Slaney News
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Trevor Jacob, Tom Bermingham, Fran Ryan and Billy Murphy at the Social Enterprise Forum
Wexford Local Development
Social Enterprise Forum
Senan Cooke, Brian Kehoe at the Social Enterprise Forum.
Brendan Ennis, Duncan Walker at Social Enterprise Forum.
Wexford local Development (WlD) recently hosted a forum to explore the development of social enterprise throughout the county. The forum included interactive workshops together with presentations from successful local and national social enterprises. The forum heard that social enterprises are essentially business models set up to tackle social, economic or environmental issues, driven by these motives they engage in trading or commercial activities to pursue their objectives and deliver social and community gain. Social enterprises can have a triple helix impact – economic, social and environmental through direct job creation as well as contributing to a wide range of community and social services. They provide job opportunities especially for those unable to access mainstream employment for a variety of reasons According to To m Bermingham of WLD’s enterprise team: “Social enterprises are generally well positioned to do what the private and public sectors are not doing. Likeminded individuals working
together and not for themselves or for profits can achieve great things”. Tom went on to say that “social enterprises must achieve the correct balance between the primary objective of the enterprise to achieve social impact and the business model that must generate sufficient income to support and deliver the social objectives. This is the big challenge and is a double-edged sword”. Speaking at the forum, Brendan Ennis, the Group Chief Executive of Innovation Wexford, one of Ireland’s leading and proactive social entrepreneurial organisations based at Wexford Enterprise Centre on the Rosslare Road, outlined the achievements of Innovation Wexford since it was established in 1986 to combat high levels of unemployment, social exclusion and marginalisation within Co. Wexford. Employing 30 staff and led by a voluntary board of directors, through a number of initiatives during the past thirty years, they have supported the creation of more than one thousand jobs in the county. Their flagship Wexford Enterprise Centre officially opened in 1989 and is currently home to 33 companies who between
them employ more than 150 staff. Brendan outlined that social enterprise and corporate social responsibility is at the core of everything they do. Another speaker was Dr. Senan Cooke, founding member of both Dunhill Rural Enterprises Limited and Communities Creating Jobs Limited, based in rural Waterford. Senan spoke passionately about the need for communities to be self reliant, and the need for innovators in every community. He stated that by working together, people can be a powerful force in regenerating communities and the country. Speaking about the importance of volunteer commitment, he said that “Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worth-
less, but because they are priceless”. Also speaking was Duncan Walker, Manager of Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Ltd, based in Dublin. This not-forprofit company has renovated a derelict building and opened a new social enterprise comprising of the Green Kitchen Café & Garden Centre. Their aim is to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get an accredited qualification and progress to training, education or employment. Duncan also spoke about the role and benefits of the Irish Social Enterprise Network, which is the largest open and inclusive network for social enterprises, social entrepreneurs and social innovators in Ireland.
The forum provided an opportunity for communities to be inspired by experiences, to learn from each other and to put forward ideas for future action and collaboration. Through the current Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the upcoming LEADER Programme, in an effort to address economic decline and disadvantage in County Wexford, WLD is committed to promoting and supporting the further development of social enterprises as a viable and vibrant sector in the county. WLD already works with a number of not-for-profit community organisations who deliver vital local services using the social enterprise model. n
1916 Centenary in Enniscorthy – attracting visitors from around the world REBElS ACRoSS ThE PonD Easter weekend we were joined here in Enniscorthy by Devon Stone and his dad Garth (as in Brooks) who travelled all the way from San Diego, USA, to be part of the 1916 Commemorations in the town. Devon and Garth are members of the 3rd West Cork Brigade, a re-enactment group in San Diego, who became interested in all things relating to 1916 after seeing that wonderfully emotive movie The Wind That Shakes The Barley. They have seen and liked Brooklyn too by the way! Devon made contact with me and Enniscorthy Historic & Re-enactment Society through
Facebook and expressed an interest in being part of the proceedings on Easter Monday. I immediately contacted Councillor Keith Doyle, a member of the 1916 O rg a n i s i n g Committee, who a s s u re d m e t h a t Devon and Garth would be made more than welcome in Enniscorthy, and we would be delighted to Devon Stone with Maria Nolan have them with us on Easter Monday. And that Easter Monday morning and is exactly how they were made marched proudly with us feel. through the town along with our Devon and Garth were out- English friends, Matt, Maureen side St. Aidan's at 10am on and Ian and as I watched them all sing The Foggy Dew and A Nation Once Again in Holohans, Slaney Place, later that evening I thought - what an extraordinary phenomenon - it seemed the whole world was glad for us and wanted to be a part of the celebration of the birth of our nation, an amazing time to be Irish. Devon presented Enniscorthy re-enactors with a framed photograph of the 3rd West Cork Brigade and said that we would be welcome in San Diego any time. Devon and his dad are already planning their return trip to Enniscorthy in 2018 – and that's what it's all about!
Devon Stone presents a framed photo to Paul Murphy of Enniscorthy Historic & Re-enactment Society. Pic: Maria Nolan.
– Maria Nolan
REDCoATS TURnED REBElS A lot will be said and written this month about the Rising and the Rebels but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass without mentioning three very special Rebels who came all the way from England to be part of Enniscorthy’s Easter Monday Rising. Matt Ring and Maureen and Ian Lancaster are members of the London Napoleonic Society and have been coming here as Redcoats for our Vinegar Hill Re-enactment each August for the past four years. Over those four years they have developed a great fondness for the Enniscorthy Rebels and indeed expressed a desire on several occasions to Matt Ring and Maureen Lancaster on Castle Street Enniscorthy depicting a mother saying goodbye to her Irish Volunteer son. Pic: Maria Nolan.
join them but of course defecting from their most Royal Redcoat ranks was never an option. But when they heard about Enniscorthy’s 1916 Rising they immediately jumped at the chance to at last become Rebels. Maureen even went to the bother of making her civilian outfit for the occasion and as you can see from the photograph below, taken on Castle Street, she did a marvellous job and created a most beautiful and authentic costume, which she is donating to Enniscorthy as a souvenir of the Enniscorthy Commemorations 2016. Maureen, Matt and Ian participated in all the events of Easter week in Enniscorthy,
even travelling with Enniscorthy Historic & Reenactment Society to be part of Monasterevin’s commemorations on Saturday 26th March. I would just like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to these seasoned re-enactors who have participated in reenactments all over Europe and beyond for the past twenty years. And in all their travels this is the first time that they have ever gone over to the other side demonstrating just how far we have all come in the past one hundred years and how re-enactments are contributing to a greater understanding of one another and creating lasting friendships across historic divides. – Maria Nolan