by Sarah Clancy | May 6, 2021 | Current, Local Community Development Committee, Members News, PPN News
Welcome your new Clare PPN Representatives:
Congratulations to Cornelia Wahli, Christy Sinclair and Collette Bradley we look forward to working with you all.
We are delighted to let you know that we received nominations for each of three representative roles we advertised to our member groups on April 20th 2021. We are most grateful to all groups who nominated and in particular to the three candidates who have come forward to represent their communities through Clare PPN.
The vacant Environmental Seat on Clare PPN’s Secretariat will be taken up by Cornelia Wahli who was nominated by Clare Environmental Network and who also represents Clare PPN on Clare County Council’s Local Community Development Committee. As part of the Secretariat Cornelia will join 9 other community representatives to help to run Clare PPN on behalf of its member groups between plenary meetings.
The second environment seat- on Clare County Council’s Rural Development Forum goes to Christy Sinclair – nominated by Clare Environmental Network. Christy was one of the founder members of Clare PPN, his interests are environmental sustainability and social justice and he will make a valuable contribution to the ongoing work of the forum.
The third and final seat in this set of elections was for a Social Inclusion Representative to sit on Clare’s Local Community Development Committee and this seat goes to Collette Bradley of Shannon Family Resource Centre. Collette’s experience in community development and support for marginalised communities will be of great value to the LCDC.
We are so grateful to all who came forward, the ratification of these seats will take place at our plenary meeting which is taking place on May 11th online (contact admin@clareppn.ie if you would like to attend this meeting). Following the plenary we will write to each committee chair notifying them of our nominations and this will complete the formal nomination process.
You can read more about each new representative here:
Cornelia Wahli:
Cornelia’s participation in and membership of several environmental groups, including CEN – Clare Environmental Network, emerges from a deep-felt belief that the current man-made climate crisis, which has lead to global warming and loss of biodiversity, can be healed, but only with individual, societal, corporate and political input and action.
Cornelia lives an organic lifestyle without chemicals in her kitchen, utility room, bathroom and garden using vinegar, bread soda and lemon juice instead, sparingly. She believes that a lifestyle change with similar intensity like that imposed by covid-19 is necessary to assure and ensure a continued ‘food and clean water supply’ for now and the future. Cornelia’s vision is of an ‘Organic County Clare’ that is organic in public spaces, in private gardens as well as in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, silviculture and arboriculture. Such an ‘organic approach’ can facilitate the protection of the environment welcoming diversity of biological life-forms to flourish and allowing our soil, water and air to return to their natural clean state. Cornelia would like to be a voice for the natural world, a healthy and nurturing environment that is capable of feeding and supporting humans as well as fauna and flora with sustainable development a core value. Cornelia also represents Clare PPN’s member groups as the Environmental Representative for Clare PPN on Clare’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) since autumn 2020.
Christy Sinclair:
Christy Sinclair was one of the founding members of Clare PPN. He previously served as a Secretariat member and as part of the finance subcommittee. He specialises in the installation and certification of photo-valtic systems and is a keen environmentalist, rock climber and greyhound adopter. He has been involved with a number of community groups in Clare including the Burren Eco Tourism Network and Clare Bus where he served as a board member. His interests are in securing a ‘living wage’ for those working in Clare and ensuring that communities are takings steps towards sustainable energy use. He will bring all these interests to represent Clare PPN’s member groups on the Rural Development Forum.
Collette Bradley:
For the past 6 years Colette Bradley has been the coordinator of Shannon Family Resource Centre and is committed to the delivery and further development of services and activities for the local community. She also recognises the need for more community services for Shannon and the surrounding areas. Prior to Colette’s Coordination position in Shannon she worked in the Community & Voluntary Sector for 12 years based in Ennis.
Colette was a voluntary member of a number of committees over the years including the group which oversaw the establishment of a community crèche and a resource centre, now North West Clare Family Resource Centre, in Ennistymon.
Colette is committed to working towards a more equal society and recognises social inclusion, equal opportunities and environmental protection as key building blocks to the achievement of a fairer and more progressive society.
She feels privileged to call beautiful North Clare her home living in Lisdoonvarna and prior to that in Kilfenora since moving to Co. Clare from Co. Wicklow in 1998.
You can read more here about the Rural Development Strategy here:
https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/rural-development/strategy/
And more here about the Local Community Development Committee:
https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/lcdc/
by Sarah Clancy | Apr 6, 2021 | Current, Members News, PPN News
Notes from Local Climate Conversation
Clare PPN was chosen by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) to host an online Local Climate Conversation on 15th March. These conversations have been taking place across Ireland as part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action, to inform the development of the Government’s 2021 Climate Action Plan and also the roll-out of the Climate Action Fund.
Following this conversation our notes were submitted to the DECC. You can read the notes from the Clare PPN-hosted conversation here:
https://clareppn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ClarePPN_Climate_Conversation_15March2021.pdf
by Sarah Clancy | Dec 9, 2020 | Members News, National, PPN News
Draft Community Wellbeing Vision Statements for County Clare:
Beginning in October 2020 Clare Public Participation Network conducted a process of creating Community Wellbeing Visions for Clare. The process involved consultation with the general public via an online survey, consultation and appraisal of the results of this survey with Clare PPN members at our October Plenary Meeting, and this was then followed by eight online meetings – two held in each of Clare’s four Municipal Districts.
Following the above three steps Clare PPN staff compiled the attached Draft Community Wellbeing Vision Statements -there are five in total with one being an overall summary which applies to County Clare as a whole and the four others each relating to one of Clare’s Municipal Districts. We are presenting these statements here in draft form and inviting our member groups to take the chance to read them and to propose any changes, additions or correct any omissions as you see fit.
These statements will be used to guide the work and priorities of Clare PPN staff and secretariat and our representatives on Committees. They will also be used along with further specific policy consultations to guide and inform submissions made by Clare PPN to local and national policies. We propose that these wellbeing vision statements will be kept as ‘open’ documents for Clare PPN and that they will be offered for consideration and review to members once per year so that we ensure they remain relevant and current.
For those who participated in our consultation process we would like to draw it to your attention that some of the very specific suggestions around actions or particular developments in the county were included in Clare PPN’s two submissions to the pre draft stage of Clare County Council’s County Development Plan. You can read those submissions here:
We are most grateful to all who participated in this worthwhile project so far and we encourage you to send any further thoughts or input to us by emailing sarah@clareppn.ie by January 15th 2020 after which these Community Wellbeing Visions will be deemed adopted.
Clare PPN County Level Wellbeing Vision Statement
Clare PPN Draft Wellbeing Vision Statement Ennis MD
Clare PPN Draft Wellbeing Vision Statement West Clare MD
Clare PPN Draft Wellbeing Vision Statement Killaloe MD
Clare PPN Draft Wellbeing Vision Statement Shannon MD
by Sarah Clancy | Oct 14, 2020 | Current, Members News, PPN News
Please find below minutes from Clare PPN’s Plenary Meeting of October 12th 2020.
The attached files detail the preliminary findings of Clare PPN’s Wellbeing Vision Survey which were discussed at this meeting and the individual college discussions on same. All of these will be taken into account in the drafting of Wellbeing Vision Statements for County Clare and its four Municipal Districts. Members have been notified of further opportunities to discuss their vision for their Municipal Districts before drafting begins.
Preliminary Findings of Clare PPN’s Wellbeing Vision Survey: ClarePPN Wellbeing survey_preliminaryOverview
Thanks to all who attended our Plenary Meeting we value your contributions greatly.
Minutes and Notes: Clare PPN Plenary Meeting October 12th 2020 – Online
Attending:
Sarah Clancy, Sarah Ferrigan, William Hederman, Tracy Watson, Theresa O’Donohoe, Peggy Ryan, Pat Neville, Padraic Hayes, Orla Ni Eili, Oonagh O’Dwyer, Noel Kearney, Monica McKenna, Maureen Rynne. Mary Coffey, Kay Murphy, Jean O’Keefe. Hilary Tonge, Helen Liddy. Emma Karan, Damon Mathew Wise AU, Cornelia Wahli, Colette Bradley, Cillian Griffney, Mary Mather Leahy. Fionnuala Collins, Madeline Mc Aleer.
Apologies: Mary O’Donoghue, Dermot Hayes.
Work report presented
Secretariat Environment College Elections Announced
Ratifications of new representatives as follows:
- Dermot Hayes, Social Inclusion Secretariat Member, proposed by Hilary Tonge, seconded by Cornelia Wahli.
- Kay Murphy Shannon Municipal District Secretariat Member, proposed by Theresa O’Donohoe, seconded by Colette Bradley.
- Monica McKenna Community and Voluntary Secretariat Member, proposed by Maureen Rynne, seconded by Oonagh O’Dwyer.
- Elaine D’Alton, Social Inclusion Secretariat Rep proposed by Padraic Hayes, seconded by Noel Kearney.
- Cornelia Wahli Environment Rep on LCDC proposed by Colette Bradley, seconded by Tracy Watson.
- Dermot Hayes Social Inclusion Rep on LCDC proposed by Martin Vernon, seconded by Orla Ni Eili.
Notice of pre-draft consultation on County Development Plan. Clare PPN to contact all colleges to organise submissions.
Winners announced of Wellbeing Vision Statement Draw as follows our thanks to Mary Howard Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council for selecting the winners.
Fishbowl Youth €500 Donation
Kay Murphy €100 voucher
Bonnie Boyle €100 voucher
Claire O’Meara €100 voucher
Louise Mitchell €100 voucher
Overview of Wellbeing Vision Survey presented and notice given of 8 x Municipal District Zoom Meetings taking place week of 19th – 24th October for further input and discussion.
College Discussion Break Outs on Wellbeing Vision were conducted – notes attached here: Clare PPN College Discussions Clare PPN Plenary
Members Agenda Items:
Proposed by Cornelia Wahli:
As part of our approach to the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis: Clare PPN seeks to work towards ‘An Organic Clare’ and to promote this idea in whatever forums, submissions or other opportunities we are engaged in. As part of this proposal Clare PPN should engage with Clare County Council about the lands under the guardianship of the Local Authority. This proposal was adopted.
Proposed by Cornelia Wahli:
Slim Your Bin Challenge – to Clare PPN itself, to Clare County Council and for promotion to the wider public. This proposal was discussed and Clare PPN staff agreed to take it on as an organisational approach when they return from remote working. The idea was not adopted formally as it however a commitment to come up with ways to promote and encourage this approach through Clare PPN was agreed on.
Proposed by Emma Karan
That Clare PPN undertake to contact councillors and the Local Authority to seek action on industrial waste at Aughnish on the Shannon Estuary. This was proposal was adopted. It was further proposed that Clare PPN should investigate the possibility of making a submission in respect of this to the Marine Spatial Plan process.
Proposed by Theresa O’Donohoe
Clare PPN, and Clare County Council previously adopted positions indicating their opposition to any plans for shale gas extraction commonly known as ‘fracking’ on the Island of Ireland. Clare PPN as part of its policy work on the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis also previously adopted a motion of opposition to the proposed Shannon LNG Terminal. An agreement not to proceed with Shannon LNG formed part of the current programme for national government. Theresa noted that Clare PPN should extend its position to include our opposition to the importation of fracked gas from any other jurisdiction or country. This proposal was adopted.
Proposed by Mary O’Donoghue via Sarah Clancy
That Clare PPN should reaffirm its solidarity with the Traveller Community in Clare and nationally and our commitment to work against discrimination in our community and local services. That we should extend our sympathies once more to the families and friends of those whose lives were tragically lost in the Carrickmines fire five years ago. This proposal was adopted.
Meeting Closed.
by Sarah Clancy | Nov 22, 2017 | Current, Members News, PPN News
Clare Public Participation Network and Clare Local Development Company invite you to Rural Rejigs- a day of ideas and discussions on how our communities can thrive.
When: Saturday December 9th 2017
Where: Corofin Community Hall
What time: 09.30 – 5.00 pm
Tickets are free and you can register at this link:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/rural-rejigs-tickets-39708599490?aff=efbeventtix
Please note that children are most welcome and there will be childcare and activities for children during the day but please book a child ticket at the link above for each child. This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Clare Public Participation Network and Clare Local Development Company are holding a community think- in this Saturday December 9th in Corofin Community Hall. The day which is free of charge and open to the public will provide an opportunity for people from all over Clare to discuss and learn from each other’s efforts in building vibrant thriving communities. There will also be invited guest speakers from organisations such as award winning start up social enterprise FoodCloud, Social Farming Ireland, Loop Head Tourism, Wild Kitchen, Feasta, Clare County Council, the Leader Programme in Clare and others.
The day’s events will be chaired by Clare based journalist and author Michael McCaughan, who during his time as the Latin American Correspondent for the Irish Times and Guardian Newspapers reported extensively on communities’ efforts to organise themselves in places such as Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico. There will also be music from internationally renowned Palestinian percussionist Raed Said who will discuss the role of art and culture in communities under pressure.
Speaking on the plans for the day Clare PPN Coordinator Sarah Clancy said;
‘Very often people involved in community development don’t get a chance to get together to think or plan, we have to keep reacting, keep chasing funding and deadlines and trying to provide services on a shoestring. Even though community groups and activists are vital to the survival of all that is good about rural Ireland they are under a lot of pressure now and Clare PPN wants this day to be a break from that- a day at the end of the year to regroup, to think, and to imagine what is possible for us to achieve working together in County Clare.
Clare PPN and Clare Local Development Company invite everyone with an interest in building sustainable thriving and inclusive communities to come and join us in Corofin on Saturday. The only request we have is that attendees come with open minds and a willingness to share their experiences and to listen to others.
Lovely vegetarian lunch will be provided by Moonbear Catering and childcare and activities will be available.
Guest speakers joining us include:
- Micheal McCaughan, Journalist and author
- Stephanie Jaeger of Social Farming Ireland
- Dr Mark Garavan, Applied Social Care Lecturer GMIT
- Oonagh O’Dwyer – Wild Kitchen
- Eoin MacCuirc Founding Director of award winning social enterprise FoodCloud
- Cillian Murphy, Loop Head Tourism
- Raed Said- Master Percussionist from Palestine
- Leonard Cleary- Acting Director of Rural Development Clare County Council
- Gloria Callinan, Clare Local Development Company
Programme for the day:
