Changing Ireland

Changing Ireland Ireland’s No. 1 Community Development magazine, publishing quality journalism since 2001. HQ Moyross.

27/01/2025

LIVE storm aftermath press conference from govt’s National Emergency Coordination Group.
State needs to strongly support all community groups helping out.

Hours before Storm Éowyn swept the country, Fianna Fail’s Dara Calleary TDwas given responsibility for supporting commun...
25/01/2025

Hours before Storm Éowyn swept the country, Fianna Fail’s Dara Calleary TDwas given responsibility for supporting communities. The Ballina native was appointed as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht on January 23 by newly elected Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
As on previous occasions when storms have struck, community groups, local development companies and local authorities will play an active role in checking in on and supporting the most vulnerable. The Minister got stuck in on day one announcing details about emergency funding for households (subject to income-tests) impacted by the storm.
His appointment is being celebrated in Mayo which has now seen two TDs in eight years take the helm and is a relief to those who value the work of the Department of Rural and Community Development the smallest government department apart from the Department of the Taoiseach.
Now the Department is growing in size and stature with the addition of Gaeltacht affairs, harking back to the 2002 to 2010 department configuration inaugurated by Galway’s Éamon Ó Cuív when he was Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
At the same time Calleary also has responsibility for the Department of Social Protection which has a budget of €26.9 billion... READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: -
https://www.changingireland.ie/welcome-for-dara-calleary-as-rural-community-gaeltacht-and-social-protection-minister/

Department of Rural and Community Development - Conradh na Gaeilge - Irish Local Development Network - Leitrim Development Company - Western Development Commission

"If Carlsberg made communities it still wouldn’t be as good as Moyross." - a comment from one of over 500 ppl who viewed...
21/01/2025

"If Carlsberg made communities it still wouldn’t be as good as Moyross." - a comment from one of over 500 ppl who viewed this video on Changing Ireland's Youtube channel in the past 24 hrs.

Moyross reputedly has the biggest cul-de-sac in Europe and many people from Limerick have never actually been to Moyross. To mark the official signing by John Moran - Mayor of Limerick last week - of the contract for the Northern Distributor Road which will open up Moyross - we produced this 3-minute video to show the neighbourhood in all its glory.

"Great video showing the wonderful community of Moyross. I feel privileged to be part of this video and I hope to continue being a role model for all in Moyross especially the younger generation📷" said European champion kickboxer Tyrone Cronin O'Brien from Cosgrave Park.

The song featured is "Thursday" as covered by schoolchildren from Corpus Christi Primary School. Thanks to all! You can see their original recording here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMtifjY2xg

Among the groups featured are:
Watch House Cross Community Library
Vincent's Moyross
Eleven14 Coffee Roasters
SMILE School Completion Programme
Moyross Utd Football Club
Moyross Community Enterprise Centre Ltd.
Limerick.ie
Corpus Christi School, Moyross
Moyross Parish
Moyross Youth Academy

Do please share! And come visit Moyross!
RACE
Limerick City Community Radio
LCEN (Limerick Community Education Network)
WWW.ILOVELIMERICK.COM
Limerick City Citizens

MOYROSS LOVINGLY REMEMBERS THOSE WHO DIED AS CHILDREN Story and videos by Allen Meagher JournalistMoyross is unusual in ...
12/12/2024

MOYROSS LOVINGLY REMEMBERS THOSE WHO DIED AS CHILDREN

Story and videos by Allen Meagher Journalist
Moyross is unusual in having a Marian Shrine dedicated to remembering local children who are deceased and on Monday close to a hundred people gathered at the shrine to light candles and remember each and every one of them.
People wept as the names of at least 50 children and young people were read out.
“It was very meaningful and very emotional for some people,” said Jason Craig, one of the organisers, speaking in the Ballygrennan estate where the shrine dedicated “to the loving memory of all the deceased children of Moyross” was built in 1997.
The deaths were as a result of medical issues, traffic accidents, drownings, accidents on holidays, miscarriages, cancer and criminal acts.
“It is a very large number of young people to die for one community,” said Jason, who was appointed manager of Moyross Community Centre in August. “However, there haven’t been as many of those funerals in recent times, which is a sad way to have to measure something, but it’s the only way you can.”
Community leaders had written to the bereaved families of those who died and the event was held to show people they were not forgotten.
After the ceremony in Ballygrenan people walked to Delmege Park where prayers were said and then everyone trooped back to a joyful party at the community centre where Corpus Christi school-children sang their hearts out, food was served and raffle prizes handed out.

SYMBOLIC WALK
“The walk symbolises how people have walked with each other over generations in times of difficulty,” said Fr Pat Hogan, parish priest. “It symbolises how, as we walk together as a community, we grow in strength, grow in goodness and create a place that is good for children.”
While community leaders still have concerns – for example around crucial long-term government funding for community projects – the area is changing radically. Many good homes were knocked despite the housing crisis in Ireland, but demolition has now stopped and many new homes and apartment blocks have been built or are under construction. Facilities in the area have been expanded and upgraded, including the community centre, the primary school, the shopping centre and Moyross Youth Academy.
“Moyross is miles ahead of where it was,” said Jason. “It’s a much better place nowadays. There was a time when houses here sold for a few thousand euro: Now you have over 300 people on the waiting list. You have people actively wanting to move their families here. That really marks a change of outlook.”

KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE
Anne-Marie O’Connor who works with the local Community Companions project said the ceremony at the shrine where 61 candles were lit was “poignant but nice”.
“Lighting the candles keeps their names alive, it keeps their memory alive,” she said. “Each family received their own letter inviting them to take part and to let them know that their family member’s name would be read out at the service. There was also space for anyone else’s name to be called out too”.
It was a heartfelt day for many.
“Today for me was probably five or six years in the making,” said Jason. Having grown up locally, and having worked for five years as the family support worker in Corpus Christi N.S. prior to becoming manager of the centre, he understands the hardships families face.
“I know very well how difficult this time of year is for many people in the community. We are here to journey with them and to support people,” he added.
He praised community centre staff for helping to organise the multi-faceted event which he hopes will become an annual event.
“The majority of people that work here are from the community and we all know how important this is to people,” he said.

REMEMBER ME TREE
Meanwhile, a ‘Remember Me’ Christmas tree set up in the foyer of the community centre has proven so popular that a second tree was ordered as local people came to write the names of deceased loved ones on red ribbons and place them on the tree. People are also visiting to read the names of the many who have passed away locally over the decades and to remember them.
“It is creating conversations,” said Jason.
He wished everyone a safe and enjoyable Christmas and a happy new year.
The centre closes on December 20 and re-opens on January 2. The ‘Remember Me’ tree will be moved to the parish church when the centre closes.
The new year is already looking bright as it was revealed in late November that funding for community groups through Limerick City and County Council’s Social Intervention Fund is secure for another year. Details are available on the council’s website (at this link) about the criteria for groups to apply. The deadline is Monday, January 13.

FLASH SALE! Now or never! Half-page advert space, page 2, Winter edition of Changing Ireland, for €150. If interested re...
03/12/2024

FLASH SALE! Now or never! Half-page advert space, page 2, Winter edition of Changing Ireland, for €150.

If interested reply by email ([email protected]) by latest 4pm tomorrow, Dec 4th.

(Normal price €500 not-for-profit/ €600 statutory / €700 commercial).

This space will be filled one way or another in 24 hrs. You will reach a really wide audience with the longest established and most popular community and voluntary sector magazine in Ireland today.

Winter edition will be published and circulating by Monday, Dec 16.

This is being enjoyed by quite a few readers. Here's the gist of the story to save you a click:It's from our Secret Comm...
29/11/2024

This is being enjoyed by quite a few readers. Here's the gist of the story to save you a click:

It's from our Secret Community Development Worker who was intrigued by the number of newer parties and candidates on show in recent elections and their interesting posters and messaging as regards equality and diversity - analysed here:

Ireland belongs to the Irish
– To be strictly accurate Ireland belongs to the rich people. i.e. One third of Ireland belongs to 10% of people and of course there are also the Vulture Funds who own half of Dublin. But their slogan was catchy and this campaigning will clearly help to preserve Ireland for the real Irish - the real Irish being descended from Milesians.
It presumably also involves expelling those of English, Norman, Viking and Celtic descent and abolishing St. Patrick’s Day as he was an immigrant. It sounds logistically complex, but the best of luck!

Ireland for the Irish (definite theme emerging here)
- There was a poster in my town with a candidate for “Ireland for the Irish” who didn’t look old enough to drive a tractor (which in rural Ireland is about 8) and I thought, what would he know about being forced to leave home, lose everything and having to flee to a foreign country or even about the birds and the bees? (environmental issues like) then I realised I was being ageist and prejudice is bad right?
However, on mature reflection the more I saw the poster the more I warmed to the theme and am I currently developing a position paper on “Empowering communities through Strengthening localism" (it’s important to make prejudice sound positive).
This will involve promoting independent monocultural entities at county level, Cavan for Cavan people, Cork for Cork people, etc. There will be a County Citizen test, ideas for the Kerry one are – knowledge of football, ability to not give a straight answer, regular use of “Yerra” in replies.

Stop NGOs running the Government!
Stop NGOs running the Government – This is long overdue as anyone who has been working in NGOs campaigning on issues such as poverty, racism, gender inequality, rights and services for people with disability, etc knows that governments are as malleable as putty in NGOs Machiavellian hands, which is why these issues are all solved.
I once was part of a funding application for an anti-poverty event and asked for funding for a pink pony and guess what …the pink came off on my trousers, so the joke was on me.

Migrants taking our jobs
– Without migrants, the services we have which are already on crumbling would collapse so this seems reasonable, that is what they mean right?

No Woke Education
– Now this is one to get behind. I left school knowing little about s*x, s*xual relations or different s*xual preferences. I was naive as to how to go about losing my virginity and a trip to the Virgin Megastore turned out to be an embarrassing disappointment.

Protect our Women and Children from Migrant Men
– 99% of detected s*xual offenses are perpetrated by males and in 83% of cases perpetrators are known to the victim, which suggests that Irish men already have ownership of this issue. However, I am sure these people have been regular campaigners for ending violence against women down through the years and will be at the forefront to develop more progressive male gender roles.

€7 million in funding is to be provided to community groups under the Department of Rural and Community Development Loca...
08/11/2024

€7 million in funding is to be provided to community groups under the Department of Rural and Community Development Local Enhancement Programme 2025.

The funding will consist of €6 million in capital supports essential for many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas.

There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

A further €1 million in current funding is available for community groups, including Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds, to assist with their energy and running costs, to help them continue their important work within the community.

Story👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/e7-million-fund-to-assist-thousands-of-community-groups-nationwide/

Moving Ukrainians is putting them out of jobs, splitting friendships and undermining integrationOver the summer in Loop ...
08/11/2024

Moving Ukrainians is putting them out of jobs, splitting friendships and undermining integration

Over the summer in Loop Head, Co Clare, and in Borrisokane, Co Tipperary, local people protested over government plans to move refugees who had integrated and become part and parcel of the community.

In Wexford, community worker Marie-Louise Byrne, speaking at a national conference held in June, listed the moving of refugees as one of nine challenges to successful integration. (The other challenges included information vacuums, hostile online spaces and far-right exploitation, stretched frontline services, geographic proportionality, and the need for courageous political leadership).

In Tralee, community workers wrote to try and stop a mother and a child with a medical condition known to all the local teachers being moved to Mahon in Cork city. Despite the outcry they were still moved.

In West Cork, community worker Kathryn Kingston spoke in September on local radio, saying how hard it was to see settled refugees being moved by the government from areas they had settled in.

Ms Kingston made the comments on C103FM after over 140 Ukrainian refugees were moved from accommodation centres in Bantry, Roscarbery and Clonakilty to other areas in the county, and even as far as Killarney.

Story👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/moving-ukrainians-is-putting-them-out-of-jobs-splitting-friendships-and-undermining-integration/

Hundreds gathered as Sligo LEADER Partnership celebrates 30 years The Sligo LEADER Partnership held a community showcase...
07/11/2024

Hundreds gathered as Sligo LEADER Partnership celebrates 30 years

The Sligo LEADER Partnership held a community showcase as part of Local Development Week in early October with hundreds of attendees gathering at the Clayton Hotel, Sligo, to celebrate this milestone event.

More than 40 exhibitors representing Sligo LEADER programmes, local agencies, and community groups, showcased their initiatives, reinforcing the theme of the day: Collaboration.

The event highlighted the achievements of Sligo LEADER over the past 30 years. One of the most memorable moments was a special presentation made to Michael Quigley who is one of the founders and a former CEO of Sligo LEADER Partnership. Michael said:

“Sligo LEADER was established based on the needs of the community in Sligo. LEADER was a great programme and other programmes followed on the back of the success of LEADER, through social inclusion and employment support.”

Story 👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/hundreds-gathered-as-sligo-leader-partnership-celebrates-30-years/

Leitrim shows community volunteering plays a key role in integrationStaff in Leitrim Volunteer Centre wrote to Changing ...
07/11/2024

Leitrim shows community volunteering plays a key role in integration

Staff in Leitrim Volunteer Centre wrote to Changing Ireland to emphasise the importance of volunteering for integrating diverse newcomers into the community.

Centre manager Josephine Stroker said: “With increased division in our society, Leitrim Community Volunteers are a shining example of the difference people make when they come together to support their community. Whether they are from Leitrim or Liberia, the Community Volunteers all have one thing in common – they want to give back to help others.”

Over 10 nationalities and volunteers of all abilities and backgrounds are involved in volunteering in Co Leitrim.

Story👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/leitrim-shows-community-volunteering-plays-a-key-role-in-integration/

New video highlights the importance of community engagement in decision makingMinister of State for Community Developmen...
06/11/2024

New video highlights the importance of community engagement in decision making

Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien this week officially launched a new video which aims to support local decision makers, to ensure that disadvantaged communities have real opportunities to be heard in local planning and decision-making processes.

The video features a wide range of stakeholders who highlight the importance of engagement at local level, ensuring that the most marginalised are involved with developing policy, or future decisions that affect their communities.

Story 👉https://www.changingireland.ie/leitrim-shows-community-volunteering-plays-a-key-role-in-integration/

Increased funding for 400 community organisationsAn additional €3 million funding has been allocated to support communit...
05/11/2024

Increased funding for 400 community organisations

An additional €3 million funding has been allocated to support community services organisations from January 2025 under the Community Services Programme (CSP).

Over 400 community organisations nationwide are set to benefit from the announcement, made by Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien today.

These increases will assist organisations to meet higher labour costs from 2025 onwards.

Story 👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/increased-funding-for-400-community-organisations/

Molly Ryan has been awarded the Changing Ireland-TUS top student in Community Development award for 2024!The Changing Ir...
04/11/2024

Molly Ryan has been awarded the Changing Ireland-TUS top student in Community Development award for 2024!

The Changing Ireland award for Overall Excellence (highest result) in the BA in Community Development at Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone (Limerick campus) was presented by editor Allen Meagher Journalist to Molly Ryan from Croom last Thursday.
Molly did her work placement with South Tipperary Development Company and, on finishing her exams, she was snapped up by an eager employer. She now works as a project worker with the Probation and Linkage in Scheme. We hope to feature the project’s work in supporting families at a later date.
Our hearty congratulations to Molly and to all involved in the of Applied Social Sciences in TUS. Staff at the graduation and awards ceremonies included Cathy Jones and Shane O'Sullivan, former Changing Ireland chair and current chair respectively.

Our photos show Molly receiving her award and the awardees with academic staff.

23/10/2024

You can subscribe to Changing Ireland for free by emailing: [email protected] today!

Or pop into Moyross Community Enterprise Centre have lunch for €6/€6.50 and pick up a copy of Changing Ireland at reception. ... Burger with pepper sauce today, can't beat it!
Tomorrow it's Beef or Chilli Stir-Fry (cheers to chef Peter and staff).

And tell your friends about Changing Ireland - latest edition just out.

Burger with pepper sauce, can't beat it!Tomorrow at Moyross Community Enterprise Centre chef Peter says it's Beef or Chi...
23/10/2024

Burger with pepper sauce, can't beat it!
Tomorrow at Moyross Community Enterprise Centre chef Peter says it's Beef or Chilli Stir-Fry. Get your dinner for €6/€6.50 and a free copy of Changing Ireland!

You can also subscribe for free by emailing [email protected] today!

Do we fully appreciate the challenges of integration? These are Tim Dixon’s solutionsTim Dixon gave the keynote speech a...
23/10/2024

Do we fully appreciate the challenges of integration? These are Tim Dixon’s solutions

Tim Dixon gave the keynote speech at the Welcoming New Communities conference held on Monday, July 15, in Dublin Castle. Originally from Australia, Tim is a cofounder of More in Common, which was set up after his friend, the late British MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a white supremacist.

His talk looked at the role of the community in managing conflict. He presented clear results from scientific research and surveys in other countries, showing, for example, how to better tap into positivity within communities.

Tim Dixon shared five key thoughts about how to transcend tribalism and “build on the kind of work that many of you are doing at the local level”.

Story 👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/do-we-fully-appreciate-the-challenges-of-integration-these-are-tim-dixons-solutions/

"To your credit, you as a sector have risen to all of these challenges and continue to deal with the challenges on a dai...
22/10/2024

"To your credit, you as a sector have risen to all of these challenges and continue to deal with the challenges on a daily basis." - Bairbre Nic Aongusa, assistant secretary at the Department of Rural and Community Development

Community development workers and volunteers were thanked for their "vital" work and their "staggering" output amidst unprecedented challenges at the Welcoming New Communities conference, held recently in Dublin Castle.

Story 👉 https://www.changingireland.ie/staggering-output-and-vital-community-work-highlighted/

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Videos

"If Carlsberg made communities it still wouldn’t be as good as Moyross." What a line - great reaction to our video.

Moyross is unusual in having a Marian Shrine dedicated to remembering local children who are deceased and on Monday close to a hundred people gathered at the shrine to light candles and remember each and every one of them. The names of at least 50 children and young people were read out. VIDEO AND STORY BY Allen Meagher Journalist

You can subscribe to Changing Ireland for free by emailing: [email protected] today! Or pop into Moyross Community Enterprise Centre have lunch for €6/€6.50 and pick up a copy of Changing Ireland at reception. ... Burger with pepper sauce today, can't beat it! Tomorrow it's Beef or Chilli Stir-Fry (cheers to chef Peter and staff). And tell your friends about Changing Ireland - latest edition just out.

Community groups from Clare, Tipperary and Kerry and Limerick including KDYS Castleisland Foróige Limerick LTSP Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention Women's Collective Ireland Croom Family Resource Centre CLG Women's Collective Ireland - Limerick Tipperary Pride Quare Clare - LGBTQIA+Clare took part in yesterday's #LimerickPride Parade 2024. The colourful march amidst heavy showers was held to show LGBT+ strength, resilience and pride and to celebrate the festival’s activist roots as a street protest.

#Moyross was delighted to welcome a new asset to the community this morning when Tesco Ireland opened in Watchhouse Cross. Twenty years ago Moyross depended on four local shops serving the community. Eurospar and then Iceland came and went. Now, as Moyross grows, Tesco looks destined to stay. It's big news also for people in Kilkeely, Thomondgate and beyond into County Clare. The excitement was evident this morning as locals came to shop and senior Tesco management visited the new store. Staff members Emma Morrison from Thomondgate and deputy manager Padraig Markham told Changing Ireland (available for free in-store) that store opening hours are the same as all similar sized stores countrywide. The food range is the same as in Roxboro and similar sized stores. "Every little helps!"

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