International community development conference

NUI Maynooth

An international community development conference was held in Maynooth
 on November 16^th with speakers attending from Russia, Scotland, Australia, Holland, Liberia, Belgium and Ireland.

Around 170 people took part and the event was oversubscribed. “It wasn’t all about programmes and structures for change,” said one participant, “but about taking time to think about the need for community development today to bring about social change.”

Six Tips for Michael D Higgins

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins

On November 11^th, Michael D Higgins was finally sworn in as Uachtarán na hÉireann, and his election has been broadly welcomed.

Changing Ireland caught up with various people in the Community and Voluntary sectors, and asked them a couple of short questions about our new poet President.

New Women’s Aid service for immigrants

The Translation Service is available in 8 languages

Are you working with a female immigrant experiencing domestic violence who has difficulty speaking English?

In September, Women’s Aid launched a translation service for women experiencing violence or abuse in the home. The service is provided over the phone via the organisation’s helpline (1800 341 900) which is open from 10am-10pm seven days a week.

Australia gives us Ugg boots, Fosters and now Men’s Sheds

A Men's Shed in the UK

Smaller housing complexes had, by the early 90s, left less room for Australians to have their traditional large back-yard sheds. Men, especially retired ones, therefore, were often left without a place to go or activities to get on with. 

As a result, the concept of community sheds was born, and it has since become something of a phenomenon in that country. Like Ugg boots, Fosters and Home and Away, the export has since taken off in Ireland.

Arklow: Men leave their shed in a boat

BY ALAN JACQUES

An Bád Inbhear Mór

The 25 members of Arklow Men’s Sheds Group made waves recently as they kept their hometown’s long and proud tradition of boat building alive with the launch of their 20ft timber dory.

Named 'An Bád Inbhear Mór', the rowing boat took 13 weeks to build at a workshop in Croghan Industrial Estate with timber sourced from the ‘TSV Asgard II’ supply.