Issue No. 50 | December 2025
South West Mayo Development Company CLG
Empowering Communities - Enriching Lives
In the Loop Newsletter
Welcome to the 50th edition of In the Loop!
We’re delighted to mark a special milestone with this 50th edition of our monthly newsletter. For over four years now, In the Loop has been keeping you connected with updates, stories, and insights from South West Mayo Development Company.
The response has been fantastic, people mention the newsletter in interviews, we receive enquiries to our offices sparked by its content, and overall engagement has been very positive.
A heartfelt thank you to all our readers for your continued interest and support. Your engagement is what makes In the Loop such a success!
End of Year Message from Our Chairperson, Thomas Fitzpatrick
As we come to the close of 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a year of excellent work by our team, supported by our voluntary board, and strengthened by the ongoing commitment of our funding partners and collaborators.
2025 was a significant year for South West Mayo Development Company as we continued to grow and evolve to meet diverse opportunities and challenges. New programmes came on stream, the LEADER programme began in earnest, and we hosted and participated in standout events such as the Circular Economy Conference and the LDCN Inaugural National Conference.
We are fortunate to have a committed and capable team, a dedicated board of volunteers, and a local community that supports us in all that we do. We are also deeply grateful to our local elected representatives who continue to champion our work at local, regional, national, and European levels.
Looking ahead, we will continue to work closely with all partners who share our ambition for Mayo and the west of Ireland in 2026. “Ar aghaidh linn” – Onward we go.
Rural Social Scheme - Exciting Updates for 2026
We are delighted to confirm that three key recommendations from the Rural Social Scheme review will come into effect from 1st January 2026:
- Pilot Rural Dwellers Programme for people aged 50 years or over, who are on a qualifying social welfare payment to access the RSS, and whose primary residence is in a rural area.
- RSS ‘Defined Connection‘: RSS eligibility will be extended to people actively engaged in farming or fishing but who are not the holder of the farming number (herd, flock, equine and any other relevant farming number) or fishing licence but who have a defined connection to the farming/fishing enterprise. People must be 25 years or older, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and have a “defined” connection to the farming number or fishing licence owner.
- RSS Couple Engaged in Farming/Fishing: RSS eligibility will be extended to members of a couple jointly engaged in farming /fishing using just one farming number or fishing licence. The spouse/civil partner/cohabitant must be 25 years or older, actively engaged in farming/fishing, and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.
- An increased top-up payment for participants from 1st January 2026 will further support participants and strengthen community impact.
This is great news for our communities and scheme participants, ensuring broader access to the Rural Social Scheme and greater support for our communities and volunteers.
If you would like to find out more about how to access the Rural Social Scheme under the three new headings or as a farmer / fisher, please contact us on 098 419 50 or info@southmayo.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Celebrating Loyalty & Service at Christmas Lunch
South West Mayo Development Company was proud to celebrate 13 employee work anniversary milestones at our Christmas lunch in Ballintubber.
Collectively, these colleagues have contributed an incredible 160 years of loyal and dedicated service to the company. Their roles span administration, social employment, SICAP, management team, Social Farming, and new communities’ teams, reflecting the strength and depth of our staff in supporting the organisation’s mission.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to each of them for their continued service and contribution.
We also used the event to extend good wishes to Leanne Loftus on her wedding in December.
20 Years
Chris Mannion
15 Years
Sabina Trench
Majella Mulchrone
Ann Moogan
Breda Murray
Anne-Marie Carroll
Ann Connor
Declan Walsh
10 Years
Martina Fadden
Norah Campbell
5 Years
Sinéad Gavin
Niail Cherbatji
Deirdre Fahey
Best wishes to Leanne Loftus on her wedding to Aiden Grealis in December 2025. We wish Leanne and Aidan a lifetime of love and laughter.
Pictured here is Patricia Joyce (CFO) presenting Leanne with a bouquet of flowers ahead of her big day.
Bonniconlon Community Futures Plan Launched
The Bonniconlon Community Futures Plan was recently launched by Minister Dara Calleary, marking an important milestone for the area. This plan sets out clear priorities for Bonniconlon’s future, all of which have been developed in full consultation with the local community, a true example of bottom‑up principles in action.
The plan reflects the voices, ideas, and ambitions of local residents, ensuring that the priorities identified are rooted in the real needs and aspirations of the community. From infrastructure and amenities to social and cultural development, the plan provides a roadmap for growth and development in the years ahead.
South West Mayo Development Company is proud to host the Community Futures Team on behalf of Mayo County Council, which is supporting the delivery of this plan and working closely with local groups to bring its vision to life.
This launch is not just the publication of a document, it is the start of a shared journey towards a stronger, more vibrant future for Bonniconlon.
CV Preparation Workshop
Tús participants from the Ukrainian Community recently attended a CV Preparation workshop which was run at the Leeson Business Enterprise centre in Westport.
The seminar was hosted by Mayo North East and we are very grateful that they facilitated our Tús participants joining the session.
- Noble Ice Cream -
A Start Your Own Business Success Story
This month, we are delighted to highlight the inspiring journey of Alexander and Juliya, the Ukrainian husband-and-wife team behind Noble, a family-run craft ice cream brand now flourishing here in Mayo.
Alexander first engaged with South West Mayo Development Company through our Start Your Own Business programme. With a long-held dream of creating natural, truly traditional ice cream, he used the course to understand the Irish business environment, food safety standards, and the practical steps involved in setting up a small enterprise in Ireland. This support became a foundation for what Noble is today, a business built on authenticity, quality ingredients, and artisan food production principles.
Since arriving from Odesa with their three young children, Alex and Juliya have committed themselves to rebuilding their lives through hard work and community connection. Their dedication shows in every aspect of Noble’s production: small-batch methods, fresh Irish milk and cream, real fruit, and recipes developed entirely from scratch with no flavour pastes, artificial colours, or additives. Their ice cream is crafted slowly and intentionally, using traditional methods that prioritise purity and taste over convenience.
Their approach has already gained national recognition. In their first year of production in Ireland, Noble received honours at Blas na hÉireann and the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, reinforcing the quality of their work and their contribution to Ireland’s food landscape.
Noble is more than a business — it is a true family effort and a testament to what can happen when newcomers engage with enterprise supports and combine them with their own passion and skills. Their story reflects the very heart of integration: resilience, creativity, and building a new future through meaningful work.
We congratulate Alexander and Juliya on their achievements and look forward to seeing Noble continue to grow.
Commissioner for Oaths
Congratulations to Liam Gildea who works on the Living Well Programme who recently became a Commissioner for Oaths. This is a valuable asset to the company and our teams. Well done Liam!
Living Well Programme Annual Facilitator Meeting
Learning about learning and a celebration of an impactful year!
Pictured above is Facilitator, Aisling Kilcullen with Living Well Programme team members.
The Living Well Programme (the self-management programme for adults with long-term health conditions) dedicates one day a year to a team get-together.
The team, made up of SWMDC staff, volunteers and HSE representatives, work together to deliver the programme across counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon – utilising their personal experiences of chronic illness to provide peer support and encouragement to participants
As the team is based in various locations across the three counties, it is challenging for everyone to meet together very often – so the Annual Facilitator Day is a cherished event which gives everyone an essential and valuable opportunity to support each other, learn together and strengthen teamworking. This year’s Annual Meeting took place on 1st December in Tuam, and had a focus on skills development and personal insight.
The meeting had the additional benefit of support from SWMDC’s Ready to Work programme, who arranged the input of Facilitator Aisling Kilcullen. Aisling delivered an excellent workshop on the topics of Learning Styles and Communication Skills in a energetic and light-hearted style that was hugely engaging. This type of cross-collaboration within SWMDC demonstrates how the organisation’s various programmes intersect and create synergies – all to the benefit of our programme participants and the wider community.
The Living Well Programme in 2025 involved 280 participants (a 6% increase on 2024) in 20 programmes (both in-person and online). After a well-deserved Christmas lunch, the team of Facilitators are now ready, engaged and focused on 2026. The next programmes will kick off in January in Ballinalsoe (start date 16th Jan), Ballinrobe (starting 20th Jan) Castlebar (starting 21st Jan) and Roscommon (starting 22nd Jan).
Living Well Programme is free (HSE funded) and is open to any adult living with any form of long-term health condition – such as diabetes, arthritis, depression, COPD, high blood pressure, etc. The programme supports participants to self-manage their health condition and improve their overall well-being.
Some of the Living Well Programme team – L to R –
Breege Mulhern, Ailish Houlihan, Bridget Brown, Mary Menton (behind Bridget), Anna Conroy, Maureen Brown, Liam Gildea, Donna Gavin-Roddy, Martha McTigue, Jackie Lynott, & Reg Lee.
Ready to Work Features in Local Press
South West Mayo Development Company, in partnership with Cairde na hEaragaile is delighted to introduce the FARM-Up | Coimín Beo EIP
The FARM-Up (Farming and Restoration Management for Upland Commonages) project officially began on 6th October 2025. This four-year EIP, with a budget of €1.75 million, focuses on management and restoration on upland commonages in the Nephin region of County Mayo and An Earagail region of County Donegal.
The project, now proudly titled FARM-Up | Coimín Beo, to reflect our Donegal Gaeltacht communities, aims to develop and demonstrate sustainable commonage management, restore peatland habitats, source external funding, scale up restoration, and share learnings nationally—all while supporting upland farming communities and their unique cultural and environmental heritage.
Since launch, we’ve engaged directly with farmers across our target areas, building relationships and sharing the project goals of commonage habitat improvement. These conversations have been invaluable in shaping the next phase of the project and ensuring that local voices remain at the heart of our work.
We have two team members: John Walsh (Project Coordinator) will focus on turning the project plan into action and Peadear Gallagher (Project Officer), will focus on on-the-ground delivery and farmer engagement.
We are currently planning farmer information evenings in our target areas to recruit farmers.
This will allow us to understand challenges and identify solutions for upland commonage management and restoration. Looking ahead, we will have two major project launch events to come in the new year:
- Tiernaur Hall, Newport, Co. Mayo
- Óstán Loch Altan, Gortahork, Co. Donegal
Date and time of these events will be published on the FARM-Up | Coimín Beo website when confirmed.
These open events will bring together farmers, policymakers and stakeholders to showcase the aims of FARM-Up | Coimín Beo, outline opportunities, and highlight the benefits of collaborative habitat restoration.
FARM-Up | Coimín Beo is currently working on a dedicated website and social media accounts – keep an eye out for updates!
Staff Updates
Ade Adeniji, who has been working as Peer Health Support Worker on the HSE / Genio programme is finishing up with SWMDC at the end of the year. We thank Ade for his two years’ service and wish him every success in his future endeavours.
New Baby! – We wish Celesta Khosa from our SICAP team every joy and happiness as she starts her maternity leave in January 2026.
Job Opportunities – We will have a number of job opportunities open for applications in the coming months, so please see our website and social media channels for all the details
SWMDC Christmas Opening Hours
Please note our office opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period:
- Monday 22nd December – Tuesday 23rd December: Open as normal (9am – 5pm)
- Wednesday 24th December 2025 – Thursday 1st January 2026: Offices closed
- Friday 2nd January 2026: Open as normal (9am – 5pm)
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Phone: 098 419 50 | Email: info@southmayo.com | Website: www.southmayo.com
Together, we’re building stronger communities—one hour at a time.
