Issue No. 41 | March 2025
South West Mayo Development Company CLG
Empowering Communities - Enriching Lives
In the Loop Newsletter
SWMDC Team Culture & Communications Day
Pictured above are the SWMDC team members who attended our important staff training day. Thank you to everyone who attended for your energy, enthusiasm, and encouragement. We are incredibly fortunate that you chose to work with SWMDC!
On 12th March 2025 the SWMDC team came together for the day to connect with new staff members, re-visit our values and plot a way forward for how we want to work together in the future.
The day was superbly facilitated by Noreen Coyne, People Matters, and proved a great success with staff. Our CEO, Sabina Trench gave a update on significant projects and developments in the company such as the Ballinrobe Town Hall project, the LEADER programme, and how SWMDC is part of a national network now known as the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN).
Noreen Coyne brought the team on a journey through values, their importance in the workplace and their impact on how we work internally and a team and externally with the communities we serve. We also discussed good communication, how we interact with each other and the people we work with on a daily, monthly or yearly basis. The SWMDC team was very busy throughout the day and worked hard to co-create a set of values that will steer us well in the years to come. A similar exercise is planned with our voluntary Board, and we will publish our final set of company values soon.
At the end of the event, the team voted for three SWMDC ‘Values Champions’ and Sinéad Gavin, Catherine McCloskey and Margaret Lawless were worthy winners (pictured right).
South West Mayo Development Company has grown to a team of over 60 people, and as we continue to grow and evolve, our values will act as our ever constant north star.
Staff Updates
We are delighted to welcome Leanne Loftus back from maternity leave. Leanne is returning to her role as the Administrative Assistant in the Administration / Finance team and is based in our Newport office.
We extend a warm welcome to Vicci Tallis who will be our New Communities Coordinator and starts with the company on Monday, 7th April 2025. Vicci will coordinate our work with new communities, liaising closely with our Social Inclusion team, led by Catherine McCloskey.
We bid farewell to Davinia Martinez Janero who is finishing up at the end of March 2025. Davinia was the Clerical Administrator in the Administration / Finance team and provided fantastic support to the team. Davinia was a wonderful addition to life around the office and we wish her all the best for the future.
Dates for Your Diary
Mayo Social Inclusion Month (April 2025)
Mayo Social Inclusion Awareness Month 2025 gives us the opportunity to promote and highlight Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion in County Mayo. This initiative will be held throughout April highlighting the very positive social inclusion work and impact that our community and voluntary sector delivers throughout County Mayo.
All local groups and organisations are invited to be part of this initiative. Events will comprise seminars, sports events, community events, exhibitions, coffee mornings, and information events for example. April 2025 Mayo Social Inclusion Awareness Month is coordinated by Mayo LCDC’s Social Inclusion and Community Development Working Group, and is supported by South West Mayo Development Company. For further information please call 094 906 4660 or e-mail community@mayococo.ie and see www.mayo.ie/socialinclusionmonth.
SWMDC Social Inclusion Month Events
SWMDC is hosting several events as part of Mayo Social Inclusion Month including:
Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities Information Evening
This innovative course developed by TU Dublin offers a comprehensive learning experience in a supportive environment:
1. To equip participants with the knowledge needed to establish a small business.
2. To heighten participants’ awareness of their own readiness to undertake self-employment/entrepreneurship.
3. To identify solutions to the challenges in setting-up and running a small business for individuals with disabilities.
4. To signal the relevant sources of assistance for running a small business for individuals with disabilities.
Wednesday | 6pm – 7pm | 30th April 2025 | Castlebar Scouts Den (F23 PF59)
To book or find out more: Call Olivia on 087 060 4724 or email okitterick@southmayo.com.
Rural Community Connector Event
The aim of this event is to provide a community connector and a wellbeing experience for attendees. The event will begin with a sound bath workshop followed by a tour of the community organic garden and concludes with light refreshments.
Monday | 10.30am – 1pm | 14th April 2025 | Mayo Abbey Community Centre (F12 C8P5)
To book or find out more: Call Anne or Helen on 094 936 5987 or email reception@mayoabbey.ie.
Men’s Health Week (9 – 15 June 2025)
The theme of this year’s Men’s Health Week is ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Connecting for Health’. The overall aims of the week are to:
- Heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages.
- Support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices / activities.
- Encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males.
All community groups, sporting bodies, employers, service providers are encouraged to organise an event or raise awareness to encourage men and boys to take better care of their health and to seek help or treatment at an early stage. Contact Laurence at Laurence.Gaughan@hse.ie for further information.
Funding Opportunity!
Fáilte Ireland’s Strategic Tourism Festival Investment Scheme: 2026 – 2028 is open for applications from Monday, 24th March 2025 and will close for applications at 12noon on Monday, 7th April 2025. It is really important to note that applications will not be accepted for the scheme after the Expression of Interest closes.
The objective of this new scheme is to support, develop, and deliver a diverse and compelling portfolio of uniquely Irish tourism-led festivals and events to maximise the benefits of tourism festivals for the tourism economy and local destination.
Details of the New Scheme:
- Open call for 3-year multiannual funding scheme from 2026 to 2028.
- Eligibility criteria are specifically tourism focused.
- Competitive process and funding amounts may vary over the duration of the scheme.
- Application forms for Stage 2 will be issued to successful applicants once their Expression of Interest is evaluated.
Scheme guidelines, criteria, and timelines are available on the Festivals and Events page of FáilteIreland.ie (Pictured, Mayo Dark Skies Festival – Fáilte Ireland Stock).
Employment Skills Training Programme Graduation
The Ready to Work team is thrilled to share the remarkable success of the recent graduation ceremony for our pilot Employment Skills Training Programme at St Colman’s Training Centre Mayo Abbey. The programme was dedicated to empowering young adults with disabilities to secure and maintain meaningful employment. This event highlighted the journey of our graduates, who have worked tirelessly to acquire vital skills for the workforce.
Anne-Marie Carroll SICAP Training & Employment Specialist presented the graduates with their certificates and spoke about the importance of inclusive employment and the impact of programmes like Ready to Work on the community and those participating on the programme. Each graduate was presented with a certificate, acknowledging their participation, hard work, and readiness to enter the workplace.
Our graduates have acquired essential skills in CV writing, interview techniques, and workplace etiquette, preparing them for future career opportunities ahead. We believe that every individual deserves the chance to succeed, and we are proud to support these young adults as they embark on the pathway to employment.
We extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff at St Colman’s Training Centre, Western Care Association, McGraths transport and most importantly the participants themselves who made our pilot programme a great success. Your support plays a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for all.
SWMDC hosts national Department of Rural & Community Development meeting with Rural Recreation Officers
On 24th March 2025, South West Mayo Development Company welcomed members of the DRCD Investment Programmes & Outdoor Recreation Unit to Mayo for their national meeting of Rural Recreation Officers from around the country.
The meeting covered a range of topics relevant to the development and enhancement of the walks and trails offering across Ireland. Following the meeting, our Rural Recreation Officer Martin Dillane, brought the team on a site visit to the Ballintubber and Clogher walks. Here the Rural Recreation Officers (RROs) from around the country discussed the value of community-led walks and trails and the practicalities of dealing with challenges such as terrain, ongoing trail maintenance. and management.
If you are interested in developing a trail or walking route in your area, please call Martin Dillane, Rural Recreation Officer on 087 657 8147 or mdillane@southmayo.com.
Spreading the word about Social Farming
Our Social Farming Regional Development Officer presented to groups in Glenamoy and Crossmolina, to women on the Knowledge Transfer Scheme 2024-2026. “The Knowledge Transfer Programme is implemented and co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.
If you are interested in finding out more about Social Farming in Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, please contact Deirdre Fahey on 087 623 3862 or email dfahey@southmayo.com.
Community Futures Launch: Kilasser - Callow
The community of Kilasser-Callow was delighted to welcome Minister Dara Calleary to launch their new Community Futures Plan 2024-2029.
This plan has been developed by the Kilasser-Callow Community Futures Steering Group with the support of the SWMDC Community Futures Team, hosted on behalf of Mayo County Council.
In developing the plan, 311 community views survey forms were returned from 429 households, there were 22 stakeholder interviews, and 99 people attended the community open day. This was an excellent level of engagement and Killasser-Callow now has an action plan for the community by the community.
The plan is divided into four main strategies and priorities as follows:
- Community, Sports & Recreation
- Transport, Roads and Infrastructure
- Local Economy & Tourism
- Environment & Sustainability.
We wish the community every success in implementing their plan with the support of all the relevant agencies in County Mayo.
Focus on LEADER Supported Enterprises
As we come into the summer months, we want to share some fantastic LEADER-funded visitor experiences that are available for bookings over the coming months.
Clew Bay Charters (Newport, Co. Mayo)
Clew Bay Charters provides angling and sightseeing trips on board an 11m fully accessible charter boat. The trips are ideal for people of all ages and abilities and are available from April to October.
Full and half day angling trips available for groups of up to 12 people. Two hour sightseeing tours are also available which take in some of the 365 islands in Clew Bay. Tours have a minimum requirement of eight people. Contact Darragh on 086 388 4425 to book.
Deerpark Cookery School (Westport, Co. Mayo)
Redmond Cabot will be your host where “This cookery school is all about fresh, natural produce.”
The school offers a range of cookery classes and courses to suit all levels and interests. This is the ideal all-weather activity in a gorgeous rural setting just outside Westport town.
Contact Redmond on 086 601 6179 for more details and bookings.
