Longford Roma and New Communities Project

01/10/2026

🎓 Traveller and Roma students starting college this year – applications for the 1916 Bursary are now open!

The bursary supports students from groups under-represented in higher education, including Traveller and Roma communities.

💶 Successful applicants can receive €5,000 a year (Tier 1) or €2,000 a year (Tier 2).

Applicants must be first-time undergraduates in a participating college and meet the household income criteria for the special rate SUSI grant.

⏰ Closing date: Friday 9 October at 5pm.

Information and eligibility:
https://1916bursary.ie/faqs/

Supporting documents:
https://1916bursary.ie/supporting-documentation/

Please share with students or families who could benefit! 📣


County Longford Youth Service
Longford Westmeath CYPSC
LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
The Attic House Longford
Longford Volunteer Centre

🎓 Attention all Traveller and Roma students starting college for the first time this year.

Applications for the 1916 Bursary are now open and close on Friday 9 October at 5pm.

The 1916 Bursary is a financial scholarship to encourage the participation and success of students from under-represented groups, including Travellers and Roma.

To apply, your household income must be under the limit for the special rate SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) grant. You must also be starting an undergraduate course in a participating college.

Successful applicants receive:

· €5,000 a year for the full course (Tier 1), or

· €2,000 a year (Tier 2).

For more information on applying to the 1916 Bursary see the Frequently Asked Questions section of their website here:

https://1916bursary.ie/faqs/

And for more information on supporting documentation see the information listed here:

https://1916bursary.ie/supporting-documentation/


Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation & Science

16/09/2026

🎶 Roma Children’s Music Group Is Back! 🎶

Our free music group with Music Generation Longford returns this Thursday from 3:30pm, straight after school! 🎸🥁🎤

Come along and give your children the opportunity to:

🎵 Enjoy music and have fun
🤝 Meet and make friends with other children
👨‍👩‍👧 Meet other Roma parents
💬 Receive support from our CDP staff

📅 Starting Thursday 17th September
🕞 3:30pm
📍Family Centre, Longford (Behind Catherdral, N39 E927)
💶 Free to attend

All Roma children and families are very welcome! Please share with family and friends


County Longford Youth Service
LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
Longford Westmeath CYPSC
Empowering Communities Project Longford
Longford Community Families

11/09/2026

A photography course is starting here in LCRL on Monday 14th September from 2pm. It is open to everyone. Please send to anyone who may be interested 😀

Develop your photography skills in a welcoming, practical course at Longford Community Resources clg, Templemichael Glebe, Longford, N39 RH22.

Starting: 14 September
Day: Mondays
Duration: 6 weeks
Time: 2:00pm–4:00pm

Places may be limited, so contact Anna or Longford Community Resources for registration details.
Phone: 087-4057675
Email: [email protected]

This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union 🇮🇪 🇪🇺
www.eufunds.ie

European Social Fund Ireland

03/09/2026

24/08/2026

Last Wednesday, we had the privilege of bringing some of our young people on a day trip. These young people played a huge part in our Roma Day celebrations, which took place in April, so it was lovely to bring them away for the day.

We started at the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, where the young people learned about their rights and the role of the Ombudsman. They also had the opportunity to discuss some of the issues that are important to them. A special thank you to Shauna and Brianna for hosting such an enjoyable and informative session.

Afterwards, we headed to Explorium, where everyone had great fun trying out the different science activities, experiencing virtual reality and conquering their fears on the climbing wall!

A big thank you to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and Explorium for welcoming us. Thank you also to all of the young people who took part. We were delighted to have you with us and really hope you enjoyed the day! 💙💚❤️


LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
County Longford Youth Service
Empowering Communities Project Longford
Longford Volunteer Centre

19/08/2026

🌟 Join us for Ardnacassa Community Day! 🌟

A day of fun, friendship, and community spirit awaits! 🎈

Come along and enjoy: ⚽ Sports & Games
🎨 Face Painting
🍦 Ice Cream Treats
🎵 Music & Entertainment
🤝 A chance to connect with neighbours and friends

📅 25th August 2026
⏰ 1pm - 3pm
📍 Ardnacassa Community House, 4 Palace Crescent, Longford (N39 A4W9)

✨ We can't wait to see you there!

Empowering Communities Project Longford

13/08/2026

🎬 Autonomous Community Work in Action 🎬

As part of the Community Development Programme Network, Longford Roma and New Communities CDP, we are delighted to share this powerful new film which was developed collaboratively by the ten Community Development Projects across Ireland.

The film captures what autonomous community work looks like in practice; supporting meaningful participation, building collective action and challenging unequal power structures. Most importantly, it centres the voices, experiences and leadership of the communities themselves.

We are especially proud that our International Roma Day celebration in Longford features in the film, reflecting the strength, culture, participation and collective action of our local Roma community.

We invite community groups, organisations, services and everyone who stands in solidarity with Roma communities and the wider Community Development Programme to watch the film and share it through their networks.

https://youtu.be/wSgeYWJ28kE?si=GDHk02swbSss4nFF


LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
Empowering Communities Project Longford
County Longford Youth Service
Longford Volunteer Centre
Local Development Companies Network
Community Work Ireland

Developed collaboratively with the ten CDPs, the film was made with...

29/07/2026

🌟 Fantastic Opportunity for Roma Young People! 🌟

Are you committed to challenging anti-Roma narratives and antigypsyism in Ireland?

ERGO Network and ternYpe - International Roma Youth Network are inviting young Roma people to participate in a Study Session in Budapest, Hungary, where they will have the opportunity to become a Youth Ambassador for the Decade Against Antigypsyism.

✈️ The full cost of the trip will be covered.

To take part, applicants should:

Be aged between 18 and 30
Have a good level of English
Be committed to promoting Roma rights and challenging antigypsyism

This is a brilliant opportunity to meet other Roma young people, build leadership skills and contribute to positive change across Europe.
If you have any questions you can contact me Amy on 087 168 5307


County Longford Youth Service
Roscommon Youth Service
Roma Ennis Kilrush

07/07/2026

LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg and Longford Roma and New Communities CDP would like to congratulate Michael Reilly Social Innovation Officer with Longford Sports Partnership on his recent award for Young Thinker of the Year.

We here at Longford Roma and New Communities CDP are very proud of this collaborative programme.

The "Strong Women" Roma Women’s programme was a 12-week pilot programme which aimed to reduce the barriers to participation in sport and exercise faced by Roma women.

Roma women identified the barriers they faced, shared their ideas, and co-designed the 12-week exercise programme to ensure it reflected their needs, interests, and lived experiences.

This project highlights the role that community development plays in engaging with marginalised communities, building relationships and trust within a community which then allows for wider inclusive collaborations to address social exclusion for marginalised and disadvantaged communities.

Longford Roma & New Communities Commmunity Development Project is looking forward to future collaborations that support and empower marginalised communities in County Longford

Well done Michael! 👏


LCRL - Longford Community Resources clg
Empowering Communities Project Longford
Longford Volunteer Centre
County Longford Youth Service
Longford Sports Partnership
Longford County Council
Sport Ireland

We are incredibly proud to share a massive achievement from our own team! 🏆🎉

Michael Reilly, our Social Innovation in Sport Officer, recently represented Longford County Council and Longford Sports Partnership at the Young Ireland Programme in Scotland, where he was awarded second-place runner-up for Young Thinker of the Year!

🥈👏Michael delivered a powerful presentation focused on social innovation and the vital importance of co-design methodologies. He highlighted our work collaborating with Roma women to co-create a 12-week sports pilot. By empowering the community to be the architects of their own solutions and embedding their ideas into the programme📈🤝

This initiative is proudly delivered under the Sport4Empowerment programme 🏃‍♂️. Michael showcased just one snippet of the fantastic work being driven on the ground by the network of ESF+ Social Innovation Officers across Ireland 🇮🇪.

Congratulations Michael! We are incredibly proud of your dedication to championing inclusive, participant-led programmes for our community 💙🙌.


Sport Ireland