gathered in the centre of the village where the opening ceremony took place Fr Jim Kennelly PP blessed the walk and then people were invited to complete the walk
Official Opening of the Boherbue looped walk Boherbue looped walk was officially opened on April
2025 by Jerr y
Colm O’ Connor, Rural Recreation O fficer attending a meeting with the Depar tment of Rural and Community Development and RROs from around the countr y ;
Before and after pictures of the Boherbue walk
Cllr Bernard Moynihan with Patrick Fleming and Claire Barr Municipal District O fficer Cork County Council completing the Boherbue walk after the O fficial opening
Mr Jerr y Buttimer Minister of State for Rural and Community Development O fficially opening the Boherbue Looped walk
Seating purchased and installed by IRD Duhallow through the Walks Scheme Development Fund at the Slyguddal Pass looking at the PAPS mountain
Rural Recreation
Walks Scheme
The Walks Scheme was launched in 2008 to facilitate the development and maintenance of key walk ing trails by private landholders The Scheme contracts the landholders, or their nominees, to under take maintenance work on sections of National Waymarked Ways IRD Duhallow manages the Walks Scheme for the Duhallow Black water Way This encompasses an enchanting stretch of approximately 78 K ilometres ex tending from Clonk een Church and Shrone Church Nor th and S outh of the Paps M ountains in Count y K er r y to B weeng Village in Count y Cor k We cur rently have 26 par ticipants on the walks scheme and 6 more landowners will join following the successful application for an extension to the Duhallow way which was granted in May of this year “ Tough Soles” recently recommended the Duhallow Way as one of their top 5 Walk ing Trails in the Countr y at the Trails conference in Car r ick on Shannon in September 2024
Ensuring Standards and Quality
Each year, Spor t I reland under take inspections and compliance audits to all trails registered with Spor ts I reland to maintain their insurance cover and to keep the walks up to standard I n September 2024, this audit was completed on the Duhallow Way The highest mar ks to date were received and this is owing to the great work completed by landowners and our RSS and Tús par ticipants along the trails,
Organised Led Walks
Monthly led walks are facilitated on trails throughout Duhallow from March to October to bring people together to explore their local trails, promote health and strengthen social connections These walks happen over sections of the Duhallow way and other looped walks across the region These IRD Duhallow led walks are invaluable to the promotion of walk ing trails locally encouraging oppor tunities to engage in physical activity, connect with nature, and explore culture and heritage
Beara Brifne Way
The Beara-Breifne Way is I reland’s longest national waymarked trail I t is unique in that it runs through all provinces of I reland and covers eleven counties I t includes par ts of the Beara Way, the Duhallow Way, the Suck Valley Way, the M iners Way, the Leitrim Way and the Cavan Way The route has been created by local communities in a unique collaboration I t follows the legendar y four teen- day march taken by Dónal Cam O’Sullivan Beare and his one thousand suppor ters in 1603 and it visits many of the places and communities shaped by their stor y 68% of the entire route is off-road with a recommendation that this should be 90% IRD Duhallow is focused on de veloping the route from Bally vour ne y through IRD Duhallow ’ s catchment area to Liscarroll following the course of the rivers (where possible) The CEO of IRD Duhallow, Maura Walsh currently sits on the Failte I reland Beara Breifne Way Wor k ing Group Significant investment is required to increase the percentage of the route off-road One of the main issues raised for the Nor th West Way Section of the Beara Brifne Way in the Failte Ireland Trails Audit (2023) was the high percentage of on-road walk ing and the k nock on lack of interest in ter ms of trail variet y and landscape as a result The development of the Bear Breifne Way Trail has the potential to add huge value to the region and once the route is de veloped, the projec t will suppor t increased recreational oppor tunities connecting people, communities and the countr yside
A group enjoying one of IRD Duhallow s monthly led walks in the Island Wood
RSS Par ticipant Neily Cronin doing repair work to The Duhallow Way
Fallen trees on the Duhallow way after Storm Ewyon
Mark Britton, Inspector with Spor ts Ireland after auditing The Duhallow Way accompanied by Colm O Connor and Rhys McPhail, IRD Duhallow
Tourism
The Wells of Duhallow
Duhallow offers visitors a unique glimpse into I reland ’ s spir itual and cultural heritage through its many holy wells Tubrid Well near M illstreet, one of I reland ’ s largest, k nown for its peaceful setting and rich histor y Dedicated to St I ta, the well draws pilgrims and tourists alike, especially on Pattern Day, May 26th O ther scenic sites include St John’s Well in the Mushera H ills, with panoramic views and gatherings on June 23rd for St John’s Eve, St Laitiaran’s Well in Cullen, I nghne Buidhne in Dromtarriffe, St Berecher ts’ Holy Well, Tullylease and Tr init y Well, Ne wmar k et IRD Duhallow produced a book let on holy wells in Duhallow some years ago and it ’ s a great resource to have for visitors and locals interested in learning about these holy wells
Walkways of Duhallow
Duhallow offers a var iet y of scenic walks ideal for tour ists and nature enthusiasts From riverside strolls along the Blackwater Way to the tranquil trails on M ount H ilar y, the region br ims with natural beaut y and r ich heritage Visitors can explore ancient woodland paths, spot native wildlife, and enjoy panoramic views The newly developed Boherbue Loop and the Mount Hillar y trails offer gentle terrain, while more adventurous hikers will enjoy the challenge of Mushera Mountain Duhallow ’ s trails are not only routes through stunning landscapes but also journeys through local histor y, folk lore, and rural charm
Maurice O’Keeffe Sliabh Luachra Traditional Music Festival 2025: April 2025 saw a great schedule of events for the 24th Maurice O’Keeffe Festival which honours the legac y of the renowned fiddler and the distinctive Sliabh Luachra musical tradition There was a stellar line up of musicians in attendance with three per for mers TG4 Gradam Ceoil recipients The festival saw music sessions tak e place in K isk eam and Ballydesmond showcasing the sk ills of seasoned musicians and emerging talent A céilí was also organised in Ballydesmond Hall Youth fiddle and duet competitions were organised in K iskeam Community Centre with the M aur ice O ’K eeffe Per petual Cup awarded to the overall Fiddle Competition winner, and the Perpetual Shield to the Duet Competition
winners Mass was celebrated for Maurice O’Keeffe and deceased Sliabh Luachra musicians with traditional musicians providing the music K iskeam Brass Band were also in attendance, playing a wonder ful recital in the church grounds
O’Keeffe Perpetual Cup winner
Tarrant
The Gathering Weekend Rockchapel:
Rockchapel village was a hive of activity from June 6th to 8th with the much-anticipated R ock chapel G ather ing week end The week end commenced with folk band Tully tak ing to the stage in Bruach na Car raige, with the talented M cAuliffe family opening proceedings A delightful ‘Community Cuppa’ event took place on Saturday The weekend also saw wonder ful music, singing and children’s sessions There was a full house for “ The Three Counties” variety show event, with Cork , Kerr y and Limerick teams being ably led out by their respective captains On Sunday another day of family fr iendly e vents ensued, with a craf t fair, Animal Roadshow, a children’s tractor run, facepainting and ar t exhibition The weekend culminated with lively per formances from the bands Up in Smoke and The Rising
Newmarket Pitch & Putt
Celebrating 10 years since it was rede veloped and reopened in 2015 Ne wmar k et Pitch & Putt course is look ing better than ever This state of the ar t 18-hole course which was funded under the LEADER Programme welcomes many visitors annually and its greens are busy dur ing the summer season The club welcomes other pitch & putt clubs on club days out who enjoy a round on this well- designed course As par t of Bealtaine 2025 the committee offered taster sessions to those interested in tr ying their hand at pitch & putt with many now becoming regular visitors to the course
Tubrid Well near Millstreet, one of Ireland’s largest, known for its peaceful setting and rich histor y
Cork Rose Nancy Lehane takes to the stage with Eily Mai Hickey team leader and the winning Cork team at the Three Counties Challenge competition which was par t of the Gathering Weekend Rockchapel
Kiskeam Set Dancers, with their Teachers Elisha and Ellen Daly, took par t in the
Maurice O’ Keeffe Traditional Music Concer t in Kiskeam
Some wonder ful music sessions were held during the Gathering Weekend in Rockchapel
Senator Eileen Lynch enjoys the Boherbue Loop Walk with IRD Duhallow staff members
Colm O’Connor, Helen O’Sullivan and Mar tina Enright
Lenora Kelly & Colm Crowley of IRD Duhallow with locals who par ticipated in the taster session with Newmarket Pitch & Putt committee this May
Maurice
Olivia
Ballydesmond Olivia & her brother Ar thur won the Maurice O Keeffe Duet Shield at the 24th year of the festival
Culture & Heritage
Heritage Week 2024:
I n 2024 IRD Duhallow was delighted to par ticipate in Heritage Week As par t of this e vent a ser ies of videos recorded for the LEADER H istor ic Graves training projec t were released online Built over time, the series offers a treasure trove of histor ical stor ies relating to grave yards throughout Duhallow The project was curated by tutor, John Tierney and the videos received thousands of views Among the recordings broadcast during Heritage Week were “ The Man From God K nows Where” recited by J ohn J oe K avanagh, “ The M en of the S outh” presented by Sheila O ’Sullivan and Jimmy Cashman, “ The K ilmacow Drum” delivered by Catherine Hannigan, “Old Drishane Graveyard” delivered by Sean R adley, “Roger K iely of Cullen” presented by Christy Lehane, “ The Healing Priest of K ilcor ne y ” presented by Dan J oe O ’K eeffe, “Executions in Tullylease” delivered by N ioclás O ’R inn, Sheila O ’K eeffe and M ik e Lar k in, and “Meenganine” recited by Johnny Walsh For anyone who missed this event and would like to see the videos the recordings listed here are available to view on the IRD Duhallow YouTube channel
Boherbue Set Dancing Club:
Boherbue Dancing Club has a proud tradition of competitive I r ish dancing, spanning for over 30 years The club has grown tremendously since re - establishing since the CO VID -19 pandemic, with membership der ived from many places in the Duhallow region The groups under 12 dancers are at the hear t of this growth Therefore, the club applied for grant assistance under the SICAP Programme, for a grant towards funding some of the costs attached to acquiring new costumes These costumes are directly benefiting young dancers as they grow in sk ill, representing their club
Cullen Pipe Band:
One of Duhallow ’ s three pipe bands, Cullen Pipe Band was founded in 1941 Since this time, they have given many hours of listening pleasure to the people of Duhallow, Munster and beyond including Europe and the USA They have been a familiar sight at countless cultural and spor ting
engagements over the decades Cullen Pipe Band tak e pr ide in the tradition of high standard musical tuition in the region Band members are distinguished in both group and solo per formances Cullen Pipe Band successfully applied for suppor t to upgrade their equipment and uniforms under LEADER 2023-2027 This funding will suppor t the band with their per formances and enable the continuation of their wonder ful musical recitals into the future
Duhallow Heritage Centres:
IRD Duhallow recognises the unique roles that heritage groups play in preser ving the her itage and culture of the Duhallow region I t is wonder ful to see the array of events that are tak ing place in An Culturlann Newmark et, Burach Na Carraige Rock chapel, Laharn Cross, Freemount, Foilogohig and Banteer I n June, Aubane Social Club celebrated its 50th anniversar y Having been in existence since 1912, in 1974 the national school in Aubane was closed due to falling numbers The setting up of Aubane S ocial Club soon followed in 1975 with a dedicated group pursuing the aim of conver ting the school into a community centre Since this time Aubane S ocial Club has seen diverse social, cultural and recreational activities with patrons from Nor th Cork , M id- Cork and East K err y and beyond attending the many events held down through the years Accommodating all age groups, children’s movie nights and seasonal events are a par t of their annual programme of activities Always for ward think ing, under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme, the group accessed funding for IC T equipment as the centre became a national broadband connection point The 50th Anniversar y Celebrations included céilí music, a talk on the group ’ s achie vements by Jack Lane, dancing, bar beque, children’s ac tivities and tree planting ceremony Congratulations to Aubane Social Club on their milestone celebrations
Catherine Hannigan’s recording on the Kilmacow Drum was aired as par t of Heritage Week 2024
Boherbue Dancing Group who received SICAP funding for the purchase of new uniforms
John Dineen planted the official tree marking the recent 50th Anniversar y of Aubane Community Centre followed by an afternoon of celebration in June
Also included are (from left): Paddy Murphy, Kathleen Kelleher, Noreen Kelleher, John F Kelleher, Denis Kelleher and Gerdi Buckley
Local historian Jack Lane delivered a truly inspiring talk to a ver y appreciative audience at Aubane Community Centre
Cullen Pipe Band clinched the title of Best Pipe Corps in Grade 4A at the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships in 2024 The prestigious competition took place at Newbridge House and Gardens, Donabate, Co Dublin Cullen’s exceptional per formance secured them third place overall, earning them the Mar tin Dempsey Trophy
LEADER In Duhallow
LEADER 2014-2020
I n the past twelve months, IRD Duhallow has star ted the roll out of the LEADER 23-27 programme across Duhallow We are now an independent LAG across Nor th Cork and South Cork with a collective project budget of €2 1m
The inaugural IRD Duhallow Nor th Cor k LAG meetings took place in November 2024 with Bweeng Running Track being the first project to be approved with a grant of €100,000 and K nock nagree Community Hall a grant of €44k I n D ecember 2024 the first IRD Duhallow S outh Cor k project was approved for Nature Calendars
To date, just 7 month into the programme, IRD Duhallow has committed close to 20% of its project budget
The LEADER Ethos
I n IRD Duhallow, we still hold firm on the seven specificities of LEADER as being the most successful way of finding solutions to local problems and empowering communities to become vibrant rural areas; A Living Countr yside
LEADER is defined by its 7 Specific Features:
• Area-based: Natural Area of D e velopment, small enough to be cohesive but large enough to allow development occur, not aligned to municipal or other political boundaries
• B ottom-up: Local people are the best exper ts to dr ive the development of their area This bottom-up approach means that the local communit y and local players can help define a de velopment pathway for their area consistent with their needs, expectations and plans This bottom-up approach is enshrined in the EU regulations
• Local Ac tion Group The people who were pre viously the passive 'beneficiaries' of a polic y become active par tners and drivers of their area ' s development; this is a defining characteristic of Community-Led Local Development The involvement of local actors should be fair and transparent including the population at large, economic, civic and social interest groups and representative public and pr ivate institutions The added value of this approach is associated with local empower ment through local strategy de velopment, deliver y and resource allocation where no one interest group can have a majority
• Innovation: giving LAGs the flexibilit y to introduce new ideas and new methods, tak ing on new programmes to augment and address all aspects of development
• Integration: between economic, social, cultural and environmental actions, as distinct from sectoral development approaches All LEADER themes and sub themes must be included as well as integrated programmes for the benefit of the area
• Net work ing: enabling shar ing and lear ning among people, organisations and institutions at local, regional, national and European levels
• Co - operation: among LEADER groups and other Ac tors, to share exper iences, allow complementar it y or to achie ve cr itical mass LEADER Cooperation is well recognised as an ideal tool to promote cohesion across rural Europe
LEADER Operating Rules
Our CEO M aura Walsh sits on the Operating Rules group with the Depar tment of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs The rules of the programme have remained as stringent as ever, despite the budget being 25% of what it was in the 07-13 time period Many rules pose challenges
Minister Jerr y Buttimer with members of Knocknagree Community Development CLG at the signing of their LEADER contract with Deputy John Paul O Shea Cllr Trish Murphy and IRD Duhallow Chair Michael Twohig CEO Maura Walsh and Assistant CEO Eileen Linehan
Development O fficer Ciaran Carmody speaking with Niamh Brosnan and John O’Connor about the proposed plans for a Playground in Meelin at the LEADER information session
An aerial view of the progress on the LEADER funded Bweeng running track
Maura Walsh facilitates an operating rules group breakout session at a National LEADER Managers meeting
LEADER In Duhallow
for local communities and IRD Duhallow continues to advocate for relaxation of the rules, to ensure they are appropr iate to the levels of funding available We have been work ing with the Depar tment and our colleagues in LDCD on these issues
Rules whereby promoters have to prove the ability to pay out a project in total while simultaneously stating a projec t won’t go ahead without LEADER funding are contradic tor y and stifles the LEADER approach significantly
LEADER Information Events across Duhallow
IRD Duhallow held t wo infor mation e vents in S eptember last year to launch the LEADER Programme The IRD Duhallow Nor th Cor k LAG meeting was held in our offices in the JOK institute Newmarket and the IRD Duhallow S outh Cor k LAG meeting was held in the Castle Hotel M acroom Both e vents were well attended by local organisations, business people and the farming community Following a presentation on the operating rules of the programme delivered by Eileen Linehan, our staff were present at both e vents to help promoters to fill up expression of interest forms and provide literature and suppor t around the programme
Following this, the first closed call of the programme was announced in December 2024 under the Economic Development and Job Creation –Enterprise Development Sub theme for both Nor th and South Cork areas Following these calls, 3 local enterprise projects have been committed €82k
Local Development Companies Network – LDCN
Formerly k nown as ILDN, the network for local development companies has been rebranded from ILDN to LDCN LDCN is a strong representative voice for all local development companies and works at addressing systemic issues at a national level The network represents 45 of the 49 local development companies across the countr y including IRD Duhallow
M inister Jerr y Buttimer at the recent rebrand launch in Buswell’s Hotel in Dublin and he stressed the impor tance of community development and helping the most marginalised, and vulnerable in society
Minister Daragh Calleary at the launch of LCDN in Buswells Hotel Dublin with CEO s John Feerick Sligo Leader Par tnership Chris Gonley Leitrim Development Company and Maura Walsh IRD Duhallow
IRD Duhallow Maura Walsh at the launch of the Local Development Companies Network with Minister Jerr y Buttimer, MEP Marian Harkin and
Communicating Europe
I n recent years, the Communicating Europe I nitiative has brought together people of all ages and walks of life to lear n more about the European Union Building on this work , IRD Duhallow successfully applied to the D epar tment of Foreign Affairs in 2024, for funding to deliver additional ac tivities Ac tivities commenced in M ay 2024, with the publication of an information resource in the free to take away Discover Duhallow magazine This outlined the specifics of the European Par liament elec tions within an I r ish contex t, and the impor tance of voting
I n Autumn 2024 Second level students from six Duhallow schools, Scoil Mhuire K antur k , Coláiste Treasa K antur k , M illstreet Communit y School, Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore, Boherbue Comprehensive School and St Mar y ’ s Secondar y School, Macroom began to par ticipate in locally organised e vents I nterac tive group wor kshops were held in schools throughout the Duhallow Region Delivered by geographer and social scientist Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, highly engaging activities were specifically designed to involve students in a bespok e lear ning exper ience which detailed the evolution of the European Union These covered the national, local, regional and historic impacts of I reland’s EU membership especially in relation to rural development Suppor ting information was provided to the students including a visual presentation of some k e y projec ts delivered specifically benefitting local youth and communities Local projec ts funded through EU funds were a feature of these wor kshops, and the student groups heard about the impact of the LEADER and SICAP programmes, as well as EU LIFE I n total 536 students benefitted from the projec t across the 6 par ticipating schools This number includes T Y students, Junior Cer t students and students attending special classes I n the case of St M ar y ’ s M acroom, 10 of the students were travelling to Strasburg as par t of the Euroscola Programme These students had a bespoke workshop delivered to them, by Dr O’Keeffe, which specifically dealt with some of the items on the agenda for their trip
In 2025 Duhallow schools were highly privileged to enjoy visits from three MEPs for I reland South in 2025 I n Januar y, Cynthia N í Mhurchú visited Boher bue Comprehensive S chool where she met with students attending the special unit, along with Junior Cer tificate students and staff members including Ms Vera Leader Principal and DJ McSweeney Deputy Pr incipal Later in the day she travelled to St M ar y ’ s S chool M acroom where she was greeted by School Principal Stephen McLaughlin, T Y CoOrdinator Sean O’Cuill along with Aindrias Moynihan T D Ms N í Mhurchú also met with a group of St M ar y ’ s students who were travelling to Strasbourg to visit the EU parliament under the Euroscola Programme Through broad-spec trum presentations, students were encouraged to develop a clearer understanding of how European policies influence both I reland and their own local communities With a view to empower ing young people with awareness, students in both schools heard about the oppor tunities that exist for young people within the EU including educational programmes and potential career pathways in the European I nstitutions
I n Februar y K antur k schools were delighted to welcome Billy K elleher M E P who visited both schools in the town M r Kelleher first visited Scoil Mhuire where he received a ver y warm welcome from Principal M r Denis Keating, Deputy Principal Gar van Queeney and the T Y group along with their co - ordinator M r Gerald Crott y I n Coláiste Treasa M r K elleher met with another group of T Y students along with Ms Veronica Walsh Principal, Ms Joanne Corker y Deputy Principal and T Y Co - Ordinator Ms Anne Marie Griffin I n each of the schools, students demonstrated their interest in cur rent affairs and European issues through their attentive listening and dialogue The students heard about the challenges facing the European Union and the global changes that are ongoing M r Kelleher spoke to the students in relation to the role of the EU in world politics, agriculture and trade Wonder ful engagement was shown during the school visits, with M r K elleher encouraging students to be ac tive citizens and to take great interest in European affairs
Billy Kelleher MEP meets with Transition Year Students in Scoil Mhuire Secondar y School Kanturk Also pictured are Mr Denis Keating School Principal, Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow and Nollaig Murphy and Lenora Kelly Development O fficers
T Y student in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore along with their teacher Miriam O Regan were delighted to engage with Dr Brendan O’Caoimh as par t of Communicating Europe workshops in the Duhallow Region
Cynthia Ni Mhurchú is welcomed to Boherbue Comprehensive School by Ms Vera Leader Principal Student Aaron Buckley along with Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow
Cynthia Ni Mhurchú MEP St Mar y s School Macroom and met their Transition Year group Pictured here are Aindrias Moynihan T D School Principal Stephen McLaughlin Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow Nollaig Murphy IRD Duhallow Sean O’Cuill T Y Coordinator along with the Euroscola student group preparing to visit Strasbourg
Communicating Europe
I n March Seán Kelly MEP visited Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra R athmore where he received a ver y warm welcome from Transition Year Students and their co - ordinator Ms M ir iam O ’R egan I n M illstreet Communit y School M r Kelly met with their Transition Year Group along with Principal Pol O ’Síodhcháin, D eput y Pr incipal Frances M oynihan and M r Shane Guerin T Y Co - Ordinator I n both schools’ students heard about M r Kelly ’ s polic y-related work within the committees of the European Parliament and projects concerning climate change, and renewable energy sources Mr Kelly spoke to the schools about the ‘Fit for 55’ initiative, which involves the EU’s commitment to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by the year 2030 Students also learned about 50 years of I rish EU membership and the changes that have occurred during this period, especially in relation to rural development Mr Kelly also visited the James O’Keeffe Memorial I nstitute, where he toured the complex and met with IRD Duhallow Chairperson M r M ichael Twohig, Vice - Chairperson AnneMaria Bourk e and CEO Maura Walsh, hearing about ongoing initiatives and gaining valuable insights into the impac t of the projec t wor k IRD Duhallow is under tak ing on the ground M r K elly also met with some projec t par ticipants, listening to their exper iences and lear ning more about the various programme activities they are involved in
While in the Duhallow area each of the visiting MEPs took time to stop by the James O ’K eeffe M emor ial I nstitute Complex, Duhallow Communit y Foods S er vices, Duhallow Fur niture R e vamp and IRD
Duhallow O ffices in Newmarket Here, they were each provided with an outline of the broad range of programmes that are currently operating in the region and the impacts being achieved For over thir ty years, IRD Duhallow has been delivering EU-funded programmes in the Duhallow area including successive LEADER programmes, two EU LIFE programmes and several other initiatives Each of the MEPs expressed a great deal of interest in the projec t work that is ongoing, and the application of the LEADER methodology
Student Tommy O’Connor meets Seán Kelly MEP on his visit to Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, also pictured are Miriam O Regan T Y Co- Ordinator, and Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow and Nollaig Murphy Development O fficer
Seán Kelly MEP meets Pól O Siodhcháin Principal Frances Moynihan Deputy Principal Shane Guerin T Y Co- Ordinator and Third Year and Transition students in Millstreet Community School Also pictured are Maura Walsh Nollaig Murphy and Lenora Kelly of IRD Duhallow
Therése Walsh of REVAMP shows Cynthia Ní Mhurchú a sample of a restoration project under taken at the social enterprise workshop in Newmarket
Project Par ticipant Daniel O’Loughlin presents Seán Kelly MEP with a sample of his baking during his visit to the James O’Keeffe Memorial Institute
Billy Kelleher MEP visits Transition Year Students in Coláiste Treasa Kanturk Included are Ms Veronica Walsh, Principal, Ms Joanne Corker y Deputy Principal, Ms Anne Marie Griffin T Y CoOrdinator, Students Cillian Collins and Rosemarie Moynihan, along with Maura Walsh, Nollaig Murphy and Lenora Kelly of IRD Duhallow
SICAP
SICAP is a social inclusion programme focussed on the most marginalised people I t aims to tack le pover t y and social exclusion through communit y de velopment approaches, local engagement, and par tnership bet ween disadvantaged individuals, communit y organisations and public sec tor agencies operates across IRD Duhallow ’ s territor y SICAP is a targeted, holistic programme for those less likely to use mainstream ser vices, which provides suppor ts directly to beneficiaries and links them into existing ser vices aiming to ensure that beneficiar ies receive qualit y, tailored suppor ts, while also allowing flexibility to adapt actions to local need SICAP has two programme Goals, which are accompanied by core areas of work , objectives, outcomes, and thematic focus areas SICAP ’ s aim, objectives and horizontal themes span all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals are an urgent call for ac tion by all countries recognising that ending pover t y and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth all while tack ling climate change The SICAP programme is funded and designed by the Depar tment of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), with co -funding from the European S ocial Fund Plus (ESF+) under the Employment, I nclusion, Sk ills and Training (EIST ) Programme 2021-2027
Afterschools
Since opening its doors in 2005, IRD Duhallow Newmarket Afterschools has provided huge suppor t for families across Ne wmar k et and the wider Duhallow region Now entering its 20th year, the ser vice remains steadfast in its mission: to provide a secure, welcoming, and stimulating environment that suppor ts the social, emotional, and cognitive development of ever y child
Comprehensive Care: Breakfast to Evening Children are collected daily from Newmarket Boys and Girls National Schools, ensuring a seamless and safe transition from school to the ser vice The day begins with our Breakfast Club, operating from 7:00am to 9:00am, where children can unwind in our sensor y/chillax room, enjoy games and quiet activities, and have a nourishing breakfast before being brought to school This early suppor t allows parents to meet work commitments with peace of mind
Ac tivities for Holistic Development
Afterschool time is child-led and rich with oppor tunity Children choose from activities such as:
STEM and STEAM learning Ar t and bak ing
• Pitch and putt
• Outdoor play
• Nature walks around the James O’Keeffe grounds
• Free, unstructured play – vital for decompressing after a structured school day
Natural Playground
Our natural playground, designed and developed with children’s input, continues to be a vibrant space for physical, social, and imaginative play Surrounded by fruit trees, flowers, and a willow arch, it invites children to connect with nature while developing their motor sk ills and creativity The new playground amenities help our ethos of learning through exploration and environmental stewardship More recently we have added a small football pitch to our facility which the children are thrilled to use
Camps That Spark Curiosity
Our popular camps run throughout school holidays – Easter, summer and Halloween with engaging and educational themes such as:
• Little Chefs and Ar tists –combining culinar y sk ills with creative projects
• Nature Detec tives – outdoor exploration led by our Environment team, including river k ick sampling and wildlife discover y
• Whizz Kids – a blend of STEM, literac y games, and T TRS in the computer lab, especially beneficial for children with dyslexia
• Spooktacular Halloween and Egg- citing Easter camps – festive fun with themed learning and activities
These camps are open to all children, not just those enrolled in the Afterschools programme, mak ing them an inclusive resource for the wider community
Commitment to Accessibility
I n the afternoons, children are welcomed into a suppor tive space where they are ser ved a nutritious dinner provided by Duhallow Community Food Ser vices Following their meal, children receive homework suppor t from experienced staff – a core element of our ser vice that par ticularly benefits some families facing barriers to online learning or academic resources at home
We proudly par ticipate in the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) As of September 2024, the universal subsidy has increased from €1 40 to €2 14 per hour, mak ing our Afterschools, Breakfast Club, and Camps even more affordable for families This non-means-tested ex tends to children aged 3 to 15, reducing financial barriers to quality childcare Fur thermore, there is a means tested suppor t, to aid families who be eligible to benefit from a higher subsidy payment
A Cornerstone for Local Families
At its core, IRD Duhallow Newmarket Afterschools remains more than just a school age childcare facility I t is a community hub that provides educational suppor t, nur tures creativity, and promotes well-being Coordinated by Bernie O’Connor with her colleagues Dar yna, Elmira and Sinead, parents are reassured that this team deliver a reliable and efficient ser vice
For work ing parents, those returning to education or employment, and families needing additional suppor t with homework or literac y,
is a lifeline - a space where children thrive and families are strengthened
it
Enjoying their baking at the Newmarket Afterschools as a par t of life skills learning
Spor ts is an integral par t of the children’s development Pictured at our newly developed pitch on site
The children hanging out and having fun in our outdoor playground
Staff Elmira, Bernie, Sinead & Dar yna with some of the children who regularly attend the Breakfast Club & Afterschools
Giving the Thumbs Up! The children enjoying their science experiment day at Newmarket Afterschools
State of the Ar t facilities on the grounds of the James O’Keeffe Complex solely for Newmarket Afterschools children
Bernie O’Connor leads the way on a nature walk on the grounds of the James O Keeffe Complex
Community Development
IRD Duhallow continues to champion resilience, inclusion, and social cohesion across the region Grounded in the values of par ticipation, empowerment, and sustainability, our work this year focused on enabling local communities to tak e an ac tive role in shaping their own futures Volunteers remain the back bone of rural and community development and IRD Duhallow provides the prac tical tools to help them tur n their ideas into tangible projec ts D e velopment O fficers wor k closely with communities to identify local challenges, co - design responses and navigate complex procurement and funding guidelines
LEADER Information Sessions
The process of ongoing ac tive consultation and capacit y building is engrained in IRD Duhallow ’ s approach to Communit y Led Local Development IRD Duhallow hosted LEADER consultation events in the James O’Keeffe I nstitute, Newmarket and in the Castle Hotel, Macroom in October 2023 Assistant Manager, Eileen Linehan gave a presentation on the ne w LEADER 2023-2027 programme and the operating/procurement guidelines Staff were there to provide one to one suppor t in answering questions and suppor ting communities and businesses in de veloping their projec t ideas D e velopment O fficers emphasised the impor tance of preparing robust project proposals that align with IRD Duhallow ’ s Local Development Strategies IRD Duhallow ’ s Local D e velopment Strategies are ver y much responsive living documents and IRD Duhallow will continue to consult, monitor and re vie w at regular inter vals dur ing the implementation of the LEADER 2023-2027 programme
The Board of IRD Duhallow has a balanced multi stakeholder involvement consisting of 26 members drawn from the public, private, community & voluntar y sec tors Eight communit y representatives are democratically elected to the board to represent their respective geographic including South Eastern, Western, Nor th Eastern and Southern Duhallow There is a strong motivation and commitment amongst these members to engage and contr ibute to the strategic de velopment of their localit y Ac tive par ticipation in planning and decision-mak ing processes means that the structure is always relevant, adaptive and effective on the ground This is aligned to the concept of “subsidiar it y ” , one of the core organising principles of the EU whereby decisions should be taken at the most local le vel possible This pr inciple goes hand-in-hand with “ par ticipative democrac y ” whereby people have a right to par ticipate in the decisions affecting their community I n 2025 M ichelle Greene joined the board of IRD Duhallow representing Nor th Easter n Duhallow along with
Par ticipative Democrac y
Triona Dennehy, IRD Duhallow with Fergal O’Sullivan discussing the proposed Community Walkway in Ballydesmond at the LEADER information session
Freemount Women s Shed is par t of a growing national movement addressing social isolation and mental health issues among women With over 100 members, they were suppor ted with a SICAP small scale equipment grant in 2024
Members of Boherbue Mens Shed who were suppor ted with funding through SICAP
Michael O’Regan and Michelle Green of Freemount Community discussing potential LEADER projects for their community with Maggie O’Callaghan of IRD Duhallow Clg
Triona Dennehy, IRD Duhallow conducting a LEADER project site assessment visit on the “Island” in Inchigeelagh with Tim Ní Laoire, Croi na Laoi
Community Development
Paul Mur phy who was re elec ted for a second ter m and Cait R ing and Joseph Cronin representing M id Cork
Kerr y Community Awards
IRD Duhallow suppor ts the judging process for the K er r y Communit y Awards The objective of the initiative is to recognise the work of the community and voluntar y sec tor that seeks to improve the S ocial, Economic, Cultural and Environmental quality of life in local communities, both ur ban and rural 20 groups in total were presented with awards on the night with 10 groups receiving gold awards and 10 receiving silver
Climate Justice
All cohor ts of societ y are impac ted by climate change and biodiversit y/water quality decline IRD Duhallow is uniquely positioned to lead this conversation and ensure that climate action is fair, inclusive, and rooted in local needs ensuring that communities are not at risk of exclusion from the “Just Transition” When people understand the shared nature of environmental challenges and the ethical responsibilities to each other, it nur tures a sense of solidar it y Awareness of climate, biodiversit y and water qualit y issues, as well as ways for communities, households and individuals to tak e ac tion are promoted through the Communit y M agazine Discover Duhallow A sustainabilit y wor kshop provided valuable insights and actionable advice, equipping attendees with the tools to live more sustainably while managing financial pressures Prac tical strategies were provided to help save money while mak ing eco -fr iendly choices that benefit both your budget and the environment
Day of the Regions
The Day of the Regions Project is well embedded in Duhallow as it has been delivered by IRD Duhallow for the last 13 years with communit y groups par ticipating to var ious degrees The overall concept of the project involves suppor ting communities to celebrate the uniqueness of their area and to focus on their assets by br inging people together to develop that sense of community and to generate pride of place With many new families living and returning to the area along with new arrivals with no previous connections to Duhallow, communities and groups are cognisant of the need to engage with them and host community events and ac tivities The Day of the R egion I nitiative is an ideal vehicle to promote this As aways e vents have been var ied and have included community festivals, community spor ts events and cultural events Family fun days are proving ever popular and a staple feature in the diar y for the summer months across the region
Funded under previous LEADER programmes as a cooperation project it has now received funding under the new LEADER programme as a rural tourism and recreation initiative I t is great to see such interest once again from communities Newly established committees are always welcomed
as they bring new ideas and enthusiasm and with festivals such as The R ock chapel G ather ing only into its 2nd year its great to see how successful and suppor ted they are locally
Discover Duhallow
Now in its 5th year the Discover Duhallow Community Magazine is a fixed staple in many homes ever y for tnight Available in both print and online for mat it is reaching out across the region and be yond connec ting communities and individuals, promoting community events, sharing local ne ws I t was launched in S eptember 2019 due a recognised need to promote community news and local business and to tack le rural isolation and exclusion 4,000 copies are distributed via local shops, business and communit y facilities With regular features from local contr ibutors on e ver ything from minding your well being to gardening tips there is something for ever yone in the magazine Staffed with the suppor t of CE, RSS & Tus, the Discover Duhallow team has developed strong link with its community contributors
Eileen Linehan, Assistant Manager IRD Duhallow presents a “Gold Winner ” prize to Recover y Haven at the Kerr y Community Awards 2024
Rockchapel: A large crowd attended the 3 counties challenge concer t as par t of the Gathering event suppor ted by Day of the Regions
Rockchapel the gathering: 117 children par ticipated in the Tractor Run, which was a highlight for all on the day
Fun & Games at the R ylane Family Fun Day with Adults getting in on the action for the fun race
One of the many groups that took a stand at the Newmarket Clubs Day which was an initiative that developed from a large community meeting facilitated by IRD Duhallow
Equality And Social Inclusion In Duhallow
IRD Duhallow ’ s Equalit y Wor k ing Group is dedicated to suppor ting individuals who may be facing exclusion within society The group also wor ks to raise awareness of social depr ivation and foster a strong commitment to embedding equalit y in ever yday prac tice I ts ac tivities aim to ensure that the needs of disadvantaged individuals are addressed, by suppor ting both new and existing groups to encourage par ticipation, combat marginalisation, and strengthen community connections
National Integration Suppor t Workers Forum
As the needs of our ne w communities grow, and the challenge of integration becomes more complex the Local Development Company Network (LDCN) has established an I ntegration Suppor t Workers Forum which IRD Duhallow sits on This Forum allows for peer-to -peer suppor t, the sharing of ideas and escalation of issues collec tively IRD Duhallow wor ks closely with many agencies promoting equalit y and integration amongst refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants in Duhallow IRD Duhallow is currently work ing closely with NASC helping to suppor t a ne w family moving into Duhallow in the near future through their Community Sponsorship Programme
Training for the Community
I n D ecember 2024, a training event was organised through the SICAP Programme’s Integration of New Communities measure This intercultural awareness webinar was delivered by the M uslim Sisters of Eire and provided attendees with insights into suppor ting attendees in cross cultural interactions and navigating challenges and differences I n May 2025 to coincide with European Diversit y Month, the Equalit y Work ing Group organised fur ther social inclusion training through the SICAP Programme On this occasion, Beatr iz Gómez M oreno of GORM M edia delivered broad spectrum training relating to intercultural competence and fostering a culture of inclusivity in communities and work places This highly interac tive training ensured maximum par ticipation from all par ticipants and attendees were encouraged to reflec t on the impac ts of marginalisation in real life ter ms S eparately IRD Duhallow staff par ticipated in a training event, which was delivered by Norma Fitzgibbon of the HR Suite This event dealt with polic y, legislation and developed par ticipants grasp of the significance of diversit y in a wor k place environment
SICAP Intercultural School Projec ts
Under the SICAP Ne w Ar r ival ac tion, IRD Duhallow wor ks with local communities and schools, to ensure interculturalism is suppor ted Through this measure students in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore, under took a wonder ful group projec t in 2024, which allowed them to express themselves through the medium of ar t and clay Their mosaic project is an example of collaborative effor t between students in T Ys and students from other years in the school Their wor k aims to promote global awareness and looked at the biodiversity that must be maintained,
as a local and global issue The circular for ms, created by the students, are symbolic of the fac t that nature operates on a fundamentally circular basis I n 2025 a youth e vent was also suppor ted through the SICAP I ntegration of Ne w Communities measure in Kerr y Students in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra R athmore attended a ‘ This is Me’ diversity and inclusion webinar, which aimed to foster understanding in relation to diversit y I t is hoped that other schools in Duhallow may par ticipate in this training in the Autumn
Multi-Cultural Christmas Event
Early December saw the James O’Keeffe Institute transform into a magical Chr istmas exper ience for local families when IRD Duhallow held its Annual Multi Cultural Christmas evening The evening was a great success with over 130 children and families in attendance which consisted of both locals and families which are new arrivals to the area Accompanied by a local face painter, IRD Duhallow staff facilitated ar t and craf t wor kshops along with cook ie decorating and handmade Chr istmas decorations The final highlight of the night was undoubtedly a visit to Santa who was accompanied by M rs Claus While families waited excitedly for their tur n, the y enjoyed tast y delicacies from Duhallow Community Food Ser vices Children attending Newmarket Afterschools also popped in for a visit and got to meet Santa and M rs Claus This was a hear t-warming evening full of festive cheer and there was a true sense of community there with
SICAP suppor ted an ar t inspired project in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra under its new Arrival Suppor t Funding
Pictured at Millstreet Community School near the colour ful mural representing interculturalism, the student journey and the natural geography and histor y of the area are MEP for Ireland South Seán Kelly, Maura Walsh CEO IRD Duhallow, Frances Moynihan Deputy Principal Millstreet Community School, Pól Ó Síodhcháin Principal and IRD Duhallow Development O fficers Nollaig Murphy and Lenora Kelly This project received suppor t from the LEADER programme
Lohovski Tymofii and Mykhailo Buts enjoyed the face painting and crafts table at the multi cultural event
Santa & Mrs Clause with Donnacha O’Callaghan at the IRD Duhallow Multi Cultural Xmas Event
Carmel Twohig Jones with her daughter Fiadh and Aila and Ella Boureau with daughters Paige and Bonnie
Suppor t For Ukrainian Refugees
Our integration team have continued to have a strong presence on the ground meeting with refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants With the ever-changing rules around migration including the most recent ex tension granted of temporar y protec tion for Uk rainian refugees our team have been busy suppor ting those affected We continue to play an ac tive par t on both the Cor k and K er r y I ntegration Forum and sub committees We also wor k closely with the Local Author ities Housing team on the ARP programme along with the integration team in the HSE and E TB
Social Inclusion
Throughout the year, we organised a variety of events aimed at bringing people of all nationalities together and fostering integration During the summer, nature lead walks provided a relaxed setting for connection and cultural exchange To mark Refugee Week in Duhallow we delivered C V clinics and a board games evening for children and adults which were ver y well attended This year for our Youth I ntegration Day, we organised a trip to Crag Cave and Dingle Ocean world Aquarium which was a great success
To celebrate Uk rainian I ndependence Day, we rolled out a communit y integration e vent in K antur k Town Par k , br inging together families of diverse back grounds The day featured taek wondo and football taster sessions from K antur k AFC, along with bounc y castles, garden games, and a BBQ prepared by Duhallow Community Food Ser vices
For the Autumn Winter per iod we launched our Together Hub which includes board game e venings provided in a safe and fr iendly environment for teenagers to connect, while adults attend movie nights focused on I rish based films These sessions not only suppor t integration through English language improvement but also offer an insight into Irish culture, histor y, and traditions
Well being I n collaboration with the HSE Social I nclusion team we organised a sixweek psychological wellbeing workshop focused on stress management The sessions incorporated practices such as meditation and acupuncture Due to the success of the programme, an additional session was held just before Christmas, a time that can be par ticularly stressful, especially for those living far from home We also delivered craf t wor kshops where par ticipants created their own Christmas wreaths using natural materials We began 2025 with the “Be K ind to Your M ind” programme led by local
counsellor Alice O ’Br ien which centred on self- compassion, effec tive stress management, and building awareness of the link bet ween thoughts and emotions I t offered par ticipants practical tools to suppor t their mental health and emotional wellbeing
Drop In Centre
Drop -in clinics have been a valuable suppor t as the y provide a welcoming space to meet, share experiences and stay informed about upcoming e vents and oppor tunities Our team organises monthly meetings for ne w ar r ivals and economic migrants in Ne wmar k et and Rathmore, as well as for tnightly sessions in K anturk These gatherings help build communit y connec tions and offer prac tical suppor t for those settling into life in the region
Employment suppor t
Gaining meaningful employment is the main goal for the majority of new arrivals and economic migrants and our I ntegration team has delivered a range of courses to help them upsk ill for employment Under the REACH Fund we delivered a 3- day Fork lift training, Manual handling and First Aid As many are now work ing in in the food and ser vice industr y we also delivered Food Safet y as well as Bar ista and Customer Ser vice Workshop
We are ver y cognisant that limited English is still a significant bar r ier to employment and we designed a Bespok e 8-week English Language Programme via SICAP which gave par ticipants the oppor tunity to improve their English and confidence with the language
Wellbeing group “Be Kind to Your Mind” with Alice O Brien
All fun & games at our board games evening for teenagers
Volodymir Bitiev who par ticipated on our 3 day Forklift course
A great day of fun @ our Community Integration Day in Kanturk Town Park
Teenagers on our Youth day visiting Crag Cave
Par ticipants in our Bespoke 8-week English Language Programme
Christmas decoration & craft workshop proved ver y popular
Equality For Women & Childcare
IRD Duhallow ’ s Womens Forum was established in 1997 and continues to advocate for women in Duhallow providing a strong voice and a power ful platform for addressing issues affecting women in the region Women often face unique social, economic and educational challenges that can lead to isolation and limited oppor tunities IRD Duhallow ’ s Women’s Forum continues to adapt to meet the needs of an e verchanging society to suppor t and give a voice to women of all age cohor ts and backgrounds
The Forum consists of representatives from women ’ s groups from across the region and they organise regular meetings and events These groups br ing women together, creating strong social net wor ks that enhance communit y cohesion and improve overall qualit y of life These connections often lead to lasting friendships, mentorship oppor tunities, and a shared sense of belonging
IRD Duhallow was delighted to provide a SICAP grant under Goal 1 to Freemount Women’s Shed for their set up costs Freemount Women's Shed is the newest member of IRD Duhallow ’ s Womens Forum and par t of a growing national movement addressing social isolation and mental health issues among women
IRD Duhallow ’ s Women’s Forum is affiliated to The National Women’s Council of I reland ensuring the Women of Duhallow are recognised and represented at a Local, National and I nternational level
IRD Duhallow is proud to have an all-female management team having achieved gender balance on its board We recognise the impor tance in promoting a gender diverse board in accordance with our values and mission I t is also great to see in 2025 that the Duhallow region for the first time ever have t wo women elec ted to the Seanad; Senator Eileen Lynch and S enator N icola R yan We will continue to promote ac tive citizenship amongst women of all ages and encourage them to join local committees and structures and to become involved in local and national decision mak ing This will help to inspire future young women to ensure the issues of Duhallow women are represented and bar r iers fur ther broken down
Duhallow Women’s
Conference International Women’s Day
For I nternational Women’s Day 2025 the Forum organised a Womens Health event entitled ‘M ná-Pause & Brunch’ which was a resounding success, drawing a diverse group of over 70 women from across the community The event was dedicated to health, wellness and empowerment and provided valuable insights and suppor t for women navigating all stages of peri-menopause, menopause and post menopause I nternational Women’s Day is a time to honour the achievements of women while also addressing impor tant issues affecting their lives
Attendees appreciated the exper t-led talks from Dr M aire Clear y & Tr iona Case y of the M ná Clinic K illarney along with K e vina R eel Physiotherapist all of whom covered physical symptoms, emotional wellbeing, and prac tical coping strategies Medical approaches, symptoms and treatments were
all shared along with practical advice on holistic wellbeing, nutrition and self- care Adding a unique perspective to the event Breda Stack k nown as ‘ The Declutter Therapist ’ discussed the connec tion bet ween mental health and physical sur roundings As the menopause of ten br ings significant life transitions Breda’s approach helps women to create a more suppor tive and calming environment during this period
This event wasn’t just about information, it was about connec tion and relaxation The event fostered a sense of solidarity and connection among women of all ages M any expressed ease and relief at being par t of a conversation that validates their exper iences and challenges societal taboos
By bringing menopause into the spotlight on International Women’s Day, the e vent succeeded in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting health and well-being The event was opened by Judy O’Lear y, Chair and Founding member of Duhallow
and presented by Maura Walsh, CEO
Women’s Forum
International Women’s Day Key Note speakers Dr Marie Clear y, Triona Casey & Kevina Reel
An engaged audience listening to speakers at our Mná-Pause Conference
Helen O’Sullivan IRD Duhallow with Margaret Kerins Manager of Tir na nÓ g Childcare
Judy O’Lear y Chair and Founding member of the Duhallow Womens Forum opens the IRD Duhallow International Womens Day event
Ashlean Tarrant and Senator Nicole R yan Millstreet pictured at International Womens Day
Equality For Women & Childcare
Nor th Cork Childcare Network
Celebrating 10 years in 2025, the Duhallow Nor th Cor k Childcare M anagers Net wor k was established by IRD Duhallow to help br ing managers in community childcare facilities in Nor th Cork and East Kerr y together to share exper iences and lear nings This Net wor k provides a space where members can tack le challenges facing the childcare sector They also receive impor tant information on governance, management issues and upcoming oppor tunities for funding and training The Network now consists of managers from 20 community-based facilities along with representation from Cork County Childcare and IRD Duhallow Through the IRD Duhallow Sk illnet Programme significant investment has been made upsk illing childcare staff in with QQI Level 5, 6, 7 and 8 in courses thereby helping to tack le the staffing challenges in the sector Members of the network have offered placements in their facilities to students on the courses
The Childcare sector in I reland has had a number of issues affecting the deliver y of their ser vices over the last number of years G over nment policies have taken proactive steps to make childcare affordable as the cost of childcare has been a significant financial strain for many families I n the last year under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) an increase in subsidies by the D epar tment of Children, Equalit y, Disabilit y, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY ) has been welcomed by parents This new measure aims to make quality childcare more affordable and accessible for all families, par ticular ly those in low and middle -income brack ets These subsidies can be the difference between staying in the workforce and having to reduce wor k hours or exit employment altogether The social and economic benefits of keeping parents, par ticularly women, in the wor kforce cannot be understated Childcare affordabilit y direc tly influences employment rates and the financial independence of families and is therefore essential par ticularly in rural areas
Communit y childcare facilities are at the hear t of many local communities, providing essential ser vices to families and laying a strong foundation for lear ning and de velopment The y play a major role in attracting families to the region allowing parents to work, study, or pursue career development The Equal Oppor tunities Childcare Programme was launched in 2002 by the Depar tment of Justice, Equality and Law reform to suppor t the establishment of childcare facilities that would ser ve the entire communit y The facilities would be open for a minimum of 48 weeks a year and provide childcare for children from 6 months to 14 years including breakfast clubs and af terschool ser vices I t also aimed to suppor t ser vices to respond to local needs, for example, opening from 7am to 7pm as demand presented to facilitate people commuting to work in hospitals or industries in regional towns and cities IRD Duhallow suppor ted seven crèches to successfully apply for this funding under the NCIP programme They now employ seven managers and 179 staff to cater for over 900 children
From our community consultation meetings it has been identified that lack of childcare and a shor tage of childcare places is a ser ious and growing issue that affec ts families, communities, and the economy Parents are forced onto long waiting lists, often for months or even years and some families have to settle for par t-time care or travel longer distances to find available places Without childcare, many parents reduce work hours or leave jobs entirely This can lead to gender inequality and reduce household incomes and career advancement I t is hoped that funding for large scale investment will become available in the coming years to address this widespread issue
Eileen Linehan Assistant CEO presenting the award for Best Women Led Business to Katie Lawlor of Auntie Katie’s
Finalist in the Women Led Business Categor y of the Duhallow Business Awards: Mar y O’Sullivan of Beginners Corner with her staff Liz O’Riordan, Anna Lynch and Theresa O’Sullivan
Mar y Murphy Manager of Banteer Childcare with her team of Room Educators who were finalists in the Best Community Enterprise at the Duhallow Business Awards
MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu with IRD Duhallow Staff Nollaig Murphy, Maura Walsh, Eileen Linehan, Triona Dennehy, Helen O’Sullivan and Lenora Kelly
Duhallow Carers
According to the most recent Census, there are 2,946 carers living in the IRD Duhallow region an exceptionally high figure relative to the national average on a per capita basis This marks a significant increase from the previous Census, which recorded 1,487 carers in the area These carers provide essential care for loved ones, including children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellec tual disabilities, frail older people, individuals with palliative care needs, and those with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges, or addic tion Following a detailed analysis and focus group consultation with par ticipants from the last Dormant Accounts Fund Carers Programme, a clear and ongoing need for dedicated suppor t for family carers in the region has been identified
Dormant Accounts Funding 2025-2026:
IRD Duhallow is pleased to have secured funding under the D or mant Accounts Fund for the period Januar y 2025 to December 2026, allowing us to continue delivering vital suppor ts to family carers throughout the Duhallow region This funding recognises the invaluable role that family carers play in our communities and enables us to provide tailored assistance that promotes their wellbeing, inclusion, and resilience
Family carers, who provide unpaid care to relatives or loved ones often exper ience social isolation, emotional strain, and difficult y accessing ser vices Over the course of this two-year period, IRD Duhallow will deliver a comprehensive range of suppor ts to respond to these challenges This includes regular group meetings that foster peer connection and shared exper ience, initiatives to suppor t health and wellbeing such as
mindfulness and stress management, and access to relevant training and resources that empower carers in their role
We will also host infor mation sessions on k e y topics including entitlements, assisted decision-mak ing, and future care planning, while creating oppor tunities for carers to engage directly with guest speakers, ser vice providers, and public representatives These suppor ts not only help carers feel less alone but also ensure they are informed, connected, and confident in navigating the demands of their caring responsibilities
The Duhallow Carers Network continues to be a crucial source of suppor t for family carers in rural and isolated areas of the region promoting the health, wellbeing and quality of life of these people and those for whom they care I n addition to providing oppor tunities for peer suppor t and carer engagement, the group provides a forum for advocac y and lobbying on issues faced by the carers of the region
HSE Funding:
The HSE continues to provide Section 39 funding on an annual basis to suppor t the operational costs of the group This funding helps subsidise the many outings and events organised throughout the year Many family carers, who rely solely on carers ' allowance, are on the brink of financial hardship For those providing round-the - clock care, the financial and emotional strain has been ongoing long before the cost- ofliving crisis, and the situation has only worsened Given these challenges, it remains a priority for the group to ensure that costs associated with attending events run by the Duhallow Carers group are kept as low as possible to ensure accessibility for all
need
carers in
of suppor t
Members of the Duhallow Carers Group enjoying a day trip to Kenmare, Co Kerr y
The Duhallow Carers Group at their annual Christmas gathering
Members of the Duhallow Carers Group meet monthly to share experiences suppor t each other and prioritise actions for IRD
Eileen Fehin, a member of the Duhallow Carers Group, speaking at our 2024 Seniors Conference
Breda Buckley celebrating her bir thday with members of the Carers Network
Saoi Network
Saoi
I n traditional I r ish culture, older people were honored and respec ted within their communities for the k nowledge and wisdom gained through a lifetime of experience The term “Saoi ” was used to describe an elder who possessed deep insight and wisdom to share
I t was in this spir it that IRD Duhallow established the Duhallow Saoi Network , a suppor t network for older people The network is made up of representatives from the region’s 21 active retirement groups, who come together on a quar ter ly basis at the James O ’K eeffe I nstitute in Newmar k et Suppor ting those in the third age is a k ey pr ior it y for IRD Duhallow, as nearly 16% of the local population is aged over 65, a figure significantly higher than the national average
IRD Duhallow has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the needs of older people, highlighting the impor tance of tailored, targeted social inclusion initiatives These inter ventions focus on areas such as health, well-being, and leisure; transpor t; housing; safety and security ; isolation; social networks and suppor t; and financial matters
The Saoi Network plays a central role in advocating for these needs and implementing initiatives that promote ac tive ageing and ensure older people remain included and engaged in their communities
IRD Duhallow ’ s 6th Annual Seniors’ Conference took place on the 12th of November 2024 in the marquee at the James O ’K eeffe I nstitute, Ne wmar k et, with over 180 guests in attendance IRD Duhallow was delighted to welcome guest speakers including Eileen Fehin, who shared her inspiring journey of living with a brain injur y and how she continues to persevere despite numerous challenges Norinna Nagle of Acquired Brain I njur y I reland, discussed the organisation’s vital work in rebuilding lives over the past two decades Nex t, IRD’s Hor ticulture Specialist R achel Budd provided valuable gardening tips, including advice on garden maintenance and growing one ’ s own produce The conference also featured a panel of speakers showcasing the wide range of ser vices IRD Duhallow offers to suppor t the elder ly communit y These included Warmer Homes, Furniture REVAMP, Community Laundr y, and Duhallow Community Food Ser vices Collette Vaughan spoke about Welfare Rights and then Finola McCar thy gave an insight into a Life -Long Learning for Older Adults project at UCC John Noel Cronin inspired attendees with
his talk on the joys and accessibilit y of solo travel M ar y O ’R eilly, a Cardiologist Nurse, educated attendees on the dangers of coronar y ar ter y disease and its warning signs The conference concluded on a high note with an uplif ting per for mance by M ar ie Twome y and Singing for the Brain
Bealtaine
Bealtaine is a month-long festival held in M ay that celebrates ac tive ageing and encourages older people to engage with and par ticipate in their communities To launch the Duhallow Bealtaine Festival, the IRD Duhallow Saoi Network was delighted to host the annual Dawn Mass at the Source of the Black water on 27th March 2025 Blessed with mild, dr y weather, it was a truly special and memorable mor ning for all who attended Mass was celebrated by Fr Tom Looney, with beautiful musical per for mances by Laura Dunlea and Anne M ar ie Lehane Dr Séamus Ó Máille also gave an insight into his book , Walk ing the Munster Black water : Ó Thriopall go Caoin Eochaill
A total of 20 events took place as par t of Bealtaine 2025, including a Movie afternoon, Bingo, a First Aid course, an Online Safety information session, and a variety of activities organised by local active retirement groups to mark the festival
Jack ’ s Myster y Tour is always a highlight of the Bealtaine calendar We fondly remember Jack Roche, former chairman of the Saoi Network , who passed away in Januar y 2024 On Friday, the 30th of May, members from various Active Retirement groups set off on the Myster y Tour, heading for Tipperar y The bus made its way to Cahir, where they visited the impressive Cahir Castle From there, they continued to Cashel Folk Village and onto Lár na Páirce, followed by a peaceful stop at Holycross Abbey
IRD Duhallow ’s 6th Annual Seniors’ Conference
Kathleen Moylan Chair of the Saoi Network welcoming a large crowd to the Senior Conference 2024
Dawn Mass 2025 celebrated by Fr Tom Looney
Members from various active retied groups enjoying Ar ts and crafts with Jessica as par t of the Bealtaine Festival
IRD Duhallow hosted a lively Bingo Afternoon in the Marquee in May The event drew a fantastic crowd, and a few lucky par ticipants walked away with great prizes
The Saoi Network during the annual Jack Roche s Myster y Tour, pictured at one of the tour ’ s stops - Holy Cross Abbey
Assisted Decision-Making Morning Aine Flynn, Director of the Decision Suppor t Ser vices, delivered an informative session on assistive Decision Marking (Capacity) Act 2015
Disability And Mental Health
New Direc tions Group
The New Directions Group, formally k nown as Towards Occupation, is a communit y based mental health initiative established over ten years ago or iginally with a focus on employment but in recent years with a social inclusion and communit y integration remit The group meets t wice week ly in the James O Keeffe I nstitute Organised ac tivities include inhouse hor ticulture classes and learning in the IRD Duhallow Therapeutic gardens and par ticipation on the S ocial Far ming Programme Hor ticulture and nature -based prac tices provide struc tured, meaningful activities that foster social inclusion, routine, and a sense of pur pose Such ac tivities are increasingly recognised as effec tive therapeutic tools in suppor ting mental health and wellbeing Ar ts and Crafts along with board games and puzzles are also a favourite for this group as they are another therapeutic way to engage with par ticipants These classes are pr imar ily funded through the Cor k E TB Communit y Education Fund along with SICAP funding, and all are ver y proactive in par ticipating in these classes B y engaging with such ac tivities par ticipants can exper ience reduced stress, improved mood, and strengthen social connections
The SICAP programme suppor ts the group to promote coping strategies an encourages emotional healing The group also practices mindfulness, self- care sk ills and wellbeing which are essential as the y promote emotional regulation, stress reduction, and greater self-awareness
Day Trip
Group days out are a great way for members to connect socially outside of their usual setting and have an experience that is both enter taining and educational The group visited Fota Wildlife Park last July and enjoyed a relaxing time surrounded by nature and animals, getting a tour of the exhibits and enjoying a specially organised oppor tunit y to feed the penguins A shor t bus spin to Cobh to the Titanic Exper ience and M useum gave them the chance to step back in time, with detailed exhibits and a guided tour that brought the ships stor y to life
Duhallow Emotional Suppor t and Counselling Ser vice
The Duhallow Emotional Suppor t and Counselling S er vice offers an emotional suppor t, and an in-house counselling ser vice Trained professionals overseen by Co Ordinator Aoife Douglas offer guidance, coping strategies and a listening ear to help manage stress, anxiet y and other mental health concer ns in a safe and confidential space This free ser vice is easily accessible and is proving increasingly popular I t is available to anyone living in the Duhallow area to access
NeuroInsight: Unpacking Diverse Minds –A Celebration of Neurodiversity
IRD Duhallow was proud to host this e vent which featured three distinguished speak ers, each br inging a wealth of exper tise offer ing perspec tives that are often underrepresented in mainstream discourse on neurodiversity Dr Áine O’Dea, occupational therapist and academic, opened the e vent with a comprehensive exploration of sensor y and emotional regulation Her presentation sk ilfully demystified the complex processes by which the brain inter prets emotion, providing prac tical strategies to promote both co -regulation and self-regulation for neurodivergent individuals Sharon McCar thy, UCD and Autism Journeys, gave an insightful and deeply personal address on the realities of receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood Her talk shed light on the emotional challenges of mask ing, the complexities of late identification, and the profound empower ment that accompanies embracing a neurodivergent identit y Laura Crowley, a respec ted autism consultant and sleep specialist, concluded the day with a focus on sleep health among autistic individuals Her evidence -based guidance offered clear, actionable recommendations for establishing suppor tive and sustainable sleep routines
The ex tended Q&A session that followed was mar k ed by thoughtful questions and hear tfelt reflec tions, underscor ing the value and necessit y of such open, suppor tive spaces Feedback from attendees reflec ted a deep sense of validation and connection, with many expressing that they felt truly seen, heard, and understood an outcome that speaks to the e vent ’ s lasting significance
More than just an information session, NeuroInsight ser ved as a power ful reminder of the impor tance of communit y, shared lear ning, and the celebration of neurodiverse identities The rich dialogue, exper t insights, and authentic engagement ensured that the e vent lef t a meaningful and enduring impact on all who par ticipated This event was made possible through the collaboration of the Wor kAbilit y, S ocial I nclusion and Communit y Activation Programme (SICAP), and Parent Peer Suppor t Programmes
New Directions Par ticipants Patrick, Brian, Denis and John enjoying the good weather whilst out and about in the IRD Duhallow vegetable and herb garden
The New Directions Group receiving their end of year ‘Cer tificate of Par ticipation’
Day trip to Fota Wildlife Park pictured with Percy the Crow and park ranger Willie
Speaker Aine O Dea giving an informative talk to the people who attended NeuroInsight: Unpacking Diverse Minds
Melissa Holland and Helen O Sullivan of IRD Duhallow with speakers Sharon McCar thy, Aine O Dea, Laura Crowley at the NeuroInsights event
Many hands make light work –par ticipants working as a team in the IRD Duhallow Community Gardens
Rural Community Health
Rural Community Health Projec t
I mproving the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, groups and communities was identified as a priority back in 2021 by the HSE for the Nor th Cork region Due to the high rates of suicides in Nor th Cork this pilot projec t was rolled out in a collaboration bet ween IRD Duhallow, Ballyhoura Development, Avondhu Black water and the HSE Now into its 4th year the project is delivered through 3 objectives; suicide prevention, inter vention and post vention suppor ts I t has had a great impac t and been well received on the ground The core mission of R CHW is to educate and empower individuals and communities to confront the pressing issues of social isolation and mental health The projec t promotes positive mental health and wellbeing, and through its work , has identified a growing need for additional social suppor ts
Walking and Social Group
Launched in 2022, the Walk ing and Social Club was established to tack le issues such as loneliness, isolation, depression, and stress, while also encouraging physical health and overall wellbeing The club with a current membership of 38 now offers two levels of fitness walks to cater to a broader range of abilities, meeting t wice week ly at Island Wood in Ne wmar k et M embers also enjoy regular outings to explore ne w walk ing routes Dur ing the autumn and winter months, the focus shifts to indoor physical activities as par t of a seasonal programme
Our book club meets week ly and has grown in membership, war mly
welcoming individuals from all backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on social inclusion as well as a shared love of reading Together with the Walk ing and Social Club, this group offers vital social suppor t to people in the Duhallow region who are experiencing or at risk of rural and social isolation
Events, Wellness Days and Courses
Continuing on with promoting self- care and well-being an Activator Pole training session was held in October which sparked a series of ongoing classes throughout the winter months including classes on prac ticing mindfulness through yoga and fitness Wellness and fitness classes are ver y effective for combating seasonal isolation and maintaining mental well being while also promoting physical exercise and resilience , helping people stay active during the winter season
Mens Mental Health Week 2025
Dur ing M en ’ s Health Week 2025, IRD Duhallow delivered a targeted programme of events aimed at raising awareness around men ’ s mental and physical health A k e y e vent took place at K antur k M ar t, chosen specifically as a familiar and comfor table setting to engage men who may not t ypically attend health-related e vents The day provided an oppor tunit y to speak openly about mental health, with infor mation stands and infor mal conversations helping to reduce stigma and encourage early inter vention A men ’ s walk was also held, promoting the positive impact of physical activity on mental wellbeing while creating space for connection and peer suppor t In addition, CPR and AED training sessions were delivered to raise awareness of hear t health and equip par ticipants with vital, life -saving sk ills The events were well attended and created meaningful engagement around men ’ s health in an open and accessible way
Listening Ser vice June 2025 saw the launch of the IRD Duhallow Listening S er vice as par t of the RCH programme Not a counselling ser vice but a safe space for those who wish to share what e ver is troubling them on a one to one basis with our rural communit y health wor k er I f af ter a session fur ther suppor t is required we sign post the person to relevant suppor ts and ser vices
Book Club
Walking and Social Club members enjoying the glorious weather on one of their trips out to Muckross House Killarney earlier in the year
Reading for the Brain: Members of the IRD Duhallow Bookclub enjoying the at their weekly meetings
Getting the steps in at Castlefreke Trails near Rathbarr y in West Cork on the Walking and Social Clubs annual trip with Rural Community Health Worker Elmarie Young
Shane McHale and Ciaran Carmody at Kanturk Mar t for an Open Information Day on Men’s health and wellbeing in recognition of International Men’s Week in June
The newly launched Listening Ser vice in IRD Duhallow is a welcoming and safe space
Empowering Abilities: Building Inclusive Pathways through WorkAbility
From rural towns to isolated communities, people with disabilities often face added barriers to finding meaningful employment The WorkAbility : I nclusive Pathways to Employment Programme, co -funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the EIST Programme 2021–2027 and the Depar tment of Social Protection (DSP), offers a lifeline to those at the margins
D elivered locally by IRD Duhallow, Wor kAbilit y is about more than employment I t is about recognising potential, creating belonging, and building resilience -no matter the star ting point
Breaking Down Barriers in Rural Ireland
I n I reland, just 36% of people with disabilities are in employment compared to over 70% of the general population (CSO, 2023) I n rural areas, this gap can be e ven wider due to limited public transpor t, fe wer oppor tunities, and social isolation
That ’ s why WorkAbility matters
This year, the programme has suppor ted 30 par ticipants, empower ing individuals with physical, intellec tual, and mental health challenges to char t a path for ward From C V writing wor kshops to job placements, our approach is person- centred and strengths-based, with a focus on community inclusion
A ser ies of targeted wor kshops recently concluded as par t of the programme, each designed to foster personal growth and enhance employabilit y sk ills Drama and creative wr iting sessions provided a platfor m for self- expression, building confidence and encouraging individuality Meanwhile, the "Communications in the Work place" module focused on de veloping empathy and improving inter personal sk ills, equipping par ticipants with the tools for more effective and considerate communication in professional environments Physical wellbeing was addressed through a dedicated four-week module on nutr ition and health, promoting a deeper understanding of self- care as a foundation for personal and professional resilience
On the 16th of D ecember, the Wor kAbilit y group along with Ailbe Coffey (tutor) and BridgidIde Walsh, travelled by plane, from Kerr y to Dublin For many of the group, this was their first exper ience in a plane, which was an exciting experience They explored the Wax Museum first that suppor ted curiosity and education After this, they went shopping in Grafton Street, tak ing in the atmosphere of Dublin’s var ious shops and street per formances
Look ing ahead, upcoming wor kshops will centre on prac tical life sk ills such as course selec tion, volunteer ing oppor tunities, and dr iving preparation all essential components for expanding future employment prospects
Highlights from 2024–2025
30 par ticipants engaged in personalised development plans
• 15 completed work placements across sectors like retail, hospitality, and community ser vices
• Rolled out new workshops including public speak ing, creative ar ts and drama, and relationship/sexual health education
• I ntroduced peer suppor t and wellness coaching to address mental health barriers
“ The workabilit y program led by IRD D uhallow and its suite of personal de velopment and life sk ills programs are a wonder ful way to help individuals with disabilities build the skills they need to thrive in their communities and future workplaces These classes boost confidence, improve communication, and teach problem-solving in ways that are tailored to each person ’ s unique needs B y focusing on suitabilit y, adaptability and self- advocac y, par ticipants are empowered to overcome challenges, find fulfilling job oppor tunities, and take active roles in mak ing their communities stronger These programs open doors to inclusion, independence, and the chance to achie ve personal goals thus enhancing their lives ”
- Ailbe Coffey, Next Steps Towards Employability tutor
“ Workability has been great for me in de veloping as a person I've met new lifelong friends that I can rely on The varied courses the programme offers have been vital in understanding myself better and striving to be my authentic self ” [Daniel], age [28]
Looking For ward: Growing Inclusion
WorkAbility is not just about jobs I t ’ s about people Nex t year, we aim to:
• Expand our employer network
• O ffer flexible, tailored suppor ts
• Host a community awareness event to reduce stigma in the work place
• Deepen our focus on peerled mentorship
By continuing to meet individuals where they are, we ’ re building a future where rural inclusion is not an exception, but the norm
Par ticipant Journeys
Ailbe Coffey (Next Steps to Employability tutor), Jamie O Donoghue, Daniel O Laughlin, Bridgie-Ide Walsh and Darragh Murphy on their way to Dublin from Kerr y Airpor t
The group working on their Careers Por tal
The group learn about engines and driving at Munster Driving Campus in Mallow
Solomon Kassa, Indigo Breimer, Tim Twomey, Darragh Murphy, Daniel O Loughlin and Gearoid Meehan per forming in Creative Drama with Tutor Micheal Guerin
Gearoid Meehan who par ticipates on a host farm as par t of the Duhallow Social Farm Project
WorkAbility group Team Building Field Trip: Par ticipants Gar y O Connor, Catriona Lawlor ( Tutor), Darragh Murphy, Tim Twomey, Gearoid Meehan, Melissa Holland ( WorkAbility co- ordinator), Solomon Kassa and Daniel O Loughlin at Liscarroll Donkey Sanctuar y
Local Area Employment Ser vice (LAES)
IRD Duhallow ’ s Local Area Employment Ser vice (LAES) continues to be a vital ser vice in tack ling long-term unemployment and fostering workforce inclusion across our region Since joining the R egional Employment Ser vice model in August 2022 as par t of a consor tium led by Cork City Par tnership – alongside SECAD, Avondhu Black water, and Ballyhoura D e velopment – IRD Duhallow has remained committed to deliver ing high- quality, community-based employment suppor ts
The LAES operates through a referral system, whereby the Depar tment of S ocial Protec tion refers clients who have been on J obseek ers ' Allowance for over 12 months Once referred, clients are suppor ted over a 52-week programme involving monthly one -to- one meetings with our dedicated case wor k ers These meetings provide struc tured, personcentred guidance tailored to each individual’s employment journey
Key Highlights from This Year:
• 544 Referrals to Date: We have now suppor ted 544 individuals referred through LAES, providing them with consistent, personalised employment suppor t and guidance
• Staff Upskilling to Suppor t Clients: This year, members of our LAES team became cer tified M anual Handling I nstruc tors This added capacity allows us to deliver essential training directly to clients, helping remove one of the key barriers to employment for many individuals in manual roles
• Communit y O utreach and Promotion: Our team proudly represented IRD Duhallow at the #WorkWithIntreo #Work andSk ills2025 event in the H ibernian Hotel, Mallow This event was an oppor tunity to promote the comprehensive range of employment suppor ts we
offer, par ticularly through LAES, and to strengthen par tnerships with employers, stakeholders, and other ser vice providers
Person-Centred and Holistic Suppor t
Our commitment to deliver ing compassionate, tailored employment suppor t remains at the hear t of our ser vice Through regular one -to - one engagement, we empower individuals to identify their strengths, overcome bar r iers, and explore meaning ful employment and training oppor tunities We work with individuals to identify their wants and needs from employment and wor k towards finding suitable employment or training oppor tunities
Tailored Training
Our Case O fficers listen closely to both the needs of the client and local employers, which helps them in deciding which courses to run through the SICAP programme Courses such as hospitalit y, first aid, basic computers, personal development and more
Our Macroom Office
We not only operate from our offices in Newmarket but also in Macroom We are based above Deasy ’ s Pharmac y on the main street, which allows us to continue to deliver LAES suppor ts in accessible, community-based settings This location enables us to connec t par ticipants with local resources, employers, and training oppor tunities
Looking Ahead
As we move for ward, IRD Duhallow is focused on strengthening links with local employers, expanding our in-house training provision, and deepening our community engagement We are also exploring new ways to enhance client outcomes through the use of the SICAP programme and link ing in with adult and fur ther education providers in the area
Our continued par ticipation in the LAES consor tium reflects our shared vision of a more inclusive, oppor tunit y-rich employment landscape for all Through ongoing collaboration, training, and innovation, we remain steadfast in our mission to suppor t long-term unemployed individuals in their jour ne y towards sustainable employment and greater
personal independence
(L–R) Team Leader Triona Dennehy with LAES Case O fficers Ciaran Carmody, Lenora Kelly, and Alina O’Mahony
Alina O Mahony, Elmarie Young, Aidan Wolfe (Intreo), PJ Murphy, and Ciaran Carmody attending an the Intreo Work & Skills Recruitment & Training Fair in Mallow
Our Macroom LAES office that is located above Deasy s Pharmacy in the WorkBase Coworking Hub & O ffices
LAES Case O fficer Lenora Kelly conducting
Youth And Education
The IRD Duhallow Youth & Education Wor k ing Group is the umbrella struc ture for all that we do in relation to youths and their families in Duhallow I t was established in 2003 as par t of our Board Struc ture to promote social, inclusive personal and education development of young people The work ing group has achieved significant progress to date
Duhallow Child & Family Suppor t Network (CFSN)
IRD Duhallow is delighted to work closely with Tusla on the roll out of the Duhallow Child & Family Suppor t Network for the region CFSN’s help to suppor t families in need by tak ing a localised area based approach They are the unit building blocks of the TUSLA National S er vice D eliver y Frame wor k (NSDF) to ensure there is integrated ser vice deliver y in Duhallow The Duhallow CFSN consists of representatives from local schools and agencies where e ver yone is wor k ing in par tnership to suppor t families locally IRD Duhallow looks for ward to seeing this network develop in the coming years and works closely with Stephanie Heffer nan S enior CFSN Co Ordinator who is a great advocate for developing such suppor ts in rural areas
Public Speaking 2024
Literac y Advancement Initiative
Throughout the school year, IRD Duhallow organises week ly classes for children The initiative is led by qualified pr imar y school teachers and conducted with a low pupil-to -teacher ratio in place Activities focus on reading, writing, spelling, memor y and sequencing sk ills in a suppor tive small group setting The T TRS programme complements this approach with a multisensor y computer-based approach that helps children develop touch typing, spelling, and reading sk ills The programme uses repetition and dictation exercises to boost reading, listening, and typing proficienc y while reinforcing overall learning On Monday, May 26th, after se veral months of dedicated lear ning, IRD Duhallow ’ s Youth and Education Work ing Group organised a Recognition of Learning evening to celebrate the achievements of the children who par ticipated in the 2024/2025 Literac y Advancement and Touch, Type, Read and Spell ( T TRS) programmes Twenty children were present on the night, accompanied by their proud families, teachers, and tutors Each child's achievements were recognised with the presentation of a trophy and cer tificate All attendees enjoyed delicious refreshments, while the children received specially prepared goody bags
The James O’Keeffe I nstitute was the venue for a wonder ful occasion in O c tober 2024, when national school students representing schools throughout Duhallow were present to deliver speeches especially prepared for the annual IRD Duhallow public speak ing event This day marked the culmination of special workshops where children developed public speak ing and communicative confidence Under the exper t tutelage of Dr Siobhán Fitzgerald creator of the Lets Stand Progamme, a variet y of ver y interesting speeches were eloquently delivered by local students Adult evaluators representing IRD Duhallow were also present to give positive feedback and advice to the young speak ers Vice Chair person of IRD Duhallow Anne M ar ia Bour k e and D e velopment O fficer Rowan Lanning, spoke to the group in relation to the contents of their speeches and the significance of their public speak ing achievements The young par ticipants spok e on matters close to their hear t with speeches relating to spor ts, local heroes, histor y, folk lore and special places of interest in Duhallow all being capably delivered by the children Through their presentations the children also showed some of the sk ills the y had mastered through par ticipating in the programme, including intonation, speech structure, hand gestures, e ye contac t and facial expression Throughout the 2025 many of the par ticipants volunteered to have their speeches published in Discover Duhallow, these were ver y well received by its readership
Understanding your Teen The Youth & Education Wor k ing group delivered an information seminar with local psychotherapist Alice O’Brien in O c tober On the night Alice shared some ver y insightful tips and information on how to suppor t teenagers through the ups and downs of teenage years while ensuring relationships are nur tured at home
Cybersafety Seminar
The online wor ld is a constant worr y for parents To suppor t and infor m parents an in person wor kshop with Aoife Noon of THINK SMAR T CYBER was organised to empower parents with the awareness and tools to help safeguard their children online, reduce stress and protect
Children who completed IRD Duhallow ’ s Public Speaking Workshops gather on the steps of the James O Keeffe Institute following their presentation with their tutor Siobhán Fitzgerald of Let s Stand and Nollaig Murphy event co- ordinator IRD Duhallow
Public Speaking students from Boherbue National School with School Principal Ms Marie Casey and their teacher Ms Meabh Buckley
IRD Duhallow Development O fficers Nollaig Murphy & Melissa Holland with Literacy Teachers Katie Hickey and Sarah Jones Aoife Murphy with students from our Literacy Programme at the Recognition of Learning evening which celebrated their achievements
Alice O’Brien sharing her knowledge with parents at the Understanding Your Teen evening
Aoife Noone with Brighid Ide Walsh and Maura Walsh at the Cybersafety Event
Youth And Education
their potential Focused on bridging the digital divide this event provided parents with crucial k nowledge to protec t their children online while ensuring all families can par ticipate safely in the digital world
Puppet Workshops
Led by Child & Adolescent
Psychotherapist & Play Therapist
Lor raine O ’Hanlon provided a magical hands on workshop for 5to 11-year- olds in ear ly 2025 Through craf ting charac ters children lear ned about expressing emotions with e ver yone creating their own puppet to tak e home The event fostered social inclusion by providing a safe space for marginalised individuals, build confidence and connec t with others Through stor ytelling and collaboration par ticipants developed communication sk ills and felt a sense of belonging This was a fun and meaningful experience full of creativity and self- discover y
Careers Exhibition
IRD Duhallow held its annual careers exhibition in November bringing together universities, colleges and agricultural institutions to guide young people in shaping their futures The e vent provided students with a unique oppor tunit y to explore diverse educational and career paths Exhibiters offered valuable insights into courses programmes and career prospects helping attendees make informed decisions about their nex t steps This dynamic event underscored IRD Duhallow ’ s commitment to empowering youth through education and career development
Dyslexia Information event
I n November the Youth & Education work ing group hosted a webinar for both parents and professionals on suppor ting students with dyslexia in both upper primar y and second level This event equipped parents and educations with the practical tools to suppor t students with dyslexia, a group of ten marginalised in traditional educational settings B y promoting understanding and inclusive strategies the project empowers families and professionals and professionals to create a more suppor tive learning environment that ack nowledges each student ’ s unique needs Such events like this are so impor tant as they ex tend beyond academics, addressing the social and emotional impacts of dyslexia, which can lead to isolation and low self- esteem
Christmas Cooking Class for Kids
With a focus on health & nutrition IRD Duhallow held 2 cooker y classes for children aged 7-9 and 10-13 for 50 children These interac tive wor kshops provided a space where the children could lear n valuable cook ing sk ills that will stand to them for life The focus on the classes was on healthy Christmas treats The events encouraged children from diverse backgrounds to engage in shared activities Deirdre Doyle from The Cool Food School delivered the two classes and proved ver y popular with all the children
Deirdre Doyle from the Cool Food School with par ticipants on the Christmas Cooker y Class
Circle of Fun some aids at the Puppet Workshop allowing for fun and self- discover y
Boherbue Comprehensive Students; Orla Aherne Sheila O'Connor Caitlin O'Brien Mar y Walsh Rachel Cronin and Aibhinn O'Riordan at the IRD Duhallow Careers Exhibition
The Clonakilty Agricultural College has a lot of interest on the day from local students
The Annual Careers Exhibition is always a popular event bringing colleges and other educational providers to one location for all students to meet on the day
Employment And Training
Community Education and Lifelong Learning
Community Education and lifelong learning play a vital role in suppor ting individuals to build confidence, de velop sk ills, and progress along educational and personal development pathways IRD Duhallow places a strong emphasis on accessible, learner-led oppor tunities that respond to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalised groups A range of community-based learning initiatives have been delivered over the past year including: Beginners and I ntermediate Computers, Digital Sk ills for Smar t D e vices, and a well-attended Sustainabilit y S eminar These initiatives not only suppor ted digital inclusion and lifelong learning but also encouraged greater communit y engagement and awareness of environmental issues
Job Centre
IRD Duhallow ’ s Job Centre continues to provide dedicated one -to - one suppor t for individuals seek ing to improve their employment prospects Through confidential sessions with our D e velopment O fficers, par ticipants receive tailored assistance in areas such as CV and cover letter preparation, inter vie w techniques, career exploration, and identifying suitable training or education oppor tunities to enhance their employabilit y The ser vice is available to anyone who is unemployed, underemployed, or exper iencing bar r iers to accessing wor k , including young people, lone parents, migrants, and others from disadvantaged backgrounds I n addition to individualised suppor t, the Job Centre also offers valuable local labour mar k et insights and can help par ticipants build connections with potential employers This comprehensive suppor t empowers individuals to build confidence, make informed decisions, and take meaningful steps towards securing long-term employment
Labour Market Ac tivation
IRD Duhallow has successfully provided numerous training oppor tunities aimed at enhancing the sk ills of our rural community members, helping
them acquire ne w competencies and improve their employabilit y Through the SICAP programme, we have delivered a variety of targeted training courses including: Safe Pass, For k lif t Training, AT V Quad Bik e Training, Customer Ser vice, and more
These shor t to medium length courses demonstrate the significant impac t that focused, accessible education can have on personal development and career advancement By equipping par ticipants with practical, job-ready sk ills, we continue to suppor t sustainable growth and oppor tunity within the local community
Bursaries
I n 2024, IRD Duhallow proudly provided suppor t to t wo remar k able individuals through Adult & Second Chance Education bursar ies Both recipients of these grants are women, and the funding was allocated under the SICAP Goal 2 measure This initiative empowers the par ticipants to enhance their previous education, acquiring new sk ills and opening doors to exciting oppor tunities
“I did a QQI level 5 course with Duhallow Sk illnet and I graduated with eight distinctions. I t was my Level 5 Healthcare Suppor t qualification that facilitated my admission into the Bachelor of S cience Mental Health Nursing degree in MTU Tralee. The suppor t awarded to me from the SIC AP Progamme has not only eased some of the financial costs attached to attending third level education but has motivated me to continue striving for academic excellence and personal growth I believe the grant I received through the SICAP Programme will have a lasting impact on my path for ward into a career in mental health nursing and I look for ward to progressing to year two of my degree course in the Autumn”.
Targeting Youth
IRD Duhallow continues to address the evolving sk ills needs of young people in our region by engaging direc tly with them, their suppor t networks, and relevant agencies O ver the past year, we have expanded our training offerings across vocational sk ills, digital literac y, and personal development, ensuring accessibility through both in-person and online deliver y - a crucial element for those in rural areas
Mental health and wellbeing remain a priority, with ongoing initiatives that foster a safe and suppor tive environment where young people can openly express concerns and share ideas Our free counselling ser vice,
Par ticipants who completed SICAP funded Forklift Training and received their licences
Par ticipants who completed the Manual Handling Instructor Training
Ciaran Carmody, Development O fficer assisting a job seeker through IRD Duhallow ’ s Job Centre
SICAP Bursar y Recipient Tracy Asemota
Employment And Training
available to individuals aged 18 and over, remains a vital suppor t
We strengthened our par tnerships with local schools, colleges, and universities through collaborative projec ts that enhance for mal education Our Laptop Loan S cheme continues to play a k e y role in br idging the digital divide, allowing lear ners to fully par ticipate in education and training oppor tunities
We delivered digital sk ills suppor ts through a mix of traditional computer classes and more targeted workshops, including Smar t Device Training, C V and I nter view Preparation, and Public Speak ing These have proven effective in building both technical and soft sk ills
Communit y engagement was promoted through youth-focused consultations and events, encouraging par ticipation and feedback We also suppor ted young people to become more active in their local areas by connecting them with groups such as choirs, spor ts clubs, TidyTowns, drama, and music collectives
Nor th Cork Adult Education and Skills Network
IRD Duhallow remains an ac tive member of the Nor th Cor k Education and Sk ills Network , a collaborative platform that brings together a broad range of education and training stakeholders from across the region This net wor k plays a k e y role in strengthening inter-agenc y cooperation, facilitating the shar ing of infor mation, and aligning ser vices to better meet the needs of learners and jobseekers in Nor th Cork
The net wor k includes representatives from Local D e velopment Companies, Education and Training Boards (E TBs), social welfare ser vices, youth organisations, third-le vel institutions, business and chamber groups, as well as the HSE Through ongoing par ticipation, IRD Duhallow contributes to discussions that shape local education strategies, ensuring that rural and marginalised communities have a voice in regional planning and programme deliver y
Recognition of Learning
Each year, IRD Duhallow hosts a R ecognition of Lear ning e vent to celebrate the achie vements of our lear ners and ack nowledge the dedication and effor t they put into their personal development The 2025 event was a great success, with local Junior M inister M ichael Moynihan attending as guest speaker He commended the commitment shown by
all involved and spoke about the impor tance of lifelong learning in rural communities I t was a war m and uplif ting af ter noon, with cer tificates awarded to all course par ticipants who completed their training throughout the year
Alive:
The Alive (Age -Inclusive Lifelong Learning) Project is an Erasmus+ project running from 2023-2026 The objective of the project is to address barriers to age -inclusive lear ning and to build sustainable enablers that will ex tend and enhance the engagement of older adults 55+ in higher education I n 2024, UCC facilitated t wo co - design wor kshops at IRD Duhallow to develop a microcredential based on par ticipants' interests The resulting course, running in May 2025, focuses on digital sk ills and health - areas identified as pr ior ities, especially in rural settings postpandemic
Emotional Suppor t and Counselling Ser vice
Now it ’ s in 10th year IRD Duhallow ‘ s Emotional Suppor t and Counselling Ser vice is available by appointment to anyone over the age of 18, affected by mental ill health The suppor t ser vice which is funded under the SICAP Job Centre Action in Goal 2 is completely confidential, non-judgmental and non- discriminator y Ver y often people with lower incomes cannot afford counselling fees and therefore go without The ser vice is provided by five voluntar y Counsellors / Psychotherapists (made up of student and pre -accredited therapists) This includes telephone listening and one to one I ntegrative counselling
Lifelong Learning Par ticipants with Finola McCar thy UCC par ticipating in the ALIVE project in the Therapeutic Gardens
Par ticipants who completed one full day of training to receive their Safe Pass cer tificate
Gillian Hampton is presented with her cer tificate for completing Smar t Devices and Progressive Computer training by Minister Michael Moynihan
Learners celebrate at our 2025 Recognition of Learning Ceremony with the traditional hat toss
Rural Social Scheme
IRD Duhallow has been operating the RSS for over twenty years which provides vital suppor t for smallholders in Duhallow
A Review of the Rural Social Scheme - Recommendations
A review of the scheme was initiated in 2023 by a dedicated Steer ing Group which comprised of various Depar tments and organisations with representation including our CEO M aura Walsh who was one of the representatives of the Local Communit y D e velopment Net wor k
Following the culmination of public consultations, case studies and inperson wor kshops which gained invaluable perspec tives of all stakeholders The Review of the Rural Social Scheme was launched in July 2024 and recommendations from the Steering Group were welcomed, some of which have been actioned and more we look for ward to the roll out of in the coming year
Recommendations include:
• A pilot scheme of 250 places available to ‘Rural D wellers’ over 50 years of age on a social welfare payment
• Ex tend the scheme to people engaged in far ming who are not the holder of the herd number but who have a connection to the farm
• Allow CE par ticipants who have completed their 6 years on that scheme, are over 50 years of age and who have not progressed to employment to opt for the RSS on cer tain conditions including the par ticipants’ capacity to secure other employment
• Consider the feasibilit y of allowing a couple engaged in far ming to both access the RSS
• The means reviews are under taken at 3 yearly inter vals, instead of the current annual review on the basis that farm incomes do not change significantly year on year
• That par ticipants on reaching 60 would be allowed remain on the scheme without any fur ther review of means or circumstances until they reach 66
Recruitment of new RSS par ticipants
IRD Duhallow is actively recruiting for new par ticipants to join our team and believe the above recommendations will enhance any prospective interested individuals
To be eligible to apply for a place you must be over 25 years of age, actively farming and in receipt of farm assist or a qualifying social welfare payment such as jobseeker's Allowance, Disability Allowance, One -Parent Family Payment, Widow's, Widower's or Sur viving Civil Par tner's Contributor y Pension or Widow's, Widower's or Sur viving Civil Par tner's Non- Contributor y Pension
For your application you will have to provide proof you ’ re actively farming by providing your Basic I ncome Suppor t for Sustainabilit y application including a valid herd number
The scheme also allows the option of a spouse/child/sibling of the herd number owner to par ticipate using your parent or sibling’s herd number
if you ’ re in receipt of one of the above qualifying social welfare payments
Benefits of joining IRD Duhallow ’s Rural Social Scheme
The week ly hours are 19 5 hours which are farm friendly and flexible not to inter fere with far ming ac tivities As of Januar y 2025, the minimum week ly payment is €271 50 and a Class A PRSI contr ibution is paid on behalf of all RSS par ticipants You will receive a rolling 3-year contrac t until you ’ re 66 years of age if you ’ re eligibilit y remains as well as paid annual leave, public holiday entitlements and access to training oppor tunities
Rural Social Scheme Ac tivities
The scope of placement and project activities available means that those with specific sk illsets or interests can avail of a multitude of fulfilling placements The breadth of work being under taken by the Rural Social Scheme is indeed amazing and their effor ts are evident throughout the region Work includes: providing maintenance in their local communities, sheltered housing and spor ting facilities; preparing and delivering meals
CEO Maura Walsh along with her counterpar ts of the Steering Group at the launch of the RSS Review In Mayo in July 2024
RSS par ticipant Michael Lynch, Super visor Colm O’Connor and RSS par ticipants John Holmes and Wilie Walsh who attending Safe Pass training
Rural Social Scheme
to the elderly and school lunches; providing a friendly phone call ser vice; assistance with Duhallow Community Laundr y, the collection ser vice for Furniture Revamp as well as administrative suppor t for Discover Duhallow and Furniture Revamp
We have a dedicated exper ienced team who have construc tion experience and Super visors work closely with local community groups to identify and scope maintenance projec ts including: addressing invasive species, walks de velopment and her itage projec ts The identification and enhancement wor k on these t ypes of projec ts contribute to the sustainability of communities by providing additional or indeed enhancing our local amenities Ear lier in the year we were delighted when M inister Jer r y Buttimer visited IRD Duhallow and met with members of the RSS team to see their hard work in action
IRD Duhallow Rural Social Scheme Team
We said farewell to Br ian Feehan and Tom Healy who retired from the scheme after a combined 32 years of ser vice We are ver y grateful to Brian and Tom who did tremendous work whilst on the scheme and sincerely wish them both a happy retirement
I n the past year par ticipants Margaret Murphy, George O ’Connor, Sean O’Connell and John O’Flynn also left the scheme and we would like to thank them for their dedication and hard work during their many years with us and wish each of them the ver y best for the future
Finally, we would like to ack nowledge the work done by Colm O’Connor who Super vised the team since 2021 and wish him the best of luck in his
new role as Rural Recreation O fficer with IRD Duhallow
Years of ser vice
This year Tony Angland and N iall Bur k e were applauded for their completion of ten years on the scheme
Testimony - Niall Burke
I star ted on the Tus scheme in 2013 and that ’ s how I got the oppor tunity to go on the Rural Social Scheme as I work on the family farm During my 19 5 hours I look after collections for the Laundr y and Furniture Revamp I like meeting people so the RSS has given me that oppor tunity and I would say to anyone to go on the RSS as it would give you good work experience
In Remembrance
I n June we were devastated to hear of the passing of our colleague DJ Sheehan DJ joined IRD Duhallow in December 2013 and is remembered fondly by all his colleagues DJ did tremendous work on a number of projects, one of his first was plastering the newly built DCFS building in Newmarket He was a member also of the Warmer Homes Scheme, his strong work ethic was evident and no project was too big for him to tack le
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
A: Social Economy Working Group Chairperson Mar y Wallace making a presentation to Niall Burke at our annual Christmas dinner on the occasion of being 10 years on RSS
B: Niall busy on the farm making sure all the jobs get done
C: Niall does a great job with Duhallow Community Laundr y looking after all the collections and deliveries
The snow at the star t of the year cer tainly caught us all on the hop but super visors and par ticipants from both RSS and Tus stepped up and ensured no one was with out food, medicine or fuel
CEO Maura Walsh made presentations to par ticipants Brian Feehan and Tom Healy who both retired this year
RSS par ticipant Tadhg Cur tin, Minister Jerr y Buttimer, Tus par ticipants Lidiia Surnina & Mar yna Sliusarenko along with RSS Super visor Marie Fleming who informed the Minister about the integrated manner we operate schemes at IRD Duhallow and the wide variety of work placement oppor tunities available
Tús
Tús is an activation initiative that is in existence in Duhallow for 15 years suppor ting those who are unemployed and on the Live R egister Unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme are randomly selected and contacted by their social welfare local office and offered the oppor tunity to par ticipate in the scheme The programme is managed at a local level by IRD Duhallow on behalf of the Depar tment of Social Protection IRD Duhallow manages three schemes with 60 places and we cur rently have vacancies across Duhallow including S outh East K er r y, Nor th and M id Cor k IRD Duhallow ensures that Tús placements are tailored to match par ticipants’ interests and local pr ior ities The wraparound suppor ts such as career guidance, mental health ser vices, and mentoring enhances the long-term impact of the programme The aim is not merely to provide temporar y employment but to re - engage individuals with the labour market by enhancing their sk ills, confidence, and wor k readiness Par ticipants are placed with communit y and voluntar y organisations to car r y out valuable local projec ts, from environmental improvements to childcare suppor t, her itage conser vation, and community development initiatives
Occupational Skills Development
For many long-ter m unemployed individuals in Duhallow, for mal education may have been a negative exper ience, confidence in job readiness may be low and there may be little exposure to wor k place practices Tús addresses these barriers by providing hands- on learning in real wor k settings, allowing par ticipants to acquire both hard and sof t sk ills that are transferable to the open labour market Depending on their placement, par ticipants can develop practical, job -specific sk ills across a var iet y of sec tors including Administration and IT, M aintenance and Environmental wor k , social and communit y care and retail/customer ser vices These experiences not only build new competencies but often refresh existing ones that par ticipants may not have used in years I n many cases, it's not just technical sk ills that are missing but also the e ver yday habits and attitudes needed to succeed in a job Tús helps par ticipants build critical soft sk ills, such as Time Management, Teamwork , communication, problem solving and self confidence These sk ills provide a strong foundation for re - entering the workforce and are highly valued by employers across all sectors
CV Enhancement
How Tús makes a difference
Tús acts as a crucial inter vention in Duhallow by connecting unemployed individuals with meaningful community work I n addition to the top up of social welfare payments, par ticipants reap the many re wards of par ticipating on the scheme including hands- on experience in roles such as administration, maintenance, or social care, improving their employability These practical sk ills often lead to permanent employment following their placement Long-ter m unemployment can erode selfwor th and social engagement Tús placements restore a sense of routine, purpose, and community involvement, helping par ticipants rebuild their confidence and develop a professional identity Unemployment can lead to isolation The community-based nature of Tús ensures that par ticipants reconnec t with their communit y, local ser vices, and suppor t net works Tús suppor ts Local S er vices including Duhallow Communit y Food Ser vices, Duhallow Warmer Homes Scheme, Duhallow RE VAMP, Village Renewal, community centres, spor ting clubs etc Much-needed human resources are obtained through Tús to sustain their ser vices This dual benefit to both par ticipant and community makes the programme highly cost- effec tive and socially valuable Tús can ser ve as a stepping stone toward fur ther training or education Many par ticipants are inspired to pursue new qualifications after their placements Another strength of the Tús programme in Duhallow is its tailored placement process Super visors wor k closely with each par ticipant to identify interests, pre vious experience, and career aspirations This approach ensures that the sk ills developed are not only practical but also aligned with the par ticipant ’ s personal goals whether that ’ s wor k ing in hospitalit y, administration, childcare, or conser vation
A significant challenge for the long-term unemployed is the gap on their C V, which can deter potential employers Tús gives par ticipants current, relevant work exper ience to fill that gap Being able to show recent, ver ifiable employment on a C V par ticular ly with a reference from a community organisation can substantially improve a person ' s chances of secur ing a per manent job Par ticipation in the Tús programme of ten opens the door to fur ther education and vocational training through SICAP M any par ticipants
Super visor Marie Fleming, Community Development Team Leader Triona Dennehy, Jamie Ronan Executive O fficer Depar tment of Social Protection, Tina O’Rahilly, Higher Executive O fficer Depar tment of Social Protection & CEO Maura Walsh following a fruitful discussion on the impact of the Tus scheme
Tús Super visor, Don Murphy meeting Minister Jerr y Buttimer to show him the restoration works being completed by par ticipants
Tús Super visor, Don Murphy with par ticipants , Lech Kaminski, Edward Panchenko and Aidan Horgan who completed SAFE PASS training
Tús par ticipant Serhii Sinitskyi who completed cer tified chainsaw training
Tús
avail of upsk illing oppor tunities including Health and Safety Cer tification e g , Manual Handling, Safe Pass, Quad Bike, First Aid and Child Protection Training, Computer literac y and personal development courses and onthe -job coaching and mentor ing Par ticipants have access to IRD Duhallow ’ s Job Centre suppor t for C V writing, inter view preparation, and information about progression routes into formal training (e g , QQI Level courses) This integrated suppor t system helps ensure that sk ills learned on the job are recognised, built upon, and used as a springboard for longterm employment
Life af ter Tús...
Tús offers one -year community-based work placements and this plays a crucial role in the reintegration process A significant propor tion of par ticipants move direc tly into employment following their Tús placement The real-wor ld wor k exper ience, renewed confidence, and updated sk ills gained during the programme are critical factors in helping individuals compete for jobs For mer Tús par ticipants have found employment in sec tors such as the Communit y and voluntar y organisations (of ten where the y were placed), retail and hospitalit y, construction, health and social care and administration and clerical work Employers value the reliabilit y and commitment Tús par ticipants often demonstrate, k nowing they have completed a structured year-long work programme Having contr ibuted to communit y projec ts dur ing their placement, many par ticipants develop a deeper sense of civic pride and continue to volunteer after their contract ends
For those par ticipants quite not ready for the labour market, they progress on to our Communit y Employment S cheme which allows them to
continue in their wor k placement, avail of tailored training thereby building up their self esteem and improving their future employabilit y oppor tunities
Case Study - Brendon Purchase
My experience with the Tús programme has been incredibly rewarding I was for tunate to avail of an additional six months which allowed me to continue to contribute to the communit y As a magazine publisher for Discover Duhallow, I have had the oppor tunity to engage with local stories, promote regional events and highlight the unique aspects of our area This role has helped to develop my skills in writing and editing and I have gained valuable experience in content creation
Although I have not yet availed of any training oppor tunities, I am currently exploring options in graphic design through an online college I belie ve that enhancing my design skills will benefit my work with the magazine and open up ne w avenues for growth I am grateful for the oppor tunities provided by IRD D uhallow and will continue to enjoy my work on the Discover Duhallow
Brendon Purchase who progressed from Tús to CE and is working as an editor on the Discover Duhallow Magazine
Tús par ticipants play a vital role in setting up halls and amenities for community events throughout Duhallow
Super visor Don Murphy with Jordan O Riordan, Tús par ticipant who is gathering content for the Discover Duhallow Magazine
Michael Healy-Rae Minister of State at the Depar tment of Agriculture Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Forestr y Farm Safety and Hor ticulture meeting Tús par ticipant Marcella Dillon who recently star ted her year placement in Duhallow Revamp
Tús super visor William Lucid completing induction with Tús par ticipants Adedeola Akinbote, Rao Atiq Ur Rehman and Jodie O’Mahony
Community Employment Scheme
IRD Duhallow ’s CE Scheme
IRD Duhallow runs its Community Employment Scheme on behalf of the Depar tment of Social Protection We run our scheme as par t of the wider suppor ts the company offers to the unemployed and underemployed While Tús helps people take the first steps back to a work environment, CE goes that step fur ther by developing individual learner plans and helps par ticipants identify the t ype of wor k the y would ultimately lik e to engage in and str ives to place people in a wor k environment that compliments their goals This is why Tús and Ce wor k ex tremely well together
Our scheme currently has 45 places; the scheme is a busy one The range of wor k exper ience on the scheme is wide and var ied and we are continually wor k ing with our Social Welfare HEO Elaine M cDer mott to ensure the scheme is relevant to the par ticipants, the communities we ser ve and the requirements of the CE Scheme The scheme covers a vast area, the communities of Ballydesmond, R athcoole, Boherbue, Ballydaly, K ilcorney, Dromtarriffe, Lyre, Newmarket, K iskeam, K nock nagree, Cullen and Banteer The scheme also provides suppor t to community enterprise initiatives including M eals on wheels, Communit y Laundr y, Fur niture Revamp, Duhallow Communit y Food Ser vices and Discover Duhallow The role CE plays in these communities, cannot be underestimated
The pur pose of CE is to help the long-ter m unemployed re - enter the labour force, by work ing a maximum of three years on CE, par ticipating in training and upsk illing, gaining valuable wor k exper ience and under tak ing intensive personal de velopment through the I ndividual Lear ner Plan tool The role of our super visor is to provide oppor tunit y, suppor t and coach par ticipants in gaining sk ills and competencies in preparation for employment as well as maintaining effective and efficient administration and coordination of financial and material resources
To par ticipate in the Community Employment scheme, you must register with your local I ntreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch O ffice You must be receiving a qualifying social welfare payment for 12 months prior to your application to be eligible
Par ticipant Development through Training
The k e y difference bet ween CE and other labour market schemes, is that training plays a central role in the Communit y Employment S cheme
The Depar tment of Social Protec tion fund specific training courses, which have a QQI, SOLAS, City and Guilds or other Cer tificate qualifications for par ticipants The Super visor encourages all par ticipants to consider Specific Training so that they can up sk ill and improve their confidence and S elf- esteem on a personal le vel and improve their chances of gaining employment as this is the main objec t of the Community Employment Scheme
IRD Duhallow also runs a Sk illnet training programme, this invaluable resource is utilised by the scheme for other training throughout the year This affords our par ticipant ’ s wide oppor tunit y to access desired education and training programmes
"When I star ted on the CE Scheme, I was look ing for something ne w and challenging I have met many interesting people and have learnt new skills and abilities Ever y day I have found ne w challenges, and each day brings something ne w which makes the job more interesting "
Thomas Culloty, Caretaker of James O’Keeffe Building
O ver the past year, par ticipants took par t in Manual Handling, Truck Theor y test categor y C, Safe Pass, Graphic Design Diploma, Upholster y, Adult Education, M icrosoft 365, M icrosoft Excel for Beginners and I ntermediate level, I ntroduction to Sugar Craft, Handheld
Pesticides training, Safeguarding Child Protection in Spor t Awareness and Book keeping SAGE and Windows All the courses under taken by par ticipants are cer tified through SOLAS, QQI or City and Guilds
Par ticipants Barr y O Shea and Mark Cotter attend Crosscutting & Maintenance Course
Joanne O Keffee work in Duhallow Community Food Ser vices as par t of the CE scheme
Mar tin O’Neill delivers Discover Duhallow magazines across the Duhallow region as par t of his work placement of CE
Assistant Super visor Amanda Keller with CE par ticipant Mark Ware who works in Knocknagree GAA pitch as par t of his placement
Tommy Culloty works in the JOK complex and fulfils caretaking duties as par ty of CE
Community Employment Rehabilitation Scheme
IRD Duhallow ’ s CE Rehabilitation Scheme is suppor ted by the Southern Regions Task Force and the Depar tment of Social Protection This scheme is based on a work placement that provides a developmental oppor tunity for those recovering from substance misuse, that suppor ts individuals in secondar y treatment and early recover y from addiction I t empowers par ticipants to access meaningful education and training, set clear career goals, and build the confidence and skills needed to achieve them
Each par ticipant receives tailored suppor ts based on their personal aspirations, with a strong focus on identifying career paths and developing the practical sk ills and attributes required for long-term success The scheme corelates in a holistic approach on the personal and professional development of each par ticipant I t suppor ts ever yone in creating a personalised timetable aligned with their interests and goals, and ensures referred par ticipants have access to appropriate and on-going treatment and recover y suppor ts while on the CE Rehabilitation Scheme
On this scheme, we believe in the potential of ever y par ticipant to achieve the goals they set for themselves Building on the progress made during primar y and secondar y treatment, our focus is to suppor t ever yone in creating a new life in recover y – one day at a time Par ticipants are referred through addiction counsellors and treatment centres The scheme offers a structured path with access to SICAP and Skillnet oppor tunities including Personal Development Community Education, Labour Market Training and Employment Suppor ts
We are proud to offer a diverse and innovative programme that provides meaningful oppor tunities, and outcomes for ever yone involved Recover y from addiction is not simply about break ing free from substances or gambling it's the beginning of a transformative journey that opens the
door to a future full of new and unimaginable possibilities It requires the courage to seek and accept suppor t, and the willingness to be open, honest, and committed to change
Modelled on successful initiatives in other areas, this programme fills a critical gap in rural recover y suppor t Recover y is a journey of ongoing personal growth and self-reflection I t involves building deeper connections with oneself, with the community, and offers a strong suppor t network and comprehensive care Through collaboration with the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force and the Depar tment of Social Protection, the programme leverages shared resources to enhance its effectiveness
"Changing the Narrative" Wellness morning was held in IRD Duhallow on 10th September 2024 in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day and National Recover y Month The event was to provide a mental health wellness morning and provide information on the local suppor t ser vices which are available to people in their community O ver 60 people were in attendance on the day, and ever yone received a gift bag on arrival The guest speakers were Alice O'Brien CBT Therapist who presented on think ing styles and worr y, Dawn from Ganapati School of Yoga who did meditation and chair yoga with ever yone in attendance, and Dolores Tiernan from the Grove Addiction Treatment Centre who gave a talk on addiction and how it manifests There were a number of local ser vices that attended with pop up stands including Coolmine, ALONE, The Grove, Grow, and Eriu
Dolores Tiernan, The Grove gave a thoughtful insight into addiction during the Changing the Narrative Information Session
Tom Quinlan and Jennifer O’Sullivan from Coolmine Treatment Centre
Anthony preparing for a busy day ahead on the CE Rehabilitation Scheme with Super visor Elmarie Young
Guest Speaker Alice O’Brien, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist speaking during National Recover y Month and National Suicide Prevention Day
Guest speakers Doloras Tiernan from Coolmine and Alice O Brien CBT Therapist with CE Rehabilitation Scheme Super visor Elmarie Young
Revamp
Since 2016, IRD Duhallow, with suppor t from the Communit y Ser vices Programme, has operated the Duhallow Furniture REVAMP project This social enterprise provides affordable, good- quality second-hand furniture and valuable restoration ser vices, while also suppor ting those on social welfare, students, and low-income households Through this wor k , REVAMP continues to grow in popularity within the Duhallow region
REVAMP is more than a furniture shop I t is a community- driven initiative that promotes sustainabilit y, empowers individuals with sk ills, and breathes ne w life into preloved fur niture I ts dual focus on circular economy principles and social inclusion makes it an essential par t of the region’s social and environmental fabric
Upskilling & Employment
REVAMP ’ s commitment to community ex tends to sk ill development and work ac tivation Through Tús, Communit y Employment (CE), and Rural Social Scheme (RSS) placements, par ticipants receive hands- on training in upholster y, woodwork , furniture repair, and customer ser vice
Staff and senior par ticipants are encouraged to pass on their k nowledge and exper tise This peer-to-peer learning environment builds confidence and capabilit y, while strengthening the wor k culture I n addition to inter nal training, RE VAMP maintains an ac tive relationship with the Sk illnet programme, which allows par ticipants to access cer tified external training in relevant sk ills and trades
Ser vices
REVAMP continues to respond to customer needs by expanding its range of ser vices In addition to the sale of second-hand furniture, the team now provides:
• Full re -upholster y ser vices for chairs, sofas, and armchairs
• Wood repairs and refinishing
• Couch repairs, such as spring replacement and cushion re -stuffing
These ser vices are especially valuable to those look ing to preser ve sentimental items or ex tend the life of their existing furniture, reducing waste and mak ing a valuable impact
Customer Voice
The satisfaction of our customers is the priority of the REVAMP team One such testimonial comes from Brid, who had a range of upholster y work carried out:
“Anytime I need something fixed or reupholstered I would not go to anyone other than IRD Duhallow Revamp The staff are so friendly and always willing to give advice For example, I had a chair reupholstered and I was probably going to go with a boring plain fabric but went on the advice of the staff (of using two different fabrics) and am thrilled with the result The work is amazing Fabulous furniture always on offer at fabulous prices We are so luck y to have this ser vice on our doorstep!”
DUHALLO W RE VAMP continues to ser ve as a model for how a local, communit y-based initiative can mak e a tangible difference From environmental impac t to human de velopment, it champions social enterprise in action With strong foundations and continued suppor t, the project looks for ward to another year of meaningful work and community ser vice
Before and after pictures of Brid’s chair, uniquely revamped with two beautiful fabric
Krz ysztof Lichoribiec has been a valued staff member in Revamp for many years and is our exper t in fixing couches Kris rewebs a round back chair for a customer
Anne O’Connor weaving a child’s Sugan chair a skill acquired during her C E scheme in Revamp
Catriona McSweeney, assisting Chris Bailey with her purchase, is Revamp s customer ser vice advisor Her friendly manner making ever yone welcome
Circular Economy
IRD Duhallow continues to lead the way in promoting the circular economy and advancing social enter pr ise ac tivities aligned with sustainable prac tices The European Commission adopted the ne w Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) in March 2020 The EU’s transition to a circular economy aims to reduce pressure on natural resources and to create sustainable growth and jobs This action plan adopts initiatives along the entire life c ycle of produc ts, targeting how produc ts are designed Strategies such as repair, rec ycling, and redesign will help achieve the EU 2050 climate neutrality target and halt biodiversity loss Cur rently, the EU generates 2 5 billion tonnes of waste annuallyhighlighting the urgent need for such an approach
Revamp at Kerr y Household Hazardous Waste Drop -Off Day
Revamp was selected by the Paint Reuse Network to par ticipate in Kerr y County Councils Household Hazardous Waste Free Drop-O ff Day in Tralee on September 14th 2024 This initiative was coordinated by Enva, provider of waste management and resource recover y solutions in I reland, in collaboration with the Paint Reuse Network Similar events took place in Wick low and Donegal as par t of a broader effor t to encourage the reuse of hazardous household materials and to collect valuable data on reuse volumes As par t of this initiative, Revamp collec ted 920k g of reusable paint to suppor t the Relove Paint project and promote the brand
Community Resources Network Ireland
Duhallow RE VAMP is an ac tive member of the CRNI who is a representative body for communit y based reuse, repair and rec ycling organisations in I reland Their aim is to provide a range of prac tical suppor ts to members, and to promote communit y based, sustainable
waste management as a practical and effective way of tack ling I reland’s growing waste problem The annual CRNI conference entitled Future LOOP for Circular Communities was held on October 8th at Dublin Air field Estate Future LOOP is shor thand for a circular Ireland that CRNI’s members are all work ing towards I t ’ s an imagined point in the future, it ’ s a vision of sustainable circular communities that are equally benefitting from reuse and repair activities The event featured engaging panel discussions exploring the practical realities of operating as a social enterprise within the circular economy and examining how to foster effective and scalable solutions
Relove Paint
Relove paint is a quality, water based remixed emulsion paint, made in Cor k This paint which would other wise be destined for disposal, is collec ted from civic amenit y sites in Cor k cit y and count y and then filtered, remixed, recoloured and repack aged on site at IRD Duhallow to produce Relove Paint IRD Duhallow and Cork County Council continue to collaborate to promote the award-winning R elove Paint initiative through a free paint giveaway to community projects To date, over 3,000 litres of paint were distr ibuted to 165 communit y projec ts - and this initiative has been growing year on year
Funded in par t by the Environmental Protec tion Agenc y (EPA) via Cork County Council, the Relove Paint project encourages local individuals and businesses to rec ycle their unused paint by br inging it to designated amenit y sites, k nowing it will be repur posed for communit y benefit Unused water-based paint is collected from four local civic amenity sites - K anturk , M illstreet, Macroom, and Mallow H igh- quality, reused paint is made available at an affordable rate of €15 for a five -litre bucket
A delegation from Cork County Council, Southern Waste Region and Kerr y County Council visited IRD Duhallow Relove Paint initiative in view to conducting a pilot project for a similar enterprise
Panel discussion with CRNI members at the annual CRNI Conference The event took place on October 8th 2024 and was attended by Colm O’Connor and Jessica Baron on behalf of Revamp
Therese Walsh, RSS par ticipant with Yvonne McCar thy from St-Mar y ’ s Secondar y school availing of the Free Paint to Communities Scheme in conjunction with Cork County Council
Patrick Hassett, Jessica Baron, Dan Sweeney and Colm O’Connor at Enva’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop- O ff Day in Tralee IRD Duhallow Revamp collected any viable paint brought in by the general public to be reused instead of disposed of
Duhallow Community Laundr y
Duhallow Community Laundr y was set up over a decade ago, to ensure independent living for the elder ly and suppor t carers as well as lowincome households The ser vice continues to go from strength to strength
Community Ser vices Programme (CSP)
Duhallow Communit y Laundr y is ver y grateful to be receiving CSP suppor ts which suppor ts our ser vice to provide local social, economic and environmental ser vices through a social enter pr ise model CSP tack les disadvantage by providing a co-funding contribution towards the direc t salar y cost of employing a manager, and full-time equivalent positions
We were delighted to get the oppor tunity to show Minister Jerr y Buttimer our facility when he visited in April and relay to him how impor tant this social enterprise is to all who avail of it and that the suppor t of CSP from his Depar tment is vital to ensure its continuity
Business Coaching Sessions - AT+ Programme
The Achie ve Together S ocial I nnovation Coaching and M entor ing Programme (AT+) is co -funded between the Government of I reland and the European Union under the Employment, Inclusion, Sk ills, and Training Programme (EIST ), I reland ’ s ESF+ programme for 2021-2027, which is managed by The Depar tment of Fur ther and Higher Education, Research, I nnovation and Science
The aim of the programme is to strengthen the capacity of par ticipating organisations to grow their enterprise or ser vice and capacity for social innovation Duhallow Communit y Laundr y is cur rently availing of coaching and mentor ing which allows us to identify oppor tunities to innovate and to maximise our relevance and sustainabilit y, so that we
can generate sufficient revenue to cover costs and invest in the social goals and strengthen our social value
Governance and Staffing
Under the stewardship of the Social Economy Work ing Group and Board who suppor t the ser vice by ensur ing it remains viable and accessible to all in our societ y and most impor tantly that the le vel of qualit y and ser vice continues to excel
Along with the staffing suppor t from the CSP, the ser vice is also suppor ted by Pobal and the Depar tment of Social Protec tion through Tus, the Rural Social Scheme and the Communit y Employment S cheme Super visor Anita Castle is responsible for the day-to - day operations of the ser vice and ensures that all the staff receive appropriate employment and training oppor tunities whilst on their placements such as customer ser vice, financial and administration sk ills The team consists of CE par ticipants Christine Begle y and J oan Sheehan; Tús par ticipants I r yna O vcharuk , Stefaniia Propenk o, M ar iia Strelnykova and I nna Serhienko; RSS par ticipant N iall Bur k e looks af ter our collections and deliveries which is a an integral facet of our ser vice as it allows those to avail of the laundr y who might not have other wise due to no access to transpor t
I have used the laundr y ser vice regularly for a number of years now and am ver y happy with it
The y wash and iron both my clothing and bedding and occasionally I have my duvets done
I am so luck y to have this facilit y and a big thank you to all who are and have been a par t of it long may it continue
Friends of mine who use the collection and deliver y ser vice are also ver y pleased with it and find it ver y helpful The staff are always ver y welcoming, helpful and always in good form
Carey Gould
Testimony Carey Gould
Marie Fleming attending the launch of the AT+ Achieve Together Social Innovation Coaching and Mentoring Programme for CSP
Agnes O’Sullivan collecting her laundr y from Stefania Propenko
Super visor Anita Castle co- ordinates all collections and ensures the team are maintaining the reputable high standards
The superb laundr y team from left to right Ir yna O vcharuk, Inna Serhienko, Mariia Strelnykova, Christine Begley, Joan Sheehan, Stefania Propenko & Super visor Anita Castle
Joan Sheehan showing Minister Jerr y Buttimer the ropes in the laundr y
War mer Homes Initiative
Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme (BEWHS)
Since its inception in 2006, IRD Duhallows Warmer Homes Scheme has insulated over 4,950 houses across Cork City and County, South Limerick , and all of Count y K er r y Wor ks car r ied out by our installation teams includes attic insulation, cavit y wall insulation and roof and wall ventilation
The scheme is funded by the Sustainable Energy Author it y of I reland (SEAI) and Pobal, through the Community Ser vices Programme I n recent years SEAI added deeper retrofit works such as internal dr y-lining, external wall insulation, heating upgrades, demand control ventilation and window replacement to the BE WHS IRD Duhallow has a Ser vice Level Agreement with Nor thside Communit y Enter pr ises (NCE) through SE Systems in Cork to deliver these additional measures to our customers
Better Energy Homes (BEH)
I n 2024, IRD Duhallow completed insulation works on 71 houses under the BEH scheme Under this scheme, householders must apply online to SEAI for attic and Cavit y Wall insulation grants SEAI provides grants of up to €3,200 for a detached house, €2,500 for semidetached and €2,000 for a midter race house A BER (Building Energy R ating) Cer tificate must be generated for each completed house by an independent assessor A €50 grant is available towards the cost of this BER
Better Energy Communities Programme (BEC)
I n 2025, IRD Duhallow car r ied out attic and cavity wall insulation work to 11 houses through projec ts funded through the BEC programme under Nor thside Communit y Enter pr ises, and SE Systems in Cor k Fur ther attic insulation wor ks are planned for a church and 3 proper ties in Cork City later this year
Energy Audits & Solar PV (Solar Photovoltaics)
Through IRD Duhallow and SE Systems, free energy audits are available to businesses and communit y centres that have an annual energy spend of €10,000 or
more These energy audits highlight where energy saving measures can be delivered to reduce energy costs For householders, a free sur ve y is also available to assess if houses are suitable for Solar P V SEAI grants of €1,800 are available for these works
Continuous Training & Quality Assurance
Training is an essential par t of our ser vice where staff are k ept up to date with industr y standards These include M anual Handling, Wor k ing at Heights, Abrasive Wheel, M obile Tower S caffold, I nstaller I nsulation training, and Safe Pass Our cavity crew received training from Envirobead I nsulation on sur veying and insulation and are cer tified with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) to deliver Cavity Wall Insulation KSN oversees the quality control for all SEAI funded schemes
Local Employment
The Warmer Homes Scheme is par tially staffed through the Community Ser vices Programme (CSP) which contributes towards the employment of a coordinator and 5 Full Time Equivalents (FTE’s), with these roles split between Administration, Attic and Cavity Wall teams, Ventilation teams and a Sur veyor/Quality Control O fficer Pobal increased funding for CSP suppor ted organisations in 2025 IRD Duhallow received an additional €1,755 per FTE, bringing the total rate per annum to €24,930 The scheme is fur ther suppor ted through several labour schemes including RSS, CE, and the Tús Schemes all of which supply par ticipants to work with teams insulating attics and cavity walls
Achieve Together Social Innovation Coaching and Mentoring Programme (AT+)
Pobal rolled out this programme in 2025 to assist Communit y S er vices Programme (CSP) funded ser vices to advance their organization’s per formance and impact IRD Duhallow is one of the CSP funded groups selected for this programme The aim of this programme is to innovate and grow the ser vice, maximize sustainabilit y and provide professional guidance through mentor ing and coaching through industr y exper ts IRD Duhallows Communit y Laundr y, R e vamp and War mer Homes S cheme ser vices are availing of this programme
MEP Sean Kelly talking to Colm Crowley during a visit to IRD Duhallow earlier in 2025
Richard Sullivan completing installation of insulation in a customer ’ s attic under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme
Installer Trevor Kelleher pumping insulation into cavity wall in a house completed by IRD Duhallow Warmer Homes
Noel Heffernan star ting up the compressor used during deliver y of cavity wall insulation
Warmer Homes Installers Noel Heffernan, Andrii Tsybka, Richard Sullivan, Tom Cambridge and Trevor Kelleher outside a customer ’ s house recently
Tom Cambridge installing a roof vent to provide sufficient ventilation to a completed attic installation
Colm Crowley at the launch of Pobal’s AT+ programme in Por tlaoise earlier this year This programme aims to help CSP groups innovate and grow their ser vices and maximize sustainability through mentoring and coaching from industr y exper ts
Duhallow Community Food Ser vices (DCFS)
Linda O’Connor – Manager, DCFS
Appointed Manager of DCFS in 2021, Linda O’Connor oversees the daily operations of the business with a strong focus on quality, efficienc y, and client satisfaction She holds a H igher Cer tificate in Ar ts & Culinar y Ar ts, a Diploma in Professional Cook er y, and a QQI Le vel 6 qualification in Super visor y M anagement With over 18 years of exper ience in the catering industr y, Linda brings ex tensive exper tise from her work across the public, private, and healthcare sectors
About Us
Duhallow Communit y Food Ser vices (DCFS) has been proudly ser ving the local communit y since 1994 For over three decades, we have provided essential suppor t to older people and those unable to cook for themselves, helping them maintain independence, dignity, and a better quality of life
Our primar y ser vice is the deliver y of hot, nutritious meals at an affordable cost focused on suppor ting elderly individuals and those at risk of social isolation or exclusion Today, DCFS prepares and delivers nearly 40,000 meals for senior citizens per year, mak ing it a lifeline for many in our region
While we receive staffing suppor t from the Communit y S er vices Programme (CSP) and a small grant from the HSE, rising costs have made sustaining this vital wor k increasingly challenging To help br idge the funding gap and continue meeting communit y needs, DCFS has developed several complementar y ser vices, including:
• Community Restaurant
I n-House Baker y
• Outside Catering Ser vices
Meals Ser vices for Secondar y Schools and Crèches
• Primar y Schools Hot Lunch Programme
Rural Meals Ser vice
Our award-winning communit y enter pr ise committed to providing subsidised meals to individuals who are unable to cook for themselves due to age, illness, lack of transpor t, or other disadvantages, par ticularly in rural areas
We provide meals to senior citizens and others in need, offering a vital ser vice that directly enhances their health and well-being This initiative not only ensures access to nutr itious, affordable, and accessible meals but also provides a crucial source of social contac t and connec tion for many older individuals who are vulnerable to social isolation and exclusion Clients can choose from home deliver y, meal collec tion, or dining in the communit y restaurant, with a wide var iet y of options tailored to individual needs Our continued commitment to providing these essential ser vices suppor ts national effor ts to help older people live independently in their own homes, reducing the need for hospital or residential care admissions
Suppor ting
Health & Education in the Duhallow Region
At DCFS, we continue to strengthen our role as a key community-based ser vice provider in the Duhallow region Our core focus remains on promoting healthy eating habits among children, young people, and the wider community We believe that adequate nutrition, delivered through freshly prepared meals, plays a vital role in helping children focus, learn, and grow both inside and outside the classroom
O ver the past year, we have expanded and strengthened our food provision ser vices across a range of local settings We now provide over 12,000 meals per week to the following key facilities:
• Coláiste Treasa and Scoil Mhuire, K anturk
• Banteer Childcare Facility
• Newmarket Afterschool’s Programme
• Week ly Active Retirement Group gatherings
• Multiple Primar y Schools throughout the Duhallow area
These ser vices not only ensure access to healthy, affordable meals but also suppor t the overall wellbeing of children and older adults in our community
Our operations continue to have a strong positive impac t on local employment, with food preparation, deliver y, and coordination roles contr ibuting to the local economy B y sourcing ingredients locally wherever possible and preparing meals fresh each day, we reinforce our commitment to sustainability, quality, and community development
As we look ahead, DCFS remains committed to meeting the nutritional needs of our communit y while suppor ting local ser vices and employment We are proud to be par t of a regional effor t that places the health and wellbeing of children, families, and older adults at the centre of ever yday life in Duhallow
Other Ser vices
To suppor t the continued deliver y of our essential Meals on Wheels programme - one of the most impor tant and impactful ser vices we offer - DCFS engages in a number of commercial activities
Sarah D yer & Vanessa Higgins labelling for our hot school meals programme
Trish Morley preparing for our Meals on Wheels deliver y ’ s
Community Spirit farmers helping clear DCFS car park during the bad snow in Januar y
Duhallow Community Food Ser vices (DCFS)
financial challenges Our commercial ventures are designed not only to help offset these costs, but also to fur ther strengthen our engagement with the local community
One such venture is our on-site restaurant in Ne wmar k et, which has become a popular social space for individuals of all ages The restaurant ser ves freshly made pastr ies, cak es, and scones alongside speciality coffees An all- day breakfast menu is available, as well as a car ver y lunch I n addition, a wide -ranging à la car te menu is offered throughout the day Both indoor and outdoor dining options are available, and all dietar y requirements are fully catered for The restaurant continues to provide a warm, inclusive, and welcoming meeting point for both young and old, reinforcing our commitment to community wellbeing
DCFS also offers a comprehensive outside catering ser vice for a variety of occasions, including bir thdays, communions, confirmations, funerals, and community events
Our team specialises in celebration cak es and homemade bak ing, and we also provide BBQ cater ing ser vices This ser vice has proven to be a valuable resource for local families and groups planning special events
Awards, where we are proud to prepare, cook , and ser ve a fourcourse gala banquet This year, we were both honoured and humbled to be nominated for an award and were thr illed to be announced as the winner of the Best S ocial Enterprise categor y This recognition is a reflec tion of our team's dedication and the ongoing suppor t of the Duhallow community Through these ser vices, DCFS continues to build on our mission of deliver ing high- qualit y food while suppor ting social inclusion, community engagement, and local employment
Staffing
While Duhallow Community Food Ser vices (DCFS) provides a vital ser vice to the communit y, it also ser ves as an impor tant wor k placement and training hub - par ticularly for those who are long-term unemployed At DCFS, staff and par ticipants have the oppor tunit y to de velop a broad range of valuable sk ills, including:
• Bak ing and Sugar Craft • Cook ing and Food Preparation
• Customer Ser vice and Care
• Front- of-House Ser vice
• Meal Deliver y and Driving
• Teamwork and Communication
We are proud to suppor t and par tner with se veral employment and activation programmes, including the (CSP), Rural Social Scheme, Tús, and CE schemes These par tnerships are vital in suppor ting our workforce and providing local employment oppor tunities, especially for those who may not be able to commute to larger urban centres
At DCFS, we belie ve in the potential of e ver y individual Training and development are core to our ethos - staff are actively encouraged to take par t in both professional and personal development oppor tunities that enhance employability and build confidence for the future
Governance
Duhallow Communit y Food Ser vices operates under the direc tion of a voluntar y Board of 14 members who meet monthly to provide strategic oversight and governance The Board plays a critical role in ensuring that the organisation remains compliant, accountable, and aligned with its mission to suppor t vulnerable members of the community through the provision of food ser vices
Board members bring a diverse range of professional backgrounds and exper tise, contr ibuting valuable insights to help guide DCFS through both oppor tunities and challenges Their commitment and voluntar y ser vice ensure that the organisation continues to operate efficiently, ethically, and sustainably
Strong governance remains a cornerstone of our success, enabling DCFS to maintain public trust, deliver high- qualit y ser vices, and respond effectively to evolving community needs
Joanne O Connor & Fran Hendr y preparing for a meals on wheels deliver y route
Maciej Piotrowski Hot kitchen super visor, Joanne O Connor Dispatch super visor, Olive Casey Administrator, Hilar y Boyle Restaurant/Baker y Super visor & Linda O Connor Manager at Duhallow Food Ser vices
Olga Homon finalising desser ts for an event
International Women’s Day Brunch prepared & ser ved by DCFS
Duhallow Community Foods Team 2025
Large Scale Capital Projects
The village of R ylane is gearing up for the star t of construction on their new multi use communit y facilit y in the coming weeks Having been approved funding under the Communit y Centre I nvestment Fund in 2024 wor k has been under way behind the scenes in preparation for construc tion to commence The Communit y Centre I nvestment Fund New Build Measure is the first ever dedicated fund for the development of new build centres in rural I reland The objective of which is to develop high qualit y, accessible, safe, well-designed, sustainable ne w build community centres to meet the needs of the community into the future This new measure is under the Programme for Government: ‘Our Shared Future’ which is committed to the introduc tion of a capital grants programme for the new builds of community centres and is administered by the D epar tment of Rural and Communit y D e velopment and the Gaeltacht
At the time of application, the Depar tment deemed that applications for funding had to entail projects that were shovel ready and R ylane having worked closely with IRD Duhallow over the 5 years prior was in the right place to apply With funding of €1,595,574 approved IRD Duhallow is the lead applicant in the project on behalf of the community to suppor t them and oversee the project through to fruition This is a major achievement for the small rural community of R ylane and huge potential exists for this new centre once opened to be the focal point of the village br inging ever yone together The RCPA committee have always approached this project from the bottom up approach to rural development Drawings of the ne w building have been put on display at var ious communit y e vents to showcase the projec t to the wider communit y and to k eep ever yone informed of their biggest project yet
professional ser vices of an architec t led design team RDF Architec ts based in Charleville were the winning bid and work commenced in May on this Stage The nex t stage is the call for tenders for the construction which is expected to star t in the coming weeks
The R CPA are a small communit y group who recognised as far back as 2013 the need to establish a communit y facilit y for the village This was identified through community consultations which commenced following a LEADER funded Village Design statement which was developed to suppor t the communit y to set realistic and achie vable goals The R CPA are an ex tremely enthusiastic group who under tak e a number of communit y events and projects annually and it is great to see people coming onto a committee to help revive their community and are look ing to future proof their facilities for the nex t generation
IRD Duhallow is lead par tner in this large scale capital projec t and the Depar tment of Rural and Community Development has been ex tremely accommodating in this whole process providing suppor ts along the way and we look for ward to br inging this projec t to completion for the summer of 2026
CCIF Steering Group: Maura Walsh & Helen O’Sullivan of IRD Duhallow meeting with the R ylane Community Park Association committee to discuss the design and build
Proposed look of the new Community Hall in R ylane
Keeping the community informed: Emily Scannell Niall Ring Willlie Dennehy & Dan Scannell viewing the drawings of the new build which was on display to the public at the recent R ylane Community Family Fun Day
Mar tina Casey RCPA showing the plans to Mar y & Alan Browne R ylane and Michael & Margaret Twomey Aghabullogue
