NRN Newsletter – Issue 10 – Winter 2011 - National Rural Network

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Lifestyle Issues led
to Farm Partnership
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Lifestyle issues were what first sparked discussions between
neighbouring Louth dairy farmers Andrew Purcell and Alf McGrew
on the merits of a farm partnership.
“During the Celtic Tiger years, we couldn’t get anyone to milk. I went
on holidays and Andrew came into the breach. When I came home,
we started to look seriously at forming a partnership,” said Alf.
At that stage Andrew was milking 70 autumn calving cows on owned
land and Alf had a herd of 70 spring-calving cows on 20 acres of
owned land and the rest leased. They are farming near Grangebellew.
The partnership, ‘Kiltallaght and Rinkinstown Farm’, was formed in 2007.
They are now milking 240 cows with a quota of 1.2 million litres. The
milking facilities on Andrew’s farm have been expanded and Alf has
increased the area of leased land through a long-term lease taken
out on the farm of an uncle who retired from farming. Their target is
to increase to 300 cows over the next five years and to sell 100 in-calf
heifers every year.
“The reduction in workload, the increased motivation and the greater
capacity to invest and expand are the real advantages. Like all dairy
farmers, we had the problem of the very bad milk price in 2009 but we
got over that hurdle. Overall, the partnership is working very well,” said
Alf.
Andrew Purcell and Alf McGrew operate one of the 565 farm
partnerships now registered in Ireland. Ben Roche, the Teagasc
specialist who has assisted in the development of many of these
partnerships, says lifestyle and farm structures issues are the key drivers
in forming a partnership.
A working group established by the National Rural Network (NRN) is
currently examining the farm partnership model. Its recommendations
are now being finalised and will be published early in 2012.
Newsletter
Winter 2011
Issue 10
In this issue...
New Student Enterprise in Tipperary 2
Global Audience for
Run Connemara 3
National Rural Development
Conference 4-7
Glenroe lives on 8
Focus Group on Rural Development
Programme Post 2013 9
Inspiring Leitrim Homes 10
Offaly Business Development
Programme 11
Sharing Ideas on Tourism 11
News Roundup 12
Andrew Purcell (left) and
Alf McGrew with Irish Grassland
Association (IGA) President,
Philip Donohoe (centre) during an
IGA tour on their farm in July 2011.
Picture Courtesy IGA

New Student Enterprise in Tipperary
Schools from as far away as Drogheda and Dublin are
sending their agricultural science students to Coorevin
Farm at Borrisokane, Co Tipperary to get a practical feel for
farming. The innovative project, called ‘Moran’s Agricultural
Experience for Students’ was developed by Padraig and
Nuala Moran, owners of Coorevin Farm.
“Our two sons, Ronan and Eoin, did agricultural science
for the Leaving and I got roped into doing projects. I also
found myself helping local students from non-farming
backgrounds with their projects. So I decided why not try
this on a wider scale,” said Padraig.
He converted a building into a class room and started to
make contact with schools. The first students arrived at the
farm last March. He has now hosted 10 schools on the farm
and the number of queries is growing. The typical size of
group is around 40 students.
The Morans run an intensive beef and sheep enterprise on
50 ha. The progeny from the 40 suckler cows are sold at 12
months. Half the lambs from the 150 January-lambing ewe
flock are sent to the factory and the remainder are sold
directly to local consumers for home freezers.
Passion
Through Padraig’s communications skills and his passion for
his chosen career, students get a real practical experience
of the scientific and management aspects of a modern
farm. He feels that, ideally, students should come twice to
the farm to see the different stages of animal development
and different management practices. One Dublin school
has done that already this year.
While some schools take their agricultural science students
to agricultural colleges, Padraig feels there is too much for
the student to take during a one-day visit. “In our case,
students can concentrate on just two enterprises and
therefore come away with real knowledge,” he said.
He had to fully familiarise himself with the agricultural
science syllabus and is very critical that students are
following a syllabus that has not been updated in 40 years.
He said much of the material in the syllabus is completely
outdated although the new textbook on ‘Pastures New’
is quite good. The new text book was produced by Agri
Aware, the Agricultural Science Teachers Association and
the Farmers Journal.
Synergy
Padraig is very complimentary of Agri Aware which has
given him a lot of help in marketing his new enterprise. He
has recently become a patron of Agri Aware and believes
there is a strong synergy between the aims of his business
and those of Agri Aware.
Coorevin Farm has become a patron of Agri Aware.
Pictured at the announcement are, from left:
Bernard Donohue, Chairman Agri Aware, Padraig Moran,
Coorevin Farm, Dr Vanessa Woods, Executive Director
Agri Aware and Nuala Moran, Coorevin Farm.
Padraig Moran addressing students from
Presentation Secondary School Thurles
during a visit to Coorevin Farm in November.
Coorevin Farm is in REPS 4 and Padraig is a REPS
demonstration farmer. The farm and classroom are used for
training courses for REPS participants in north Tipperary. He
is also a benchmark farm for Gurteen agricultural college
and his facilities are used to host discussion groups involving
mature students participating in training courses at Gurteen
in order to meet requirements for various schemes in
farming.
The facilities have also been used for meetings and
‘think-ins’ by agencies such as Offaly Local Development
Company. The Morans are currently constructing a wetroom
for students. The development is being supported by
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership.
Footsteps
The two Moran sons are following in their father’s footsteps.
Both did agricultural science to Leaving Cert level.
Ronan then studied agricultural science/environmental
management at GMIT and is now working with Arrabawn
Co-op. Eoin has just completed a two year drystock
management course at Gurteen.
An Ideal Location
An ideal location for students to get practical experience of modern farming is how agricultural science
teacher, Patricia Stapleton, describes Coorevin Farm. Patricia who teaches at Presentation Secondary School,
Thurles, brought her fifth year agricultural science class to Coorevin Farm in October. She heard about the new
facility through a leaflet dropped to the school.
“Padraig Moran is very knowledgeable on animal breeding, housing, grassland management and systems
and types of feeding. The feedback from the students was very positive. A number of the students have no
background in farming and the experience was really beneficial for them,” she said.
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Global Audience for
Run Connemara
Run Connemara, the spectacular
70 km UltraRunning World Trail
Championships that took place
last July, has reached a global
television audience in excess of 150
million households – an exposure
worth many millions of euro. The
event resulted from an innovative
partnership between the Renvylebased
voluntary community group,
Run Connemara and Ultra Running,
the official Irish representatives for
ultra distance running.
Last January, Richard Donovan,
chairman of Ultra Running Ireland
(URI) asked Kevin Heanue, chairman
of Connemara West – they are
friends from their student days
in NUIG – about the possibility of
Connemara hosting the Trail World
Championships. Kevin, a Renvyle
native and a Teagasc economist,
specialising in innovation, put
the proposition to his committee
in Connemara West and got an
immediate positive response.
“We saw it as an opportunity to
showcase the area to a global
audience and brand it as a place
to visit for outdoor activities and also
to enjoy the landscape, culture and
hospitality,” said Kevin.
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Kevin Heanue
Chairman Run Connemara.
an event worker who was taken on to
deliver the project.
Twenty national teams participated
in the gruelling 70km race on Sunday
9 July. Athletes from as far away
as Australia, Nepal, Argentina, USA
and Canada were among the
130 who competed in the off-road
course encompassing mountains,
gravel, loose rock, bog and open
countryside.
“One of the remarkable successes
of this event is that a new brand, Run
Connemara, was developed and
trademarked and has got global
coverage within the space of six
months,” said Kevin Heanue.
Ambassadors
The television coverage of the event
has been remarkable. As well as
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Channel 4, Setanta and TG4, where
it has had a number of showings, it
has also been shown on at least 15
channels internationally including in
Asia, Canada, Africa, Australia and
the USA. As a result of the coverage,
runners are coming to Connemara to
run part, or all, of the route.
“The overwhelming response from
participants, officials and families
was that the event was an incredible
success. These people will be great
ambassadors for Connemara,” said
Kevin Heanue.
For the record, France swept the
boards on the day, winning both
the individual and team events for
men and women. The Irish team
was seventh overall and Irish runner
Daniel Doherty finished in a very
creditable 17th place.
Trademark
Run Connemara was established
with Kevin Heanue as chairman.
A logo was developed and
trademarked, a website was
established and negotiations were
completed with DreamTeam TV to
produce a film on the event. Kevin
and Richard got financial support
for the event from Galway County
Council, Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Sports
Council, the Irish Athletics Association
and Connemara West plc. FORUM
Connemara supported the cost of
The start of the 70km UltraRunning World Trail Championships
at the picturesque Kylemore Abbey in Connemara.
“An Amazing Experience”
“It was an amazing experience for me as an athlete competing in my first world championships. Everyone
agreed it was one of the most challenging races they had ever run.” This is how Keith Whyte from Ennis, a
member of the Irish team, described his experience.
“The organising was top drawer. We had the official Olympics photographer there and television crews
broadcasting to millions of viewers. The awarding of an international athletics Order of Merit to the organisers
was fully deserved. This was the first time such an award was made,” said Keith.
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National Rural Development Conference
Will the New CAP Fit
The National Rural Development
Conference, run by the National
Rural Network and Teagasc and
held in Athlone on 19 October,
was attended by over 250
rural development activists,
entrepreneurs and representatives
of rural organisations. The theme of
the conference was ‘Towards 2020
– Building a Vibrant Rural Economy.’
A total of 25 speakers and panellists
addressed the morning plenary
session and afternoon workshops
and ensured an event of solid
information and lively debate
on critical aspects of the rural
economy. As the conference took
place just seven days after the
publication of the EU Commission
proposals on the CAP post 2013, the
potential impact on the agri-food
industry and rural areas was the
subject of intense debate.
period 2014-2020 is very satisfactory
given the political imperative
to redistribute funds to the new
Member States.
However, he felt it would be more
difficult for Ireland to maintain its
existing share of funding on rural
development measures, particularly
where greater emphasis is given
to the use of objective criteria in
allocating funds across Member
States.
Prof Matthews said the greening
measures proposed as part of
the Single Farm Payment will have
implications for agri-environment
schemes because they will raise
the baseline level of compliance.
He welcomed the Commission’s
acknowledgement that declining
growth rates for agricultural
productivity pose a huge challenge
for the global competitiveness of
European agriculture.
“A good outcome for the agriculture
and rural sectors” was how Professor
Alan Matthews of Trinity College
described the proposals in his
conference keynote address. He
said the proposal to reduce the
level of Single Farm Payment to
Irish farmers by less than 2% in the
Speakers at the National Rural Development Conference, from left:
Prof. Gerry Boyle, Teagasc, Dr Edgar Morgenroth, ESRI, Prof Alan Matthews,
TCD and Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President Limerick Institute of Technology.
A section of the attendance at the conference.
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Conference Highlights
Two-Speed Rural Economy
Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the Economic and Social
Research Institute (ESRI) highlighted the emergence of a
two-speed rural economy. He said that while agriculture
in Ireland has a strong future, the trend of reducing
employment in farming is unlikely to be reversed.
“Regions with strong commercial farming will continue to
hold their own or even increase in vibrancy while areas
that are not suited to intensive, commercial farming will
continue to decline. In these areas, other employment
will be important.”
“However, the scope for generating employment is
limited due to structural deficits such as high average
age, low population, relative remoteness and poor
urban structure,” he said.
Dr Morgenroth said the highest value, highest wage jobs
tend to be in urban centres. “There is extensive research
that suggests that growth in Ireland will be predominantly
urban. Even the food industry is predominantly urban,
with 53% of jobs located in urban areas.”
Green Heroes Programme
“A lot of countries claim to be green
– so Ireland needs to generate a unique
meaning that is credible,” Padraig
Brennan of Bord Bia told the conference.
“We need to extend beyond carbon
proofing to a focus on water and
biodiversity. In developing our green
credentials, we need to establish a
‘Green Heroes Programme’ which
will act as a platform from which to
effectively communicate and prove the
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Ger Bergin (left), IFA Vice-President with
Norina Coppinger, Teagasc and Gerry Gunning,
Executive Secretary IFA Rural Development Committee
at the conference.
sustainability credentials of Ireland’s food
producers.”
“Sustainability can deliver improved
efficiencies and reduced costs. In beef
production, every five kg of CO 2 equivalent
reduction in emissions per kg live weight is
associated with a 50c/kg improvement in
financial margin. In sheep, every 1kg of
CO 2 equivalent reduction in emissions per
kg live weight is associated with a 28c/kg
improvement in financial margin,” he said.
Padraig Brennan
Bord Bia.
Roscommon delegates at the conference, from left: Oliver Burke, Teagasc Area Manager, Patsy Daly
and Kevin McBrien, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, and Joe Curtin, Teagasc Adviser.
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Conference Highlights
Walking Trails Explosion
The number of recognised wayward walking trails in
Ireland has increased dramatically in recent years, from
72 in 2005 to 549 today, said Cormac MacDonnell from
the National Trails Office.
The number of overseas visitors engaged in walking and
hiking grew by 34% between 2008 and 2010 and now
totals around 350,000 per year. He said a study has
shown that overseas visitors engaged in hiking and hill
walking generated €500m in 2010, of which €150m was
spent on visits to recognised walking trails.
Cormac MacDonnell highlighted the need for stronger
emphasis on trail branding and promotion and for
improved information to trail users about local services.
The linkages between local development agencies,
land owners, local enterprise and promotion bodies also
need to be improved.
Karl Boyle of Mountaineering Ireland talked about the
need to develop an umbrella ‘Brand Ireland’ and for
training in trail building.
Other Conference
Quotes...
“There are currently 400 speciality food companies
employing over 3,000 people with an estimated
value of €475 million. The sector is growing by 10%
annually.” - Dr Cathal O’Donoghue, Head of Teagasc
Rural Economy Development Programme.
“There were 250 community-owned shops in England
and Wales in 2010, an increase of almost five-fold on
the 2000 figure. Around 1.2m hours of voluntary time
is devoted every year to these shops.”
– Peter Couchman, the Plunkett Foundation.
“Achieving the 2020 bio-energy targets will create
8,000 net new jobs.”
– Tom Bruton, President Irish Bio-Energy Association.
“Achieving the growth targets in the Food Harvest
2020 report has the potential to make a major
contribution to rural development in Ireland, through
improved farm viability and additional jobs in
existing and new food businesses.”
– Prof Gerry Boyle, Director Teagasc.
“Developing farming in an environmentally
conscious manner should not be seen as entirely
negative as it will allow other opportunities to arise.”
– Tommy Cooke, Chairman Irish Wind Farmers Co-op.
“In Irish poultry production, the total energy
consumed per bird is almost twice that of the UK,”
– Tom Bruton, President Irish Bio-Energy Association
Michael Ludlow, Meath Partnership,
Tom Bruton, Irish Bio-Energy Association and
Dr Pat Bogue, National Rural Network at the conference.
Mid-East the Biggest
Employer
The Mid-East region has the highest levels of employment
and the Border and South-East regions have the lowest levels,
figures presented by Jason Loughrey, post-graduate research
student with Teagasc, showed.
Nationally, the proportion of the population in employment
dropped from 60.3% in 2006 to 52% in 2011. In the Mid-East,
the employment rate has dropped from 63.5% in 2006 to
56.4% in 2011. Employment in the Border region has dropped
from 57.1% to 47.1% while in the South-East employment
has dropped from 58.8% to 47.5% between 2006 and 2011.
Current employment rates in the other regions are: Midland
– 49.6%; West – 52.2%; Mid-West – 53%; South-West – 50.9%;
Dublin – 54.6%.
Jason presented figures on employment and income trends
in Meath. They show that average disposable household
income in the county, at just over €44,000 in 2011, dropped
by 4.6% since 2006. The south west of the county is worst
affected in both income and employment while the south east
– part of the Dublin labour market – has maintained relatively
high employment rates and has experienced little or no
change in disposable household income.
Male employment rate in Meath has dropped by 17% since
2006. The decline in construction is a key contributor as, at the
height of the boom, 14% of the Meath workforce was involved
in construction compared to 11.1% nationally.
Another statistic presented by Jason showed that between April
2010 and April 2011, annual emigration among Irish nationals
rose by 52%, from 27,700 to 40,200.
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Conference Highlights
Changing Farm Structures
The changing structure of farming in Ireland was
outlined by Teagasc research scientist, David Meredith.
The number of farms between 10 and 20 ha dropped
by over 35% between 1990 and 2007 while the
number in the 50-100 ha size bracket increased by
15%.
Average farm size in 2007 was 32.2 ha, an increase
of 24% on the figure in the early 1990s. The number
employed in farming now stands at 80,000, a drop of
60% on the figure in 1981.
He used the Mitchelstown local labour market area as
an example of the contribution of the agri-food sector
to employment and economic vibrancy, particularly in
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the intensive farming areas.
“The 2006 Census showed there were 671 farmers in
the Mitchelstown area. The area had 116 enterprises
processing farm products, selling inputs and providing
a wide range of services to farmers.”
“When the total number of jobs associated with the
agri-food industry in the Mitchelstown labour market
area is added up, they account for an estimated 25%
of employment in the area. While Mitchelstown is
probably as good as it gets, there are other intensive
farming areas where the agri-food sector is of similar
central importance to the local economy,” said David
Meredith.
Wind Update
Tommy Cooke, chairman of the
Irish Wind Farmers Co-operative,
told the conference that almost
1800 MW of wind energy is now
installed in Ireland. A further 3900
MW Gate 3 connection offers are
currently being issued and there is
over 6000 MW in the queue.
“But there are problems – in cost
and delays in grid connection and
in regulatory and REFIT uncertainty.
There is a woefully inadequate
REFIT for small and micro scale
wind and there are financing
problems,” he said.
Ciaran Lynch (left), National Rural Network with conference speakers
David Meredith, Teagasc and Tommy Cooke, Irish Wind Farmers Co-op.
Bernie Leavy and Joe Potter,
Westmeath Community
Development pictured at the
conference.
Mary Mullen and Elaine Halpin, Cavan-Monaghan LEADER with
Gabriel O’Connell, Monaghan Integrated Development and Jim Maguire,
Breffni Integrated Development at the Rural Development Conference.
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Glenroe Lives On
The famous farming soap, Glenroe,
may have disappeared from our
screens 10 years ago but Glenroe Farm
is still enjoyed by thousands every year.
The 28 ha farm at Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
is run by John and Teresa Toner and is
one of the longest running open farms
in the country.
John took over the farm from his
father in 1984, a year after RTE started
filming Glenroe on the farm. As well
as servicing the farming requirements
of Dinny and Miley, the farm was run
commercially and John also rented 60
ha for potatoes and cattle.
In 1994, he gave up renting land and
decided to develop an open farm at
Kilcoole. Wesley Burrowes, the Glenroe
script writer, adapted the story line
to the needs of the new enterprise
and the open farm and the television
programme operated in tandem until
2001 when Glenroe was taken off the
air.
Vulnerable
Glenroe Open Farm now employs one
person full-time and has a further 18
part-time staff. Around 25,000 visitors
come to the farm every year, many
of them from south Dublin, Bray and
Greystones. But it is vulnerable to the
vagaries of the weather.
Santa arrived at the farm on the last
A Fallow deer and her fawn,
one of the many attractions at Glenroe Open Farm.
weekend of November 2010. “Then
the snow came and the entire month
of December was a washout. We had
a great March and April this year but
the summer was very cold and that
affected numbers. The economic
downturn has also impacted,
particularly on tours for school children,”
said John.
While there is a nature trail running
through the farm as part of the visitor
attraction, much of the 28 ha is still
farmed commercially with cattle, sheep
and tillage. The open farm is open
to groups during the week and to the
public at weekends. When we called
on the third weekend of December,
Santa was snug in Dinny’s house, the
350 year old cottage that was used as
the home for Dinny Byrne during the
18 years of the Glenroe series. He was
a big attraction for the four weekends
leading up to Christmas.
Santa arriving at Glenroe Open Farm for Christmas 2011.
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Focus Group on Rural
Development Programme
Post 2013
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For the past 12 months, Ryan Howard, Chief Executive
of South & East Cork Area Development (SECAD), is a
member of an EU Commission LEADER Focus Group on
post-2013 funding of the rural development programme
and on developing better local development strategies.
The group has members from all 27 member states,
including representatives from Local Action Groups
(LAGS). The other Irish representative on the group is
Deirdre Kelly from the Department of Environment,
Community and Local Government.
Ryan describes the work of the focus group as a “very
worthwhile exercise”. Many of the recommendations
made by the group have found their way into the
Commission’s legal proposals on the reform of the
Common Agricultural Policy which were published on 12
October.
“The overall feeling of representatives of LAGS across
member states is one of frustration with the operation
of the current programme. The integrity of local
interpretation and honouring the local decision are big
issues across the EU and are essential in the successful
delivery of a LEADER approach.”
“However, the group is pleased that many of its
recommendations have found their way into the new
framework proposals. Furthermore, under the draft
‘Common Strategic Framework’ the Commission
is suggesting that the LEADER approach should be
considered as an option in the delivery of other funds
such as the ESF, ERDF and European Fisheries Programme
from 2014 onwards,” he said.
The group had access to many of the most senior officials
in the Commission, not just in DG AGRI but also in the
Ryan Howard,
on EU LEADER Focus Group.
Social Fund, the Regional Fund and the Marine Fund.
Ryan Howard is struck with how impressed these senior
officials are with the LEADER approach, notwithstanding
the many inadequacies in its delivery on the ground.
“The top officials in charge of the European Social Fund,
which has a fund of €90 bn, would love to see groups
like us involved in operating the fund at local level. We
found a similar enthusiasm from the people we met in the
regional and marine funds,” said Ryan.
The group is now working on developing proposals
that will lead to better local structures and local
decision-making processes in the operation of the rural
development programme post 2013. Based on its
experience to date, Ryan Howard is confident that it can
make a difference and ensure that a programme with a
real ‘bottom-up’ approach can be put in place.
NRN Study on Community Development
Securing the support of local
leaders and engaging and nurturing
relationships with local development
and statutory agencies are key
ingredients in the development of selfreliant
rural communities, a study carried
out on behalf of the National Rural
Network (NRN) concludes.
The study on the rural community
of Upperchurch-Drombane, Co
Tipperary was carried out by Catherine
Corcoran of LIT-Tipperary. It examines
how this community became selfreliant
and charts achievements and
challenges. Among its conclusions and
recommendations are:
• Community groups need to secure
the involvement of enthusiastic
individuals to drive specific projects
of particular interest to them. In
Upperchurch-Drombane, the
pioneers of some community
projects were not core members of
the Development Association but
had the motivation and energy to
ensure that the project succeeded.
• Communities that have little
contact with agencies or awareness
of available initiatives should
be indentified and proactively
engaged with. The restrictions on
the ways in which publicly-funded
bodies engage with communities
should be minimised.
• In rural areas such as Upperchurch-
Drombane, agriculture, rural and
community development are
synonymous and consideration
should be given in future
programmes for identifying ways in
which support for agriculture can
include community development
outcomes.
• Future rural development policy
needs to include a focus on
developing the capacity of
communities to exploit assets such
as tourism, food, water, air and
energy in a sustainable way.
The study on ‘Upperchurch-Drombane
- Rural Community Development in
Action’ will be available in January on
the NRN website at www.nrn.ie.
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Inspiring Leitrim Homes
A project funded by Leitrim
Development Company has
resulted in a catalogue of
distinctive homes in the county
and the development of a bank
of information on a wide range
of designs and expertise on
cost-efficient home design and
reconstruction.
The Inspirational Homes project
was undertaken by Jo Lewis
who was contracted by Leitrim
Development Company to
collect information on homes
with interesting and unique
characteristics.
Jo came to Leitrim about 10
years ago from London where
she and her husband had
been running a vegetarian
restaurant. The family spent
seven years living in a mobile
home while they renovated an
old cottage in Dromahair. “If I
had the information then that I
have now, we would have done
the renovation much faster and
would have avoided many of the
mistakes,” she said.
Visitors discussing aspects of design in one of Leitrim’s
Inspirational Homes during the ‘Green Door’ weekend.
Over three-quarters of the home
owners agreed to open their
homes. The event attracted over
600 visitors, including architects
– some who travelled from
London – builders and interested
home owners from across the
north west. A website www.
inspirationalhomes.ie has been
developed with information on
the project and on the range of
unique houses.
Brian Smyth, who coordinated the
project for Leitrim Development
Company, said they are now
looking at how to use the
information in ways that will
benefit the building sector and
home owners in the county. Jo
Lewis is hopeful that the project
can be extended to other
counties in the north west.
She found around 40 houses with
distinct characteristics. Many
were self built, were low cost
and had some form of ecotechnology
such as geo-thermal,
straw bale, timber-framed, selfheating
or different wood-burning
heating systems.
“Many of these houses are tucked
away in the deep countryside
and it took quite a time to find
them. Others are more public like
the Dock arts centre in Carrickon-Shannon
which has been
beautifully restored from the old
courthouse,” said Jo.
A ‘Green Door’ event was
organised over a weekend last
September. Supported by Leitrim
Development Company and
Leitrim County Council, it involved
home owners opening their doors
and sharing their ideas with the
public.
One of the distinctive Leitrim homes found by Jo Lewis.
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Offaly Business Development
Programme
Around 70% of participants in recent years in the
Business Development Programme run by Offaly Local
Development Company (OLDC) have succeeded in
establishing their own businesses. The programme,
which is funded by FÁS, is targeted at people who are in
receipt of social assistance and have a business idea.
Recruitment is through the FÁS Gateway system.
There are 15 places on each 26-week programme which
consists of classroom training and one-to-one tuition. The
programme helps participants to investigate the viability of
their business idea, develop effective business plans and
get expert guidance in all areas of business development.
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Programme co-ordinator, Carmel Ormond of OLDC,
said many of the participants in recent programmes are
engineers, architects and skilled crafts people who had
worked in the building sector. Some had never thought of
self-employment before.
The participants who graduated from one of the
programmes conducted in 2011 have established a
wide variety of businesses including tyre recycling, wood
finishing and re-surfacing, a frock exchange service,
graphic design, stairs and curved handrail manufacturing
and fresh fish retailing.
The 15 participants in the recent Business Development Programme run by Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC)
pictured at their graduation ceremony with tutors and local agency representatives. Included are Carmel Ormond (seated
centre), OLDC, course coordinator, and Brendan O’Loughlin (back row, fourth from left), Chief Executive OLDC.
Sharing Ideas on Tourism
The appetite for information and ideas
on developing rural tourism ventures was
exemplified in the large attendance at
the conference on ‘Creative Marketing
and Innovative Tourism Development’
held in Cavan last autumn by Cavan-
Monaghan LEADER.
Almost 100 participants attended
the conference all of whom had an
interest in developing a new or existing
tourism enterprise. Speakers from
Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone, Fermanagh
and Down gave their stories on the
development of a range of enterprises
including walking tours, self-catering,
biking trails, hostels and caravan parks.
The conference was chaired by travel
writer Catherine Mack.
John Toland of Cavan-Monaghan
LEADER, who organised the conference,
said particular emphasis was placed
on gaps that exist in Cavan and
Monaghan for centre types of tourism
infrastructure. These include mountain
bike trails, a caravan and camping site
and possibly a hostel.
He said the conference helped to focus
attention on the opportunities that exist
and on the funding available for the
development and marketing of tourism
products.
Participants in the tourism conference run by Cavan-Monaghan LEADER,
from left: Elaine Halpin, Manager Cavan-Monaghan LEADER, Fred Madden,
Hilton Park, Clones, Catherine Mack, conference chair, John Moyna ,Sliabh
Beagh Hotel, Knockatallon, Co Monaghan, Teresa Heffernan, Fáilte Ireland
and John Toland, Cavan-Monaghan LEADER.
p11

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NEWS ROUNDUP
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ENRD Co-ordinating Committee
The Co-ordinating Committee assists the European
Commission in preparing and implementing the
European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) activities
and also gives advice to the Commission on the annual
work programme of the ENRD. The most recent meeting
of the Committee was held on 8 December in Brussels.
At the meeting, a number of issues regarding the future
programme were discussed and the Committee was
updated on a number of relevant matters.
Click here for more details or go to
http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/events-and-meetings
transnational cooperation projects. The most recent
meeting of the sub-committee was held in Brussels on
23 November.
Click here for more details or go to
http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/events-and-meetings
Guide to Policy Proposals
The European Commission and the European Network
for Rural Development (EN RD) have recently published a
short guide to the European Commission’s proposals for
EU rural development policy after 2013.
Click here to download or go to http://www.elard.eu/news
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ENRD LEADER Sub-Committee
The LEADER Sub-Committee of the ENRD contributes
to the work of the Co-ordinating Committee, and
advises the European Commission on the annual
work programme of the ENRD particularly in respect
of the LEADER axis. It offers support to the European
Commission in monitoring the implementation of
national
rural
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Speech on Sustainable Agriculture
The EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development,
Dacian Ciolos, delivered a speech on the development
of a more competitive and sustainable agriculture at a
conference in Rome on 29 November.
Click here to download the speech or go to
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/
Do you have a story you would like us to feature in our newsletter or on our website?
NRN
If so, please email: nrn@lit.ie
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Stay
Informed!
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on the web www.nrn.ie
Don’t go looking for the news – let the news find you! Every time
we publish an article or news item on the website, we will email it
to you. The National Rural Network website (www.nrn.ie) publishes
regular articles on all things relating to the Irish Rural Development
Programme 2007 - 2013, including articles on:
• Improving the competitiveness of farm enterprises through
support for restructuring,development and innovation
• Preserving and,where possible, enhancing the environment,
biodiversity and the amenity value of the countryside
• Improving the quality of life in rural areas, diversification of
the rural economy, support for rural business creation and
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The Rural Development
Support Unit,
LIT Tipperary,
Nenagh Road,
Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Contact: Ciaran Lynch
Paula Briody
John Kennedy
Tel: +353 504 28123
Fax: +353 504 28001
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