The Liberties Community Project

02/07/2026

A huge thank you to Siemens for joining us on our In Our Shoes Walking Tours. It was a wonderful opportunity to share local stories and have meaningful conversations.

A special thank you again to Joe Walsh and the team at Siemens for their incredibly generous donation of €1,000 which we were delighted to receive in support of our adult education classes.

Contributions like this make a real difference, helping us provide valuable learning opportunities, build confidence, and support community development locally. We truly appreciate your partnership and commitment to making a positive impact.

29/06/2026

Well done to Dr. Catherine Bates and the Research Engagement team at TU Dublin / OT Baile Átha Cliath on the launch of their online Digital Badges and Micro-Credentials in Community Engaged Research (CER) as part of the Erasmus+ TOGETHERNESS project involving:
Technological University Dublin
Université libre de Bruxelles
University of Sassari

These fully funded programmes for 2026–27 are designed for university staff,
PhD researchers, and community partners interested in developing collaborative approaches to addressing real-world social challenges through research, co-design and partnership working.

The programme provides opportunities to:
*Explore community engaged research approaches
*Develop collaboration and co-production skills
*Connect with researchers and community organisations internationally
*Develop research ideas grounded in real community priorities and lived experience

As a community partner of Technological University Dublin, The Liberties Community Project strongly welcomes initiatives that support more meaningful collaboration between communities, researchers and educational institutions — particularly approaches that value local knowledge, participation and community voice within research and policy development.

Application closing date: Monday 13 July
Information Webinar: Tuesday 30 June, 1–2pm (Irish time)
If you have any questions about the badges, please contact [email protected]

Researchers, staff, PhD students, and community partners at TU Dublin now can enhance their collaborative research skills through a new suite of fully funded professional development programmes in Community Engaged Research (CER). Developed by TU Dublin’s Research Engagement and Impact Office, the...

24/06/2026

✨ Sewing Enrollment Now Open ✨

Learn new skills, build confidence, and create something you’re proud of.

Limited spaces available — book your place today!

20/06/2026

Many thanks to the German Ambassador for inviting The Liberties Community Project to the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce Summer Reception at his residence this week.

The Liberties Community Project has been Charity Partner of the German-Irish Chamber for several years and appreciate the Chamber’s continued support for our work in South West Inner City Dublin.

A particular thank you also to Joe Walsh and the team at Siemens Ireland for their generous donation of €1,000, received this week, in support of the delivery of adult education classes. Contributions like this make a meaningful difference in supporting learning opportunities and community development locally.

14/06/2026

Congratulations to National College of Art & Design, Dublin on the successful launch of their ‘Create, Challenge, Care’ strategic plan earlier this week.

The Liberties Community Project have cooperated with NCAD on a number of programmes over the years including their Neighbourhood Residency Scheme and Socially Engaged Practice Master’s Programme. There are also informal engagements with a number of graduates going on to either work or volunteer with The Liberties Community Project as a result of initial engagements made through these programmes.

The Liberties Community Project are particularly looking forward to the formal launch of the new Co-Create Shared Island project next week, and being a community partner on this project over the next four years. Co-Create will identify and resource opportunities for cross-border collaboration, research and creative practice in addressing shared social challenges and represents a significant mile stone and opportunity for all involved.

As The Liberties continues to experience rapid social and physical change, partnerships between education, community development, arts and public policy sectors are becoming increasingly important in ensuring that regeneration and innovation remain connected to people, place and lived experience.

Many thanks to NCAD for platforming collaboration with The Liberties Community Project as part of their strategic launch and best wishes for the implementation of the new strategy.

13/06/2026

Many thanks to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage — Deputy Micheál Carrigy (Chairperson), Deputy Eoin Ó Broin TD, Deputy Rory Hearne and Senator Aubrey McCarthy — for visiting Oliver Bond House and The Liberties Community Project on Thursday afternoon.

Many thanks also to Cecilia Forrestal, Una Lowry (Dublin South City Partnership), former Senior Planner for Dublin City Council South Central Area Kieran Rose, and Niall Ring of Dolphin House Residents Group for contributing to this meeting.

The central message that came out of the conversation was clear: Regeneration projects within existing communities must be approached differently to housing development on greenfield or brownfield sites. Successful regeneration should be measured not simply by unit numbers, but by housing quality, health outcomes, community sustainability and residents’ wellbeing.

Oliver Bond House is one of 212 multi-unit complexes managed by Dublin City Council, with approximately 90 of these developments sharing a similar age profile. This raises serious concerns that many of the physical conditions and associated health impacts identified within Oliver Bond House may also exist across a substantial proportion of older local authority housing stock in Dublin and nationally.

Four key recommendations related to the management of social housing and regeneration more generally were progressed during today’s discussion:

• That local authorities tenant handbooks and housing policies be updated to fully recognise landlord responsibility for damp and mould in line with current scientific understanding and public health evidence.

• That the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage undertake — or direct local authorities to undertake — a comprehensive national assessment of the condition of local authority housing stock, including damp, mould, ventilation, structural condition, overcrowding and associated health impacts.

• That there be consideration of legislation similar to the United Kingdom’s “Awaab’s Law”, introducing clear legal timeframes for addressing serious health hazards such as damp and mould in social housing.

That Dublin City Council establish a dedicated Director of Services role with specific responsibility for housing regeneration and community regeneration initiatives across the city

Communities and residents must remain central to conversations around housing regeneration and housing standards.
We appreciate the Committee members taking the time to engage directly on these issues and look forward to following future committee discussions, minutes and correspondence to understand the measures being taken to advance these objectives.

10/06/2026

People of The Liberties Meet Colm, Academy Manager at Jungle BJJ on Meath Street 🥋

Jungle BJJ is a busy and much-loved part of the local community, with classes running throughout the week for all ages and experience levels. While adult classes take up a lot of his time, Colm has a real passion for working with the younger members. Having been involved in a range of sports growing up, he understands first-hand the value it brings, from physical development and discipline to building social and practical skills.

For many, it’s more than just learning a sport. It’s a place to build confidence, develop discipline, and feel part of something positive.

Spaces like this play an important role in the area, giving people a safe and supportive environment to grow and stay active.

Jungle BJJ offers a fantastic opportunity for people young, old, and in between to learn and grow. Next time your nearby stop by say to hello and maybe grapple with the idea of getting involved!

09/06/2026

Community Dumpling Day 🥟

On Saturday 6th June we held a Community Dumpling Day. This special event brought people together to meet, socialise, learn how to make dumplings, and enjoy a delicious homemade meal. It created a warm and welcoming atmosphere where participants could connect with one another, share experiences, and celebrate culture through food and friendship. It was a wonderful day—relaxed, enjoyable, and filled with delicious food, meaningful connections, and great company.

08/06/2026

Well done to Inner City Beekeeping Project - Bee8 and In Our Shoes Walking Tours Operations Manager Anthony Freeman O’ Brien for his input on RTÉ Radio 1 Today with David McCullough show this morning.

Anthony was on a panel discussing the importance of the native Irish honey bee but also was able to input on the important role that community and social enterprise initiatives like The Liberties Community Project Bee8 programme can play in supporting stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities more generally.

At The Liberties Community Project, we believe social enterprise can deliver far more than economic activity alone — creating opportunities for community participation, skills development, inclusion and long-term local resilience as well as generating unrestricted revenue for the commissioning of more ambitious charitable activities.

We currently manage 45 hives across 15 sites across Dublin city and county and our grateful to our host partners for the their engagement in this.

We are especially thankful to Dole Ireland for commissioning The Liberties Community Project to deliver biodiversity planting and beekeeping projects to several community organisations and residents associations across Dublin 7 and Dublin 8 and to The Digital Hub Development Agency for the ongoing support especially engagement on the development of sensor technology to be applied to our various sites.

Emma Finn, founder of Bees on the Roof and Education Officer for Fingal North Dublin Beekeepers Association. PJ Murphy, commercial bee farmer from Galway and also a Fine Gael Senator and Anthony Freeman O’Brien, Operations Manager for the Social Enterprise with the Liberties Community Project in D...