Issue No. 36 | October 2024
South West Mayo Development Company CLG
Empowering Communities - Enriching Lives
In the Loop Newsletter
SWMDC Board Revitalised at AGM
Back Row L-R: Malcolm Cooney, Theresa Ann Grimes (staff member), Patricia Joyce (staff member), Thomas Fitzpatrick, Lisa Halpin (staff member), John Cannon, Pamela O’Boyle, Noreen McGarry, Seán Carolan (staff member), Paul Gibbons.
Front Row L-R: Catherine McCloskey (staff member), Sabina Trench (staff member), Sam Birch, Mark Godfrey, Harry Walsh, Donna Hyland & Breege Joyce.
The SWMDC Annual General Meeting which took place recently saw the retirement of former Chairperson and Board member, Paul Gibbons. During his time in the Chair, Paul led the company with ambition and determination.
One major highlight was the decision by our Board to submit an application to the Rural Regeneration Development Fund for the redevelopment of the Valkenburg Hotel, Ballinrobe. This application secured €4.8million for this flagship project for Ballinrobe and the wider south Mayo area.
On behalf of the Board and staff, Thomas Fitzpatrick, SWMDC Chairperson thanked Paul for his contribution to the Company as a voluntary Board member and Chairperson.
In addition, Seán O’Coisdealbha our Údarás na Gaeltachta representative retired from the Board, and an invitation to re-nominate a representative has issued from the company. During his time of the Board, Seán championed the Gaeltacht areas in south and west Mayo.
While the AGM saw some retirements, the focus was very much on renewal and revitalisation, as six new Board members have joined the company in recent times. These are:
- Sam Birch, National Parks & Wildlife
- Sinéad Calahan, Representing Island Communities
- Denise Donnellan, Representing Claremorris and East Mayo
- Sheena Duddy, Representing Ballinrobe and South Mayo
- Mark Godfrey, Representing Claremorris and East Mayo
- Harry Walsh, Representing Ballinrobe and South Mayo
Sabina Trench, CEO commented, ‘We are delighted to welcome all our new voluntary Board members, without whom SWMDC would not exist. Every success that we have had since 1991 is built on the support and expertise of our voluntary Board members, past and present’.
The SWMDC Board is now made up of the following members: Sam Birch; Sinéad Calahan; John Cannon; Malcolm Cooney; Denise Donnellan; Sheena Duddy; Thomas Fitzpatrick; Mark Godfrey; Donna Hyland; Breege Joyce; Noreen McGarry; Michael Minassie; Tomas Nally; Pamela O’Boyle and Harry Walsh. The youth sector is represented on the Board by Aoife Moloney on behalf of Comhairle na nÓg.
Mayo Ideas Month 2024 - SWMDC & Fáilte Ireland in Partnership
South West Mayo Development Company is delighted to partner with Fáilte Ireland for a Mayo Ideas Month 2024 event, Destination Clew Bay – A bright future.
This event will provide you with updates on current and planned tourism initiatives in the Clew Bay area including the Fáilte Ireland Destination and Experience Development Plan, launched in November 2021. You will hear about achievements to date under the plan and current priorities for development.
Presentations will include a Wild Atlantic Way update by Daithí Gallagher (Fáilte Ireland), Clew Bay Recreational Trails by Martin Dillane, SWMDC, Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan update by Fionnán Nestor, Fáilte Ireland and updates on and the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve by Seán Carolan, SWMDC.
During the panel discussion, you will have an opportunity to discuss challenges and consider, ideas, innovations or supports that might advance the various initiatives presented on the day. You will also have the opportunity to hear from and meet industry experts, agency staff, and colleagues from around the Clew Bay area.
This free event is particularly relevant to tourism businesses, social enterprises and community volunteers with a Clew Bay tourism interest, but all are welcome.
If you would like a book a place at the event, please call us on 098 419 50 or email, info@southmayo.com. The event is free, but places are limited.
For more details on Mayo Ideas Month 2024, please see www.mayoideasmonth.ie
Staff Updates
New Starters
- Davinia Martinez Janero has joined our administration team as a Clerical Administrator. Davinia is based in the Newport office and provides administrative and governance support across programmes.
- Catherine McGreal joined our team as an International Protection Applicant (IPA) Support Worker under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Catherine will provide support to the IPA communities living in congregated accommodation settings across County Mayo.
- Peter Duffy will be joining our team as an Outreach and Project Officer under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Peter’s focus will be on working with vulnerable third country nationals in County Mayo.
- Tony Hetherington will be joining us as an RSS Supervisor. Tony will be based in the Castlebar area and will be working closely with participants and community groups in that general catchment.
We wish Davinia, Catherine, Tony and Peter the very best in their new roles.
October Leavers
Megan Brett, Ready to Work (WorkAbility) is also leaving SWMDC in October after making an excellent contribution to our new Ready to Work programme. Megan is wished every success in her new full-time role with Tusla.
Work Anniversaries in October 2024
- Padraic Corcoran, Rural Social Scheme Supervisor celebrated his 20th anniversary working with SWMDC.
- Tony Hynes, Tús Team Leader celebrated his 10th anniversary working with SWMDC.
- Noel Mulroy, Rural Social Scheme Supervisor celebrated his 10th anniversary working with SWMDC.
We thank Padraic, Tony and Noel for their excellent work and contribution to SWMDC over a collective 40 years.
Living Well Programme - Dates for your Diary
There are still lots of opportunities to sign up to our Living Well Programme training across the region. For more information, please contact Fiona at fcunnane@southmayo.com or 087 718 5615 and to book your place:
Galway City – Wednesday mornings – Starting 30th October 2024
Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo – Thursday mornings – Starting 31st October 2024
Online – Wednesday mornings – Starting 6th November 2024
The aim of the Living Well Programme is to support people to develop skills to better manage their health condition and to improve their overall wellbeing and quality of life. Topics covered on the programme include achieving better sleep, managing pain, coping with difficult emotions, healthy eating, increasing physical activity, setting goals, and problem solving. (See “Living Well Supports” section for more detail).
The programme has been proven to deliver positive outcomes for participants such as fewer GP visits, increased confidence in self-managing a health condition, and improved quality of life.
Living Well is an evidence-based self-management programme, originally developed at Stanford University, and licensed by the Self Management Resource Centre in the USA. The programme is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Social Farming Awareness Week 2024
South West Mayo Development Company was delighted to celebrate Social Farming Ireland’s annual Social Farming Awareness Week 2024 at Gerry and Anne Beirne’s farm in Elphin, County Roscommon.
The event took place on 9th October, and the main aim was to showcase social farming to service providers, service users and farmers in the region. Social Farming offers people who are socially, physically, mentally or intellectually disadvantaged the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive, and inclusive environment.
SWMDC implements the Social Farming programme across counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. If you would like to find out more, please contact Deirdre Fahey at dfahey@southmayo.com or 087 623 3862.
Social Farming is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the CEDRA Fund. South West Mayo Development Company is part of a Social Farming network, working in collaboration with Leitrim Development Company, West Limerick Resources and Waterford LEADER Partnership.
Ready to Work Gaining Momentum Across South & West Mayo
Our Ready to Work programme team is spreading the word far and wide about our newest programme for south and west Mayo.
The team recently had the opportunity to present the programme to Western Care Association staff at the Newman Institute in Ballina. The team demonstrated the positive impact supported employment can have for people with disabilities in living more independent and fulfilling lives.
If you would like to find out more about this programme, please contact info@southmayo.com or call 098 419 50.
New Mayo Trail for All Launched
The stunning Newport Coastal Trail has recently been launched in west Mayo. The trail, a collaboration between SWMDC and Newport and District Development Company (NADDCo), is wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible seating areas at the viewing area.
This trail was only possible with the generosity of landowners who provided permissive access for this walk, the excellent work of local contractors, and the cross-programme collaboration between our Rural Recreation Officer and our Rural Social Scheme and Tús teams.
There are plans to extend the trail into Newport Quay, which would include even more breathtaking views of the town and its surrounds. This extension will depend on the continued goodwill of local landowners and we will work with them over the coming months to realise this ambition.
Pictured L-R: Martin Dillane, SWMDC Rural Recreation Officer with Aine Doyle, Sport Ireland who completed an outdoor inspection on the trail.
