ON THE
GROUND
Striking community workers head back to court
Trionna Ni Rainne, local community worker and SIPTU activist.
A strike involving community workers at Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) took place in April. It marked the first industrial strike in 30 years in the State’s largest Gaeltacht and was called off after a visit to the Labour Court. However, both parties sought to return to the court and a hearing was scheduled for the first week in August. MFG work under the Local and Community Development Programme – as well as other work carried out by the not-for-profit company – had come to a halt as ten workers went on strike after four of their colleagues were issued with redundancy notices. The workers were supported by their union SIPTU which argued that the redundancies were not required and that alternative solutions to cost saving at the company can be achieved. MFG is based in Connemara and provides vital services to the most vulnerable communities in the area. Our blog links to a video interview with one of the striking workers.
COMMENT: Theory & practice ignored Mayo development worker, Maria McHale, wrote on our Facebook page in outrage some months ago at the decline in community development expertise within Government departments. “We need a furore about the lack of community development expertise!” she wrote. “I get quite frustrated when the Dept. of Finance gets slated for not having enough financial and economic expertise, but at the same time the theory and practice of community development is becoming increasingly ignored in the ever-changing departments that fund the community sector. Maria was formerly co-ordinator of Louisburg CDP, now merged with South West Mayo Development, where she is now working.
By Brendan Meehan and Allen Meagher
Bofin shows community work can be fun Inishbofin Community Development Project uses music and arts to great effect. The island’s annual arts festival took place from May 6-8th featuring De Dannan, Gemma Hayes and Peadar King, while a fundraising gig in Galway city on March 31st featured Dessie O’Halloran (pictured) and friends. All-Ireland sean-nós dancing champion Emma O’Sullivan was among those who performed with Dessie and we uploaded a video of Emma’s performance on ‘Changing Ireland’s Youtube channel. More recently, the island’s inaugural Inishbofin Walking Festival ran from May 27 to 29. Inishbofin CDP is part of the LCDP and it proves the point that community work isn’t all about paperwork and committee meetings! Dessie O’Halloran in fundraiser for Inishbofin. Photo by: Breda Lymer
2 Crumlin projects open doors to public On July 15th, two social inclusion projects in Crumlin, Dublin officially opened their doors to the public. The projects support people with disabilities and those leaving school early and are managed by Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership. The D12 Disability Mainstream Access Project and the D12 Early School Leaver Support Worker are now based on Windmill Road, beside the Hub Bar. Richard Costello, Community Development Team Leader, said, “The new premises marks a huge development for the projects and the capacity of the staff to become more accessible.” Damien Nolan is working on the disability project and Laura O’Sullivan is the early school leaver support worker. The disability project is currently supporting a group to grow food at Pearse College Allotments. The Windmill Road premises are also used by the RPCP’s ‘Shine On Lone Parent Support Group’ and ‘Feet On The Street Detached Youth Initiative.’ The premises can host meetings of up to a dozen people at a time and other community and voluntary groups are welcome to use the facility. More info: Contact Laura or 01-4563945 or Young Isabel O’Reilly checks out the Damian 01-4099667. new premises.
Democracy is sweeping every M.E. country Bush didn’t invade - Twitter
10.