Changing Ireland

If you have 60 seconds tonight, two Irish community-based projects are calling for your vote to make a mark on the European stage. But hurry! Public vote closes 11pm. You can pick your two favourites (three max) in under a minute. Cast your vote here: socialinnovationplus.eu/soci… The two are among 31 shortlisted projects vying for ESF+ Social Innovation Awards and the public vote will help decide which 12 projects make it through. The Irish projects are the @BallyhouraDev Breakthrough Pilot focused on Charleville, Co. Cork, and #RuralRevive which operates in Cavan and Monaghan. The Breakthrough project supports individuals and families facing complex challenges through a person-centred coaching approach that promotes self-advocacy and empowerment. Through adopting lessons learned in communities in the Netherlands, the project sought to build on the strengths of Ireland’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). VIDEO: youtube.com/watch?v=ITscdaFb… The Rural Revive project aims to support over 100 people aged 45 or over in parts of Ireland and Greece to return to meaningful, local employment while supporting local employers with valuable wage subsidies. LONG VIDEO: youtube.com/watch?v=js9DQ97D… If you have time it’s well worth looking at all 31 projects from 11 European countries. Full video and descriptive details here: socialinnovationplus.eu/soci… @ESF_Ireland #SocialInnovation #ESFPlus #EUFunds #BallyhouraDevelopment #Cavan #Monaghan #socialinnovationplusinitiative #futureinsperspective

“There’s not a bottle with medication in it that is as good as going out to the farm,” said Peter Brady, a speaker at today’s Social Farming Ireland conference. Through social farming Peter found a way to get through his mental health challenges and today he shared a stage with the farmer Gerard Deegan who helped him. They have become friends and Gerard was in tears listening to Peter tell his story. Today’s national @Lairdhse06 conference centred on testimony from participants and providers telling of the good that social farming does for them. These stories made an impact on @martinheydonfg, Minister for @agriculture_ie, who came early to meet participants before opening the conference. He spoke to @allenmeagher of Changing Ireland afterwards to sum up what he said in his speech and he promised to stress to cabinet colleagues the benefits of social farming – see video. There are well over 200 people here from all over Ireland attending the conference which is taking place at The Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Co Laois. The event is also looking at the impacts, outcomes and the future of social farming. @DeptRCDG

The official launch of five new Traveller homes in Galway – in an area now called Bóithrín na Saoirse – is the result of a new collaborative approach to delivering Traveller-specific accommodation. It places Traveller voices at the heart of the process. The development, in a place now called Bóithrín na Saoirse, in Rahoon, was led by Cena Approved Housing Body with support throughout from @GalwayCityCo. Cena is the Cant word for home. Speaking at the official launch, Traveller and local resident John Ward said: “Our life has changed completely and this is the way forward for Travellers, places like this.” The launch was performed by @eamonocuiv former communities minister and former deputy chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, and by @AlanCheeversFF , Galway City’s Deputy Mayor. 📖 Read the article in full: changingireland.ie/traveller… @PaveePoint @itmtrav #ChangingIreland #TravellerAccommodation #HousingJustice #CommunityDevelopment #TravellerVoices #Galway

The inaugural @theILDN Conference, held recently in Ballina, Co. Mayo, celebrated the essential role that Local Development Companies play in social inclusion, rural development, enterprise support, and community services nationwide. The two-day event on October 30–31 was hosted by the Local Development Companies Network (LDCN) and brought together leaders and changemakers from across sectors to explore “how to build stronger communities, inclusive societies, and resilient local economies”. 📖 Read the full article here: changingireland.ie/hundreds-… #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #LocalDevelopment #SocialInclusion #RuralIreland #FromTheCommunities

Natalia Krasnenkova was among those who were front and centre during the official visit by the President of Ukraine, @VolodyZelenskyy , to Ireland in December. Here she provides a first-hand account from inside @LeinsterHouse , when she and fellow Ukrainians who now serve as community workers in Ireland met President Zelenskyy. They were visibly buoyed by his visit. Natalia had hoped to raise the issue of online hate with Zelenskyy but time did not allow for it. “Unfortunately, I did not have time to ask about countering disinformation. Now we are observing a wave of fakes about Ukrainians in Ireland, various provocations and hate speech on social media. It looks like a deliberate campaign to incite hostility between Ukrainians and the local population,” she writes. Natalia says these disinformation campaigns are happening across Europe. “Their goal is to discredit Ukraine and Ukrainians and incite hostility between communities,” warns Natalia. Russia’s war against Ukraine stretches from the frontline to our online world. 👉 Read the full article here: changingireland.ie/ukrainian… @NEWKDNews @ukraniancommunityire #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #Ukraine #UkrainiansInIreland #Disinformation #OnlineHate #CommunityWorkers #Solidarity #IrishCommunity #GrassrootsVoices

Community cafés are busier than ever — and under real pressure At @Crosscare1 Community Café in Dublin, demand is rising as food, energy and staffing costs soar. For €5, people can still access a three-course meal — but funding remains uncertain. Senior manager Yvonne Fleming says today’s users include families and working people struggling with rent and childcare. Crosscare also runs a citywide food poverty casework service, offering groceries and practical financial support. Read the full story 👇 changingireland.ie/dublin-cr… #ChangingIreland #CommunityCafes #FoodPoverty #IrishCommunity

“There’s a different world out there that no one talks about.” For the first time in 20+ years, @StMunchinsCC in Limerick won’t offer Christmas dinners this year. CEO Linda Ledger says soaring food, heat & staffing costs — alongside shrinking regeneration funding — have left community cafés under severe strain. Running costs are €237k annually, while supports are steadily reducing. Meanwhile, the people they serve are cutting back on essentials — some now coming for dinner just 3 days a week instead of every day. A quiet crisis, playing out in communities across Ireland. 🔗 Read the full story: changingireland.ie/theres-a-… #ChangingIreland #CommunityCafés #Limerick #IrishCommunity #CostOfLiving

Happy New Year from all of us at Changing Ireland. Thank you to everyone working in communities across the country — volunteers, workers, activists and neighbours — for everything you do. Here’s to a hopeful, fairer and more connected 2026. #HappyNewYear #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #IrishCommunity

🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us at Changing Ireland Thank you to everyone working every day to strengthen communities across Ireland — volunteers, community groups, activists, organisers, and supporters. Your work matters, and we’re proud to help tell your stories. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and continued solidarity into the New Year. — The Changing Ireland team #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #IrishCommunity #Solidarity

🎄 A Christmas message from our Editor 🎄 Hi everyone, Allen here, editor of Changing Ireland. As the year comes to a close, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone working in and for communities across Ireland — volunteers, community workers, activists, social enterprises and local leaders. Your work often happens quietly, but it matters deeply. From all of us at Changing Ireland, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Enjoy a well-earned rest if you can, and we’ll see you again in 2026 with more stories from the heart of Irish community life. #ChangingIreland #CommunityIreland #ThankYou #GrassrootsChange #NollaigShona

🎄 Changing Ireland offices will be closed from Mon 22 Dec to 5 Jan 2026. Wishing all our readers, contributors & community partners a merry and peaceful Christmas and a hopeful New Year. Thank you for everything you do for communities across Ireland. 💚 #ChangingIreland #IrishCommunity #CommunityDevelopment #Moyross

🎙️ A major moment for community media in Ireland: @scariffbayradiohas secured a full-time broadcasting licence, becoming the 22nd fully licensed community station in the State. After a decade on air — moving from 30-day licences, to 100-day licences, to broadcasting weekends — volunteers can now expand to 3 days a week, thanks to approval from @CNaM_ie. Station manager Jim Collins says the licence gives them room to grow sustainably: “We’re a voluntary group. We want to enjoy it, not be stressed by it.” @CRAOL welcomed the move, noting many aspirant stations have waited over a decade to progress. Community radio remains a powerful community development tool — 90+ volunteers, local organisations, sports clubs, culture groups, and everyday voices finding a platform. 📻 Tune in: scariffbayradio.com 📖 Full story: changingireland.ie/scariff-b… #CommunityRadio #EastClare #GrassrootsChange #IrishCommunity #MediaForGood #ChangingIreland

Why are community groups finding it so hard to open bank accounts? In our latest issue, we explore what’s behind mounting frustration among volunteer-led organisations across Ireland. @AIBIreland & @talktoBOI say they must follow strict AML/CFT/KYC regulations, even for small community groups with multiple volunteer signatories. Meanwhile, the @DeptRCDGDept and @pobal say they’ve received no complaints and aren’t aware of problems. But on the ground, groups say delays and complex processes are stopping them from accessing grants, running events, and supporting local people. For many, the burden has become unmanageable. Read the full story: changingireland.ie/banks-bou… #CommunityDevelopment #Governance #IrishCommunity #Volunteering #GrassrootsChange #ChangingIreland

Ireland’s community cafés are struggling — and a new national action group is calling for support. 27 cafés in 10 counties have formed the National Community Cafés Action Group, seeking a €1m Government fund to help them cope with soaring costs. The group visited Leinster House earlier this year to launch an impact report highlighting their role: affordable meals, training programmes, social inclusion, food poverty supports & vital community connection. But pressures extend beyond the group’s members. In Limerick, St Munchin’s Community Centre Café has announced it cannot offer Christmas Day dinners for the first time in 20+ years. CEO Linda Ledger warns: “I can’t ask my staff to come in on Christmas Day when they mightn’t have a job next year.” With €23.1m for community development & €5m for social enterprise in the national budget, cafés hope this essential community infrastructure won’t be left behind. Full story in the latest issue of Changing Ireland. @StMunchinsCC @LeinsterHouse #CommunityCafes #SocialEnterprise #FoodPoverty #Limerick #Ireland #ChangingIreland

Community groups across Ireland are being stalled by something as simple as opening a bank account. Walkinstown Number Two Sister Shed has spent almost 2 years trying—meaning no access to grants or funding that could support their work with local women. As Yvonne Traynor puts it: “We’re two years up and running and still have no bank account.” They’re not alone. Increased governance and compliance rules are hitting smaller, volunteer-led groups the hardest. @LimerickCYPSC describes society as “a lot more bureaucratic,” while @SDC_Partnership notes older members struggle most with digital requirements. The result? Volunteers doing more paperwork than community work. Full story: changingireland.ie/its-very-… @AskAIB @bankofireland #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #IrishCommunity #Governance #VolunteerVoices #CommunityFinance #Ireland

Social enterprises are doing some of the most important — and often overlooked — work in Ireland today. For people leaving prison, they provide stability, structure, belonging and real pathways back into community life. Our newest article is led by @JodyMoorePonce , a postdoctoral researcher at @CUBSucc, working on the EU Horizon WISESHIFT project, which examines work-integration social enterprises across Europe. She is working with principal investigator @MaryOShaughne16 and mentor @MWvanTwuijver Their article explores how WISEs bridge the gap between custody and community, offering real work, routine and support — not symbolic placements. The piece highlights new UK research by Rebecca Jayne Oswald, European WISE evidence, and examples from Irish initiatives like the @mugshotcafe and @SpeireNua . If Ireland is serious about reducing reoffending and strengthening communities, we need to support the bridge-builders doing this work every day. 📖 Read the full article in our newest issue, or find it online at: 👉 changingireland.ie #ChangingIreland #SocialEnterprise #WISE #Reintegration #Inclusion #CommunityDevelopment #PrisonReform #SocialImpact #Ireland

Hi everyone — Allen here, editor @changingireland . Our latest issue is going out countrywide this week, and I wanted to give you a preview of our lead story — a powerful interview with singer + activist @gemmadunleavy1 . Gemma, from Dublin’s north inner city, told us something unforgettable: “Community to me means soil — the soil my roots are planted in.” In the full interview, she talks about: • growing up in Sheriff Street and the strength of working-class women • gentrification, neglect + why two like-minded people can spark a movement • her great-grandmother, the “midwife of the Monto,” whose legacy shaped her activism • her call for justice for Terence Wheelock, 20 years on It’s one of the most honest conversations we’ve published — a reminder of what community really means in Ireland today. Read the full story → changingireland.ie/gemma-dun… @NorthWallCDP @RotundaHospital #ChangingIreland #IrishCommunity #Dublin #SocialJustice #GrassrootsChange #CommunityDevelopment

A quarter of the new Changing Ireland issue is already gone — flying out the door! The latest edition is now on its way across the country. Read it online here: 👉 changingireland.ie/ #ChangingIreland #CommunityDevelopment #SocialInclusion #Ireland

“Community to me means soil — the soil my roots are planted in.” In our latest issue, Changing Ireland speaks with singer & activist @gemmadunleavy1 , whose artistry is deeply shaped by her Sheriff Street upbringing. She describes a community held together through decades of neglect — often by the hands of local women who kept each other safe when no one else would. Gemma reflects on the challenges her area faces today, from gentrification to decision-making without community voices in the room. She also shares advice for anyone who feels isolated: 👉 “A group only takes two people. Start something small — a walking group, a tidy-ups crew — anything that brings people together.” She uses her platform to continue raising the call for justice for Terence Wheelock, who died 20 years ago after falling into a coma in Garda custody. His family and supporters still seek an independent public inquiry. Gemma’s message is clear: community is strength — and worth fighting for. Full story here: 🔗 changingireland.ie/ #ChangingIreland #SheriffStreet #CommunityDevelopment #SocialJustice #IrishMusic #GrassrootsChange #TerenceWheelock @NorthWallCDP @RotundaHospital

A converted horsebox in Tralee is changing lives. ☕🌍 The Coffee Pod by Tralee Resource Centre trains asylum seekers & refugees in barista skills, customer service + English — giving people confidence, work experience & community. Supported by @countykerry , LEADER, @NEWKDNews & the Community Recognition Fund. Full story👇 changingireland.ie/cloudpick… #SocialEnterprise #CommunityDevelopment #Tralee #Kerry #IntegrationInAction #ChangingIreland