Tag Archives: Leader

A NEW tourism destination website aimed at raising awareness of the Burren region in Ireland and overseas has been launched. Members of the Burren Ecotourism Network were joined in Lisdoonvarna this week by the web development team, Evolve Technologies, to launch the new look Burren.ie. The website aims to bring the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark to life with stories of the people, places and attractions of the area and to attract more visitors to stay in North Clare. The site will also carry a strong message of ecotourism and sustainability. That is a principle that all member businesses subscribe to, and it has previously helped the network to win the ‘Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel 2021’ award for Community Tourism. Evolve Technologies, which is based in Ennistymon, has been working closely with members of the Burren Ecotourism Network team, including CEO Jarlath O’Dwyer, George Quinn of Hylands Burren Hotel and chairperson of the Network, marketing coordinator …

SEVEN projects in the Killaloe Ballina area have benefited from LEADER funds in excess of €1.2 million, new figures have revealed. Not least among the facilities to have benefited from the grants in the LEADER funding period 2014-2020 is the Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre (KBFRC). The Clare Local Development Company has confirmed it led an application for LEADER funding from Clare and Tipperary Local Development Companies, with assistance from Patrick Killeen, which resulted in a total allocation of €216,000 for the upgrading and extension of the KBFRC. Clare LEADER co-ordinator, Gloria Callinan, said the hard work of Martina Minogue, CLDC rural development officer, ensured KBFRC and also six other projects in Killaloe have been supported, realising almost €600,000 from CLDC, with a matching €600,000 in investment from Tipperary along with community co-funding. She stated a significant allocation of LEADER funds in excess of €1.2 million has been made in the Killaloe and Ballina communities. Operating since 2003, the Killaloe …

GRANTS totalling almost €7 million have been approved for 251 projects by the Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), it emerged this week. The final project approved in March 2021 is a €190,000 LEADER investment in renewable energy technology in Lahinch SeaWorld. This will see the installation of a ground source heat pump and solar panels at the popular North Clare community-run leisure facility, enabling the decarbonisation of their heat system and providing renewable heating and cooling systems for their amenities. The project will complement the existing renovation works and will deliver a major carbon offset of 216 tons annually. Speaking at the final board meeting of the 2014-2020  Programme, Clare Local Development Company chairman, Mike Hogan, stressed the importance of LEADER in supporting not only community-led local development projects but also helping communities to reach climate action targets. “Looking to the next rural development programme, LEADER will be more important than ever to rural communities who want to take environmental …

LOCAL communities and businesses on the Shannon Estuary Way are to benefit from a year long Destination Development Programme to help boost economic growth for the rural communities along this newly launched tourist route. Located just off the Wild Atlantic Way, the Shannon Estuary Way was developed by Fáilte Ireland, together with Clare and Limerick City and County Councils, and is set to become a key tourist attraction for the Mid West Region. The route is 207km in length and is the first in a series of Wild Atlantic Way looped drives aimed at increasing visitor ‘dwell time’ and spend in local communities. The drive showcases the spectacular stretch of water, where the Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon, meets the mighty Atlantic Ocean and offers a beautiful drive along the scenic and unspoilt coastlines of Limerick and Clare, taking visitors through the picturesque towns and villages, heritage sites and many visitor attractions featured within the route. The Shannon Estuary Way, …

NEWS viewing and discovery points are to be developed around Lough Derg, thanks to a partnership between agencies in three counties. Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), Galway Rural Development (GRD) and North Tipperary Development Company (NTDC) have come together to approve further project funding toward the development of the lakeside amenities. The funding has been provided through the LEADER grant programme, and this is the second such project with these partners on Lough Derg in recent years. “The tourism sector has been one of those worst hit by the pandemic due to the collapse of inbound travel and the restrictions on internal movement,” said Doirin Graham, CEO of Clare Local Development. “It’s all the more important we support it to bounce back quickly”. CEO of GRD Steve Dolan added “The Lough Derg region has a wide range of natural assets and, as I know first-hand, terrific people. Staycations will be taken by the majority of the population in the coming …

COMMUNITY and voluntary organisations across the county are at risk and facing a funding crisis, the chairperson of the Killaloe Municipal District has warned. Councillor Pat Hayes said that the public health restrictions have left the sector reeling and fighting for survival, despite the fact that it continues to make a huge contribution to the Covid-19 response, particularly in rural parts of Clare. He is now calling on government to open up funding opportunities so that organisations can apply to cover some of their basic running costs. “What you have here is a double blow to the sector,” the Fianna Fáil member outlined. “If you take a community hall or GAA facility, they’ve had to shut down which means they’ve lost any income they might normally be able to generate. Most of them still have basic costs to cover and restrictions on gatherings have meant that most of the normal fundraising events have been impossible.” Councillor Hayes said that while …

A NEW development plan for Tulla is on its way, after the village was successful in its application to receive support from Clare Local Development Company and the LEADER programme. The proposed plan will help Tulla to meet the needs of the community for the years ahead. The first step is a public consultation that aims to find out what people think about Tulla, what locals like about it and what they don’t like. To achieve this, the Tulla Planning Group is distributing a short survey. It is hoped to reach as many people as possible, so the survey will be distributed through schools, churches and businesses. Jim O’Sullivan, of the planning group, explained they have asked people to leave their club or group affliations at the door when filling out the survey. He said the group expects to get a variety of views across all demographics and aims to address these concerns in a plan. “Parking is of interest …

THE importance of Leader funding to communities in County Clare is set to be raised with the European Commission. The EU rural development fund supports community and economic development in towns, villages and rural areas across Europe. The rollout of the 2014-2020 programme has still not been announced by the Department of the Environment. Speaking from Strasbourg, Liadh Ní Riada, MEP, said the funding must be made available to communities. “The Leader programme delivers much-needed investment to community projects and small businesses outside of our big cities. It is a vital support for so many projects that drive local economies and improve the quality of life in rural Ireland. “Many community projects are ready to proceed with projects and have been waiting for almost two years for this funding to come on stream. “The preparation for the 2014-2016 programme have been marked by confusion, mismanagement and silence from government. “It’s not even clear what organisations will be delivering the programme …