COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MOST POPULAR IN GALWAY - Google "Fact"

Is Community Development on the slippery slope in Ireland today?

It appears there is most interest in "community development" in Galway, with Cork and Limerick following next, followed oddly by the capital Dublin.

However, if 'Google Analytics' is any kind of reliable guide (and we're not saying it is) the relative slide in Irish interest in the concept of community development may be a cause for concern.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

According to Google's chart here people are not looking it up online as much as before

OBAMA, TRAVELLERS & 'CHANGING IRELAND'

US President Barack Obama started out as a community worker and he's here in Ireland today! His people hailed from Offaly.
Many see him as a true hero and an inspiration to members of minorities everywhere, others see him as a puppet of the military-industrial complex and Wall Street. The truth includes elements of both perspectives and some more.
However, it is due to his background as a community worker that we decided to feature him in Spring 2009 on our front cover after he was elected US President.

Obama is known to have an interest (to quote Jesse Jackson among others who know him well) in the issue of Traveller rights in Ireland and it was in connection with a Traveller story that we published his photo.
For the record, click here for a link to the full PDF edition of the Obama edition.

Supporting local businesses - A RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TASTER!

The Local and Community Development Programme is one of around a dozen programmes administered by Local Development Companies (aka Partnerships) around the country.
One of the better-known programmes is LEADER (or to use call it by its proper title, the Rural Development Programme). 
Here's just one example, from Kerry, of how the North East Kerry Development used funding from the Rural Development Programme to make a real difference for a small business in Ballybunion that employs eight seasonal staff.

NOTE: The upcoming edition of 'Changing Ireland' out this June will include a 2-page feature on the RDP. As well as supporting small local businesses, the RDP also funds projects that engage in community development, tourism interests and heritage work.

ONE OF OUR BEST FILMS YET: Claiming Our Future UPDATE!

'Changing Ireland' has produced a 5 minute film from the CLAIMING OUR FUTURE day in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary when nearly 40 people worked on ideas to make local authorities more inclusive of the demands of citizens. One councillor described the present set-up as "absolute bull." One of our best videos yet!

North Tipperary Leader Partnership supported the event in Nenagh under Goal 4 of the Local and Community Development Programme which aims to get people from local communities involved in decision-making that effects their lives.

For more info/background, see our earlier blog posting live from the event and prior to the day. You can read the Tipperary Star's report here.

YOUTH TRAINING IN CO. TIPPERARY - 1ST IN EUROPE (possibly)

This project, which targets young men and early-school leavers, is supported by the North Tipperary Leader Partnership which is part of Ireland's national Local and Community Development Programme.