Dromahair

Connecting Women to

Local Decision Making in Leitrim Seminar a Great Success

 

'Connecting Women to Local decision-making in Leitrim’ seminar hosted by Leitrim PPN in association with the WCI - North Leitrim Women's Centre and SHE - See Her Elected in Carrick on Shannon on Friday was a very inspiring, uplifting and elevating event.

All the different ways women can lead in decision-making in Leitrim was a common theme throughout the morning.

 

 

Participating in the panel discussion were women with a variety of experience of community leadership to include Cllr. Mary Bohan, Bláithín Gallagher, Lola Gonzalez and Bernie Mulligan Dolan. They all chatted to Megan Flynn Dixon about how they became involved in community leadership and how their own involvement made a real difference in their community.

 

 

We are very grateful to Carole Coleman, who kindly stepped in at the last minute.

 

 

A thought-provoking presentation on the history of women in local politics in Leitrim was provided by SHE - See Her Elected Dr Michelle Maher.

 

 

She urged women to recognise the value of the work they do in their communities and become involved in Leitrim’s Public Participation Network from which up to 40 seats on council committees, boards and forums are reserved for PPN Representatives.

 

 

The morning closed with an entertaining and funny contribution from Leitrim playwright Treasa Nealon, which she wrote especially for the day.

 

 

Welcoming attendees was Assumpta Kelly of the WCI - North Leitrim Women's Centre and Mary Mc Keon Co-Ordinator of Leitrim PPN thanked everyone for coming along to listen to and support the very inspiring women who are contributing immensely to their local communities. Mary mentioned about the various PPN Rep vacancies and encourages the audience to think about contacting the PPN and consider going forward as a community rep.

 

Pictured:- Dr. Michelle Maher See Her Elected, Mary Mc Keon Leitrim PPN, Bernie Mulligan Dolan (panel speaker) Carole Coleman,(Guest)  Cllr Mary Bohan (panel speaker) Bláithín Gallagher (panel speaker) Lola Gonzalez (panel speaker) Assumpta Kelly North Leitrim Women’s Centre.

 

 

Thanks to all for attending and making it a wonderful inspiring  event.

Local Enhancement Programme

Funding Allocated

Funding in excess of €110,000 across 148 Community Projects has been secured in Co. Leitrim through the Local Enhancement Programme 2025. Congratulations to all the community organisations who were successful in securing this funding.

Love Where You Live 2025 - Judging

Thank you to all the community groups who entered the Love Where You Live Awards - judging for the Community Achievement and Social Inclusion sections will take place 7th, 8th and 9th July by an independent judge - all groups will be notified of day and time shortly.  Please have your committee and volunteers informed so you can showcase your group to the judges on the day.  Look forward to meeting you all who entered.

Leitrim PPN Member Spotlight
The Hive Bornacoola Youth Club

The Hive are celebrating their 25th Anniversary.  Congrtulations on this fantastic achievement from all at Leitrim PPN.  

The Hive have a junior club, senior club & teen club.  

 

The count down is on - great work being done behind the Scenes by leaders and  especially the members hope to see you all next Sunday 22nd June 2pm to 5pm to celebrate 25 wonderful years of Bornacoola Youth Club.

 

Poster below

New Funding round for Cross-Border projects announced

The 2025 round of The Shared Island Civic Society Fund will allocate up to €2 million, and applications will be accepted from Monday, 26 May 2025, to Friday, 27 June.

 

Average grant of just under €30,000 for smaller grass-roots organisations, working in their local communities who encourage organisations to focus on cross-border connections, developing new and interesting collaborations, and strengthening existing partnerships.

 

Deadline: 27th June 

Comhaltas - Ashling Murphy Scholarship

Three scholarships are available to recognise and remember the talent and legacy of the late Ashling Murphy. Ashling was a primary school teacher, Comhaltas music teacher and performer. 

 

There are three scholarships in her memory awarded each year under the categories of Community, Education and Research.

 

All applications should be sent to education@comhaltas.ie

 

Deadline: 27th June 

2027, European Year of the Normans

The Regional Council of Normandy invites stakeholders from Normandy, France, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, Ireland, Southern Italy, Norway and Denmark to respond to this call for projects to create the program for a major one-year event.

 

If you would like more information or are looking for local or European cooperation for your project, please contact: millenairequillaumeleconquerant@normanie.fr. 

 

Deadline: 30th June 

Swim Ireland Club Disability Pathway Fund

Swim Ireland team are looking ahead to the 2025-26 season and have launched a new fund to support the development and delivery of a club pathway for swimmers with a disability.

 

The fund, provided through Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts and underpinned by Sport Ireland policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport, is aimed at clubs who want to introduce participants with a disability to their club, support increased access to training for current members with a disability, expand a current programme to increase the number of participants with a disability, or another project to support swimmers with a disability.

 

Maximum funding application is €5,000.

 

Deadline: 30th June

EOCA Conservation Project Funding Program 2025

The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) has launched the Conservation Project Funding Program.

There is an increasing urgency and awareness of the double threat that our world currently faces: the loss of biodiversity and climate change. These two issues are intrinsically linked, and both are of enormous importance to wildlife, nature, people and the future of the planet.

 

From the highest mountains and the valleys between them, to streams, lakes and oceans, within these varied landscapes are many different ecosystems, each vital for biodiversity, mitigating against climate change, and for communities.

 

EOCA funds projects which benefit biodiversity in a wild landscape. Our definition of ‘landscape’ includes marine environments, and a broad range of wild, non-urban spaces. Projects must conserve, protect, enhance, restore, and/or reconnect habitats within a given landscape that are particularly important for the biodiversity there.

 

Deadline: 30th June

Climate Action Summer Works Scheme for Schools

The Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, has announced details of a new multi-annual Climate Action Summer Works Scheme for schools, which will open for applications in early May.

Previously named the Summer Works Scheme, it now has a strong climate dimension and enables schools to undertake small and medium scale maintenance and improvement works such as insulation, LED lighting, the provision of EV chargers and bike racks, as well as the traditional maintenance work associated with this scheme.

The Scheme also provides an important opportunity for post-primary schools to undertake refurbishment and improvement works to their science laboratories.

 

Deadline: 30th June

EIT Food Impact Funding Framework

Help create lasting and sustainable change in the food system. 

 

EIT Food have launched a competitive, open Impact Funding Framework to promote ambitious, long-term collaboration that will lead to food systems change to benefit us all.

They want their co-investment to have a real impact.  They're looking for proposals from consortia based around lead organisations who can work effectively, move quickly, and are supported by high-quality research, communications and impact assessment expertise.

The funding is focused on two separate areas – larger-scale collaborative programmes, and innovative single projects.

 

Deadline: 10th July

Connecting for Life Sligo Leitrim Grant Aid 2025

HSE Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service and the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention are seeking applications for once off funding of between €5,000 and a maximum of €10,000 from local community and voluntary groups.  This funding is aimed at initiatives to reach at risk/vulnerable groups in relation to improving their mental health and wellbeing, and reducing the risk of self-harm and suicide.

 

Deadline: 11th July

SE Systems Community Fund Summer Call

Is your community group looking to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions?  The SE Systems Community Fund Summer Call is here to help!  They support non-profits, charities, and voluntary organisations in delivering impactful energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that create long-term benefits for communities across Ireland.

 

For Summer 2025, they are making €500,000 in funding available to help organisations future-proof their buildings through sustainable energy upgrades.

This fund is open to community and voluntary groups, non-profits, registered charities and housing associations operating in the Republic of Ireland.

Deadline: 18th July

Wildlife Acoustics Grant Program 2025

Wildlife Acoustics is proud to offer a quarterly grant program that supports the advancement of wildlife research, habitat monitoring, and environmental conservation.  Scientists may apply for a product grant to advance the study of bats, birds, amphibians, and other terrestrial wildlife—or a travel grant to help them attend a conference with their peers.

 

Deadline: 15th August

Climate Communication Fund

Many climate Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) work on complex topics with small budgets, missing out on their potential, outreach, impact and speed.  They are caught in a circle.  The Climate Communication Fund seeks to break that circle.

 

Climate topics can be hard to understand or easy to ignore.  The Climate Communication Fund seeks to strengthen the communication capacity of climate CSOs. With stronger communication skills and tools, CSOs can improve awareness raising, gain public support, influence decision-makers, build trust with communities, and counter misinformation.

This first round offers communication capacity building grants, worth €10.000.

 

Deadline: 15th August

Heritage Keepers: Round 5

Heritage Keepers is a free national programme open to senior classes (5th and 6th) in primary schools and to community groups that enables you to discover your local built, cultural and natural heritage. Over five 2-hour workshops you will explore the heritage in your local place and then plan a funded action to enhance that place.

Have fun, learn something new, make a difference – become a Heritage Keeper!

 

Deadline: 30th September

European Energy Communities Facility Grant Programme

The European Energy Communities Facility has just launched its first call for proposals.  From now until 30 September, emerging energy communities can apply for a lump sum grant of €45,000 to develop a robust business plan for their project. Moreover, if your application is successful, you will have access to national peer-to-peer exchanges and a capacity-building programme to support you in developing and implementing the business plan. In this call, the Facility will distribute over €3 million among 73 initiatives in total, empowering citizens to drive a fair, democratic and sustainable energy transition.

 

The grant will cover all groundwork needed to prepare a business plan for your energy community: technical and financial assessments, legal and administrative procedures, and other pre-development tasks such as feasibility studies. Preparatory work necessary to structure a sound, viable, and bankable business plan can be covered.   While the main objective of the call is to help emerging energy communities secure the financing required to bring their project to life and professionalise their activities, already established energy communities aiming to explore new services can also apply.

 

Deadline: 30th September

Are you a leader of volunteers?

The Institute of Volunteer Leadership are curious to learn about how different leaders in volunteering see themselves engaging with the Institute of Volunteer Leadership in practice and what they would find most useful. Please help us with this by filling in our survey.

 

Deadline: 19th June

Digital Strategy for 2026-2029 Survey

Leitrim County Council is developing a Digital Strategy for 2026-2029 that will build upon the success of Digital Leitrim 2022-2025, and capitalise on the progress made in the County in terms of the rollout of fibre connectivity and digitalisation.

To help develop the most relevant and useful strategic objectives and associated actions for our communities and our businesses Leitrim County Council welcome feedback on what would be most useful.

Providing your feedback will help shape the future of digital services and innovation in our communities by identifying needs and opportunities related to broadband and wifi development, digital skills enhancement for community and business, use of AI, social media, cyber security, e-health opportunities, robotics automation and virtual reality.

 

Deadline: 30th June

Tech for good: TeamKinetic Volunteer Management Software

Join Volunteer Ireland for their first in a series of “Tech for Good” sessions with TeamKinetic.  Find out how their software can help you better manage your volunteer programme.

Sport First Aid 1 Day Workshop

Summer Sports First Aid 1 Day workshop registration is now open.

 

The workshop takes place at St.Marys GAA clubhouse, Carrick on Shannon on Saturday, June 28th.

 

Our Sports First Aid workshop covers everything essential for individual & team coaching including summer camp coaches who require a certificate to work at any sport’s summer camps.

Free Summer Art Camps Online

Do you know a young person (age 6–12) living with a lifelong physical health condition (like diabetes, epilepsy, spina bifida, heart conditions, juvenile arthritis, rare conditions, and more) who loves being creative and meeting new friends?

 

Helium Arts is offering a FREE Online Summer Art Camp, open to children across Ireland.  The camp is designed to be flexible and fun, with creative activities that children can do at their own pace from home.

Once registered, you’ll receive a bespoke art pack delivered to your door

Every Saturday, you'll get a fun, easy activity by email

Optional Zoom sessions offer a chance to meet the artist and other children

Plus, take part in our Post Pal exchange to connect with young artists around the country

 

Camp Dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 July

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG)

The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) has changed its name to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG).  In Irish this is: An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta. Therefore, the email addresses you might have for people in the department have also changed to: firstname.lastname@drcdg.gov.ie

Carmichael opens applications for the Good Governance Awards 2025 

Any nonprofit organisation in Ireland, whether a charity, company, sports club or community association, can enter its annual report and financial statements into the Awards for free and it will receive individual feedback to help improve future annual reports.

 

Nonprofits with an annual income of less than €100,000 win 1 free place on a training course of their choice for entering the awards and win 2 additional training places if they are shortlisted to win.*

World Refugee Week Leitrim 2025

As part of World Refugee Week Leitrim 2025 you are invited to a photography exhibition in Dromahair and Ballinamore: "Strengthening Communities - Empowering People" showcasing what new communities bring to County Leitrim.

 

Drop in anytime from 3-5 pm in Dromahair or Ballinamore on the 16th and 19th June.

 

16th June

The Depot Dromahair

3pm-5pm

 

19th June

Ballinamore Library

3pm-5pm

 

For enquires contact deborah@ldco.ie

Turning Vacant Properties into Cosy Homes

Leitrim County Council is hosting an Information Event to showcase the potential to transform vacant & derelict properties in County Leitrim into vibrant homes. The event, taking place on Thursday, 19th June 2025 from 3pm to 8pm in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim will also exhibit how to make existing homes warmer, greener, and more energy efficient.

The Keynote Speaker on the day will be Award Winning Architect Hugh Wallace. Hear from other Experts also as they share their expertise in property restoration and energy upgrades.

If you are a prospective or existing property owner and would like to attend this event, you can register your interest in attending by visiting Leitrim County Council’s website.

 

They are now inviting interested organisations to showcase their expertise in the exhibition area of the event and are seeking participation from the following:

 

·Credit Unions & Banks

·Auctioneers & Solicitors

·Retrofit and Sustainability Experts

·Architects and Energy Advisors

·Insulation Providers

·Window and Door Suppliers

 

Please note that spaces are offered free of charge but are limited.

Men's Health: Supporting Men to Live Well

Join a free webinar on Wednesday the 25th of June from 2pm - 3pm on topic of 'Men's Health: Supporting Men to Live Well'.  This panel discussion will explore what it means for men to live well. 

Mental Health Matters: National Poster Competition 2025

Integrate the importance of mental health into everyday life! 

 

Create a poster design to bring public voices into this vital conversation and create a meaningful resource.

Individuals or groups can apply (Anybody, of any age, from anywhere in Ireland, of any background).

 

Deadline: 27th June

Fleetwood Community Colours Returns for 2025

€75,000 worth of paint to local communities all across Ireland, supporting the spaces that bring people together and make our neighbourhoods shine.

 

From now until the end of June, 75 community groups and clubs will each receive up to €1,000 worth of Fleetwood paint – whether it’s to brighten a town hall, refresh a sports clubhouse, spruce up a Scout den, or add new life to a Women’s or Men’s Shed.

 

From now until June 30th, you could win 70 litres of Fleetwood Paint for your community group or club!

Next Month at The Organic Centre 

Now with UNESCO heritage status join master craftsman Michael Fearnhead for a Dry stone wall building weekend - July 5th/ July 6th.

Agricultural and Rural Inspiration Awards 2025 - Open for Entries

The third edition of the EU CAP Network’s Agricultural and Rural Inspiration Awards (ARIA), is searching for innovative, good practice projects funded under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and implemented at a local level.

 

This year’s theme is Generational Renewal and projects that sustain rural economies and actively involve young people in shaping the future of rural communities.

 

The four main award categories include:

 

      Smart & competitive agriculture

CAP-funded projects that contribute to a smart, competitive, resilient, and diversified agricultural sector, ensuring long-term food security.

 

      Environmental protection

CAP-funded projects that enhance environmental sustainability, address climate change, support biodiversity, and contribute to green recovery.

 

      Socio-economic fabric of rural areas

CAP-funded projects that strengthen the economic resilience of rural Europe, address social inclusion in innovative ways, support digitalisation in farming and empower rural entrepreneurs and businesses.

 

      Generational renewal

CAP-funded projects that help ensure vibrant rural communities by engaging young people while developing their skills and creating high-quality rural jobs.

 

In addition, there are Popular Vote and Gender Equality awards.

 

Why participate?

 

     Visibility – All shortlisted projects will be promoted via the EU CAP Network’s website and social media channels.

 

     Networking – The Awards Ceremony offers the chance to connect with other inspiring projects and explore future collaborations.

 

     Recognition – Being acknowledged by ARIA adds prestige to your achievements and sets your project as an example to others in agricultural and rural development.

 

     Positive results – By sharing your results you contribute to a growing library of good practices that inspire change and innovation across Europe.