Local Development Companies Network

28/05/2026

Access to the right language support can make a real difference helping people settle into their communities and access opportunities.

At community level, we’re seeing very practical approaches that deliver impact. Robert Carey, SICAP Programme Manager with Newkd, shares how a more structured model of English language provision, aligned with recognised European standards based on real-world job use, can support clearer (and quicker) progression into employment and better outcomes for learners.

Through the 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, learnings like this can be exchanged nationally helping to strengthen delivery and support more inclusive communities.

22/05/2026

Communities don’t become divided overnight and they don’t heal overnight either.

During his visit to Ireland, Eric Ward, one of the world’s leading voices on democracy, race, and community resilience, sat down with us to unpack what’s really driving protest, polarisation, and mistrust at local level.

This wasn’t just theory. It was about real communities navigating change every day: relocation, pressure on trust, and the challenge of staying connected when conversations get difficult.

Through this workshop, community leaders and practitioners came together to:

• better understand what’s shaping today’s movements
• build confidence in responding to sensitive issues
• share lived experiences openly
• strengthen the connections that hold communities together

Because resilience isn’t built in isolation, it’s built together. 🤝

And the role of communities has never been more important in protecting and renewing democracy from the ground up.

Eric’s message is timely and his message is clear:

“You know the path forward is together. We all have the right to live, love, worship and work free from fear and bigotry. Let’s get to it. Let’s believe in one another. Let’s have fun while we’re doing it.”

Thank you Eric, Community Foundation Ireland and Northside Partnership.

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 – 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀

This was the focus of a recent workshop facilitated by Joan O'Donnell for the national network of Local Development Companies, through the Social Inclusion Oversight Forum.

As part of the session, Joan provided a clear introduction to Human Learning Systems for those less familiar with the approach, and explored what it means in practice for delivering more relational public services.

While many would say that the Local Development model has always placed relationships at its core, it was encouraging to see this perspective gaining broader recognition at national level.

On the day, Bairbre Nic Aongusa of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht highlighted that this approach is now being explored across nine government departments – a strong signal of growing policy interest in more human-centred, collaborative ways of designing and delivering public services.

20/05/2026

Want to explore how rural tourism can support local communities and economies?

Rural tourism plays a growing role across Europe. It goes beyond visitor experiences, contributing to economic diversification, job creation and the promotion of local products and services. When developed in a balanced way, it can strengthen rural resilience while preserving natural and cultural assets.

The brings together a wide range of resources on sustainable rural tourism: webinar insights, good practice examples, an online space for exchange across Europe:

https://ruralpact.rural-vision.europa.eu/topics/tourism-and-heritage_en

Discover how innovation, collaboration and community involvement can make tourism more resilient and sustainable.

👉 Take a look and share these resources within your networks!

15/05/2026

Congratulations to Karen and all your hard working team at FORUM Connemara CLG. What a wonderful showcase of the work you do across so many diverse areas, supporting the very fabric of society. Connemara abú! 🥳

14/05/2026

From local to national! Great to join forces with the might of LDCs from across the country. Together, we look forward to amplifying the impact of the important work done by LDCs the length and breadth of Ireland. 🙌

Today, IDP’s Communications Officer attended the National Local Development Companies Network Communications in Practice meeting in Mullingar.

This was a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, and learn from colleagues across the country on strengthening communications and community engagement.
We also took a chance to work together and planned ahead for the collaborative events in the ldcn.ie calendar for the rest of 2026



DLDC Offaly Local Development Company Empower Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd SECAD Partnership CLG - SECAD Monaghan Integrated Development CLG Northside Partnership Cavan County Local Development

06/05/2026

This week in Brussels, we had a clear message to share on behalf of Ireland’s rural communities and the Local Development Companies that serve them.

Without ring-fenced funding for LEADER in the EU’s next long‑term budget, rural areas risk losing a programme that has been delivering real, measurable impact for more than 35 years.

From 2014 to March 2026, LEADER supported 6,858 projects across Ireland, with investment of over €286 million, backing local jobs, services, enterprise, and social inclusion in communities where top‑down solutions often fall short.

The strength of LEADER lies in its bottom‑up approach. Local people identify local needs and drive local solutions.

During our visit we met with Iwona Lisztwan, European Commission, MEPs Nina Carberry, Maria Walsh, Sean Kelly MEP MEP, Ciaran Mullooly and Barry Cowen; and Pawel Krzeczunowicz and Haude Blanc from AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development).

Our message: LEADER works but it needs to be protected in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

As EU budget negotiations for the post‑2027 period gather pace, it’s vital that place‑based, community‑led programmes are not diluted or lost amid competing priorities.

Rural communities deliver for Europe and Europe’s budget should continue to deliver for them.

Delegation included Máirín Ó Cuireáin, CEO, Local Development Companies Network, Shay Riordan, West Limerick Resources - WLR , Suzanne Kearney, SECAD Partnership CLG - SECAD , Eamonn O'Reilly, Newkd, Karen Mannion, FORUM Connemara CLG and John Feerick, Sligo LEADER Partnership Company Ltd.

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht

06/05/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

As part of the Community Connection Project’s partnership with More in Common as a learning partner, Community Link Workers recently came together for an in-person co-design workshop.

The session created space for practitioners to share their experience, reflect on what is emerging through their work with communities, and collectively shape a set of practical tools to support and capture their work on an ongoing basis.

These tools will help build a stronger evidence base for the project, one that is grounded in real-world practice and shaped by the insight, experience and leadership of Local Development Companies.

This approach reflects an important principle at the heart of the project: research and evaluation are strongest when they are informed by the people delivering change on the ground.

Representatives attended from:
Limerick City Partnership Clare Local Development Company North Tipperary Development Company South West Mayo Development Company CLG County Wicklow Partnership Festivals & Events Forum Galway City Partnership Empower Monaghan Integrated Development CLG Meath Partnership Roscommon Leader Partnership County Kildare Leader Partnership CLG., Southside Partnership DLR Cork City Partnership

The Community Connection Project is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

05/05/2026

✨ You’re Invited! Community Connect Research Project Launch ✨

Leitrim Development Company is delighted to invite community groups from Leitrim to the launch of the Community Connect Research Project findings on Tues 12th May.

Earlier this year, community groups across the county responded to our questionnaire, helping us identify the challenges, opportunities, and essential supports needed for local communities engaging with new arrivals.

This event is a fantastic opportunity to come together, discuss the survey outcomes, and connect with other community groups across Leitrim.

📅 When: Tuesday, May 12th
⏰ Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
📍 Where: Leitrim Development Company, Church Street, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim

We are also thrilled to welcome educator and facilitator Sive Bresnihan, who will offer a reflection on the study’s outcomes and what they mean for our communities.

Following the launch, Sive will also be hosting a free one-day workshop on tackling misinformation—exploring how it spreads, its impact, and practical ways to respond.
(Date TBC; registrations for this free workshop will open on the night!)

🎟️ How to Register
Whether you wish to attend the launch, the follow-on workshop, or both, please secure your spot via the link below:

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/communityconnectlaunch

We hope this session and the upcoming workshop will be both informative and engaging. We can't wait to see you there! 🤝




Leitrim PPN
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
Local Development Companies Network