Rural development
Kiltimagh CDP celebrate 10 years KILTIMAGH CDP in Mayo celebrated its tenth birthday recently by showcasing its work and by running a children’s poetry and art competition. Located on the town’s main street, the project supports local youth, women’s and men’s groups, international community groups, sports groups, and elderly and active retirement groups in Kiltimagh, Kilmovee, Kilkelly and Bohola. The CDP runs many services and programmes, including: - an information office for people wanting to find out about social welfare, education, rights and entitlements. - short-term courses such as stress management, art, computer skills and driving theory preparation courses. Its premises support outreach work by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, Citizens Information Service and Mayo Womens Support Group. The CDP’s main aim is to address poverty and social exclusion within the community, to support local groups and to raise public
Organisers and winners of the poetry and art competition in Kiltimagh.
awareness of social issues. For more information, contact: Kiltimagh CDP, Main Street, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. Tel. 094-9381506. Fax: 094-9381948. E-mail: kmcdpl@eircom.net, or ritahopkins1@eircom.net
56 studying community development in rural Scariff A UNIVERSITY in Scariff, County Clare. Never say never! In fact, it's already happening as the National University of Ireland, Galway, are running a Diploma In Community Development Practice in the rural community. Imagine the university's surprise when double the numbers expected signed up for
the course, 56 people in all. Tutor, Jackie Murphy, said the university was "so impressed with the take-up" that they agreed to run the course without charging extra for the extra participants. East Clare Community Support CDP, are core to the running of the course, as Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs,
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Minister Éamon Ó Cuív is very eager to see a community centre open in Scariff.
changing ireland
Éamon Ó Cuív, learnt during a visit in midJanuary. The Minister also heard the CDP are seeking funding for a purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible, 'Youth and Community Centre'. According to a press release from the CDP, the Minister "expressed surprise that Scariff does not have a parish hall and that the youth do not have access to such facilities." The CDP, in its report, continued: "The Minister stated that his Department could fund Community Centres through LEADER and mentioned a figure of €400,000. He said his Department would not fund a site, but if the group could acquire a site then applications to three Government Departments could yield €100,000 for a community centre for the area. He suggested that the group look to the smaller funders to provide equipment." Pat McGough, project co-ordinator, commented afterwards: “All we need now is a kind benefactor to give us a two-acre site!” •For further information on how to entice an university to run a course in a rural community, contact: Pat McGough, coordinator, East Clare CDP, Derg House, Scariff, Co. Clare. Tel. 061-640977. Fax 061-640764. E-mail: eastclarecdp@eircom.net there are 2 sides to every story and 12 versions of a song