Issue No. 49 | November 2025
South West Mayo Development Company CLG
Empowering Communities - Enriching Lives
In the Loop Newsletter
SWMDC Helps Shape Ireland’s First National Local Development Conference
Members of the SWMDC and MNELP staff and Board with Minister Calleary. L-R: Thomas Fitzpatrick, Vicci Tallis, Donna Hyland, Malcolm Cooney, Anne Finn, John Cannon, Minister Dara Calleary, Sabina Trench, Norita Clesham, Justin Sammon, Olivia Sugrue, David O’Malley, and James Golden.
South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) was delighted to attend the first National Local Development Conference, organised by the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN). The company had significant involvement in the event through its Chairperson, Thomas Fitzpatrick, who also serves as Chairperson of LDCN, and CEO, Sabina Trench, who was part of the event working group and contributed to a discussion panel on the opening day.
Several members of SWMDC staff and Board attended across the two days, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the exceptional speakers and the engaging discussion panels that shaped the programme. The conference featured expert presentations from Dr Ebun Joseph (Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies), Dr Anna Visser (Principal Officer, Child Poverty and Wellbeing Programme Office), Piotr Sadolcha (President of ELARD), and Dr Anne Devlin of the ESRI, each of whom brought valuable insights and perspectives to the national conversation on local development.
SWMDC extends sincere gratitude to Minister Dara Calleary and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, each of whom formally opened the conference days, adding their own unique perspective on local development, and how Local Development Companies play a key role in the sector as Government partners. It was also very heartening to see our local elected representatives and funding partners giving their time to attend the conference and providing strong support for our work across the region.
This inaugural conference marks a milestone in strengthening collaboration among Local Development Companies with our local, regional, national and European partners. The event highlighted the collective impact of community-led initiatives and the importance of working together to build resilient communities.
Congratulations Achill Tourism!
South West Mayo Development Company extends heartfelt congratulations to Achill Tourism on achieving first place in the national Pride of Place awards. This recognition is a testament to the incredible spirit, dedication, and collaboration of the Achill community. Their commitment to showcasing the island’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality has made Achill a truly wonderful place to live, visit, and enjoy.
It was also very encouraging to see strong Mayo representation at this year’s awards, with Cong’s nomination in the 0-300 population category. We are proud to celebrate this success with you both and look forward to supporting Achill and Cong to build on this success in the years ahead.
Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2026
Call for Applications
A fund of up to €800,000 is being made available to support community-led projects as part of the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2026
The Scheme aims to encourage communities, local organisations and other interested parties to become involved in the enhancement of their natural surrounding areas and to raise awareness.
Applications are welcomed across a diverse range of initiatives with community benefit from events, education programmes, promotions, publications, exhibitions, development of conservation management plans, public amenity and recreational measures, maintenance measures that support conservation measures, monitoring or surveying work to inform of restoration/conservation projects, invasive species and fire control measures, anti-littering initiatives to local environmental improvements in the area of the designated sites and other peatland areas.
How to Apply?
Further details are available at: https://www.npws.ie/
Email: nature@npws.gov.ie Phone: 053 911 7618
Closing Date: Friday, 9th January 2026
SWMDC & MNELP Host Inspiring Circular Economy Showcase
The recent Mayo Circular Economy Conference, held in Ballina on 24th October, was an interesting and inspiring day for all who attended. The event brought together a fantastic lineup of speakers and exhibitors who are leading the way in sustainability and innovation. A special thank you to Alan Dillon, Minister of State for the Circular Economy, for delivering the opening address and setting a positive tone for the day.
The conference featured a series of insightful presentations from a diverse range of experts. We heard from Justin Sammon CEO of Mayo North East, Sarah Daly of Creative Spark, Sinéad Ni Mhainnín from the Connacht Ulster Regional Waste Management Planning Office, Claire Downey from The Rediscovery Centre, Ian Brannigan and Anne Graham from the Western Development Commission, and Sabina Trench, CEO of South West Mayo Development Company. Their collective expertise provided a comprehensive overview of the opportunities and challenges in the circular economy.
The exhibition hall was equally impressive, showcasing a wide array of innovative projects and businesses. Exhibitors included the Ballina Costume Company, Climate Action Louisburgh Locality, Creative Spark, EDI Centre Longford’s Revamp 3RStore, the Empowering Communities Programme, Cycle Up – Roscommon Women’s Network, and The Rediscovery Centre.
Thanks to Olivia Kitterick of SWMDC and Rita Hopkins of Mayo North East for their exceptional work in organising such a well-run and impactful event. Their collaboration made the day a resounding success.
Huge Success for Mayo’s Tidy Towns Groups
Local Tidy Towns groups across Mayo have achieved outstanding success in this year’s competition, reflecting the dedication, creativity, and hard work of volunteers who continue to enhance their communities. From vibrant floral displays to innovative sustainability projects, the results highlight the pride and commitment that make Mayo’s towns and villages such wonderful places to live and visit.
Celebrating the Success of Mayo’s Tidy Towns Volunteers
South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) is proud to continue its strong support for Tidy Towns groups and local enhancement projects across south and west Mayo through our social employment programmes. This year’s Tidy Towns results showcase the incredible dedication of volunteers and the vibrant community spirit that makes our towns and villages shine.
SWMDC supports many of these groups with direct support through our social employment placements, and other local enhancement works that support the overall Tidy Towns effort.
Beyond Tidy Towns
In addition to these successes, SWMDC also supports town enhancement projects in towns and villages including Ballinrobe, The Neale, Glencorrib, and Brickens. These initiatives ensure that communities across Mayo benefit from support in maintaining and improving their local environment, heritage, and public spaces.
Porcelain Workshop Brings Creative Spark to Clare Island
As part of SICAP’s Lifelong Learning initiative on the Mayo Islands, the Clare Island Pottery Group recently hosted a unique and inspiring workshop focused on porcelain. The group invited award-winning ceramicist Jennifer Hickey to lead the session, bringing her internationally recognised expertise to the island.
Jennifer, whose work has been exhibited across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and beyond, recently relocated to the Louisburgh area with her husband Luke, also a talented potter and founder of 9 Yard Ceramics. You can explore Jennifer’s work at jenniferhickey.com.
The workshop offered participants a rare opportunity to explore the delicate art of porcelain. Jennifer delivered a day filled with technical demonstrations, insightful explanations, and hands-on experience. Attendees learned to mould fine, intricate pieces, many for the first time, under Jennifer’s expert guidance.
The atmosphere was warm and creative, with participants fully immersed in the process. Even Marjorie the dog joined in the fun, adding to the day’s charm. After the workshop, the pieces were left to dry and later fired in the Clare Island community kiln. The results were stunning: multiple handcrafted porcelain items, many destined to become thoughtful Christmas gifts.
The event was a resounding success, blending learning, creativity, and community spirit, an excellent example of how Lifelong Learning can enrich island life.
Best Wishes from SWMDC
We extend our very best wishes to Rural Social Scheme participant, Fionula Mulchrone, on her recent retirement. Fionula worked on the Rural Social Scheme since it started in 2004 working in the Glenhest Community Centre. She was very highly regarded by the community, and her commitment to her role always rose away above and beyond the call of duty.
We thank Fionula for her service to South West Mayo Development Company, and commitment to the Glenhest Community Centre for over 20 years, and wish Fionula good health and happiness for the future.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our Social Farmer Emer Quinn of Shore Farm Pony Therapy for being a Finalist in the Mayo Business Awards 2025 “Inclusive Impact Award”
Staff Updates
Alvina Devaney, Family Support Practitioner and Kevin Cunniffe, RSS & Tús Coordinator have moved on from South West Mayo Development Company. We thank both Alvina and Kevin for their service with the company and wish them well for the future.
Job Opportunities – We have a number of job opportunities open for applications in SWMDC at the moment. Please see our website www.southmayo.com for more information and keep an eye on our social media channels for new openings that will arise over the coming months.
Wedding Bells! – We extend our warmest wishes to Leanne Loftus, who will be tying the knot with her partner Aidan Grealis. We wish Leanne and Aidan a lifetime of love and laughter.
Ready to Work Features in Local Press
Thanks so much to The Mayo News and Jack Good for giving a full page feature to our Ready to Work programme activity in Westport
In putting the piece together, Jack spoke to Damian Hughes (Employment Specialist, SWMDC), Robin Wynne (Ready to Work Client), and Cathy Glynn and Áine O’Brien from Murtagh’s Jewellers, Wesport to gain each person’s perspective on the programme.
We just loved the final paragraph, which captured the essence of Ready to Work…
‘The programme’s success lies not in its complexity, but in its humanity. By treating each person as an individual with unique talents and interests and by matching them with employers willing to invest in their success. Ready to Work is proving that inclusive employment isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.’
For more information on our Ready to Work programme, please contact info@southmayo.com or call 098 419 50.
FARM-Up | Coimín Beo
Our new FARM-Up | Coimín Beo team (John Walsh and Peadar Gallagher) are working to progress our new programme for commonage farmers in west Mayo and north west Donegal toegther with our government and local partners, WAN Life and Cairdre na hEaragaile.
FARM-Up | Coimín Beo (Farming and Restoration Management for Upland Commonages) is a four-year, farmer-led agri-environmental project designed to deliver innovative habitat restoration and sustainable uplands commonage management.
This initiative aims to demonstrate best practice in peatland restoration, foster collaboration among commonage farmers, and contribute to Ireland’s biodiversity and climate targets under the Habitats Directive and CAP Strategic Plan.
We will be lauching the programme and holding farmers meetings in Mayo and Donegal over the coming months, so please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates.
For more information on our FARM-Up | Coimín Beo programme, please contact jwalsh@southmayo.com or call 086 835 8469.
Balla Community Enterprise Hub Officially Opens
Minister Dara Calleary officially opened the new Balla Community Enterprise Hub and Remote Working Space, marking a proud day for the town and its community. The launch was very well attended and strongly supported by local elected representatives, including Minister of State Alan Dillon and Deputy Rose Conway Walsh, reflecting the importance of the project at both local and national levels.
The event also attended by members of the SWMDC team, Sabina Trench (CEO), Norita Clesham (LEADER Project Officer), and Tony Hetherington (RSS Supervisor), who joined the community in celebrating this milestone.
Following the launch, an ambitious Town Centre First Vision Statement was presented by local company, ACT (Accelerating Change Together), alongside a lively community workshop, setting out a transformative roadmap for the future of Balla.
This combined event stands as a testament to the determination and vision of the people of Balla, a community that truly “gets things done.”
Phone: 094 936 6692 | Email: info@southmayo.com | Website: www.southmayo.com
Together, we’re building stronger communities—one hour at a time.
