Diaspora project takes off in Ardrahan

THE community of Ardrahan is to take part in the South-East Galway Diaspora Project. The exciting and innovative project, which was recently launched in Loughrea by economist David McWilliams, hopes to reconnect parish communities with those who have left the area and their descendents.
The concept, which was the brainchild of Galway technology entrepreneur Mike Feerick, was developed in the wake of the Economic Forum at Farmleigh last year and has received support and endorsement from the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish a pilot project in South-East Galway.
Substantial further support has been forthcoming from Galway County Council, the Heritage Council, the GAA and Irish-American sources.
The project is based on a simple idea. Instead of waiting for Irish-Americans and their global counterparts to come to Ireland to trace their roots, communities groups at townland, village or parish level would search for them. Those who left and their descendents are identified and traced worldwide and invited to become part of an extended ‘virtual’ community, in doing so establishing major new networks which could have huge social, cultural and economic benefits on a local and national level.
To initiate what can become a lifelong relationship, a parish, once it has identified its living descendants, will extend an invitation to a Week of Welcomes to be held in each parish in June 2011, with the objective of attracting approximately 25 to 30 people to each parish in the programme’s first year.
Representatives from the project, John Joe Conwell and Dolores O’Shea, attended a public information meeting on Tuesday, November 23 at the Loughnane-Quinn Memorial Hall, Labane. The project was well received by those present and it was decided to form a working group to get the project in Ardrahan off the ground.
Rory O’Shaughnessy, Karen O’Neill, Sean Bermingham and Lena Taylor are to make up this initial group. However, as the project moves on, it is hoped this working group will grow with support from many of the local groups, including the local GAA club.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Rory O’Shaughnessy stated, “The primary objective of this group is to inform all those in the parish what the project is all about and it benefits for our community.
“Our aim is to then begin the process of researching those who have left the parish in living memory and we are appealing for help from all those who know of relatives, friends or neighbours who have left the parish to fill out the survey forms we will be distributing.
“With Christmas fast approaching, people are in contact with friends and relatives across the globe and we would ask people to let them know of the project and the planned Week of the Welcomes in June, perhaps by adding a note to their Christmas card,” Mr O’Shaughnessy said.
For more information, contact Rory on 087 4065646 or email rory_oshaughnessy@eircom.net