Network News 1st July 2016 Your FREE fortnightly round-up of all that is important in the Co Monaghan community sector, delivered to your Inbox Welcome to this edition of the PPN s fortnightly newsletter. Leona s on a well-earned break, so the monkey has taken over the plantation Carol here! Bear with me you re likely to find all kinds of news in this edition, but hopefully some of it will be of use to you. Normal service will resume for the next issue promise!! Report on PPN Plenary Meeting We had a great meeting out in Ballyoisin last Tuesday night. Reps from the many committees to which the PPN is linked came in to tell the community of their work, and to give groups the opportunity to raise issues with them. Feedback from the event was very positive, and the Reps report that several groups have raised specific issues with them which they will now follow up. Further work will be done on this and we will report back in more detail in the near future. Youth Safe Socialising Campaign Expanded into Summer The Joint Policing Committee s very successful Don t Pour Your Dreams Away campaign, designed by the young people of Comhairle na nóg and delivered in partnership by MID, Cavan Monaghan ETB, Youth Work Ireland Monaghan, An Garda Siochana and Monaghan County Council, will run throughout the summer for the first time this year. Local businesses have come on board to sponsor a range of fantastic prizes which will be given away through the Don t Pour Your Dreams Away Facebook page, to help spread this important message. Please visit the Facebook page and share the campaign s video to help to spread the message as far as possible. Otherwise, I m going to have a very busy summer redeeming all these vouchers for kayaking and quad biking and horse riding and swimming and festival tickets and..
Does YOUR Group have a Development Plan? If you ve got a project in mind, and you re thinking of applying for funding, we strongly recommend that you consider putting a Development Plan in place before you approach any funders. It will show any prospective funders: that you are well organised that you have the ability to put projects together (carrying out a community planning exercise is a project in itself) that you have thoroughly considered all your community s needs and that the project you re proposing is truly the one which best suits the needs of your area that your group has the support of the community behind you (you will have carried out a public consultation exercise and will be able to point to the results of this as evidence of the public support for your project) that you have thought about how you re going to run the project, finance it, staff it, keep it going after any grant aid runs out These are all things a funder will want to know before they consider making an investment in your group. I ve put up a short guide to development plans, what should go in one, where you get the information from (eg census data) etc on the PPN s website, under the INFORMATION section. Have a read, and if you intend to make a funding application in the not-too-distant future, now s the time to get started on the Development Plan which will give your funding application the context the funders will be looking for when they sit down to make their decision. https://ppnmonaghan.ie/information/outline-of-a-development-plan/
News from the Reps Network Every three months, the Community Reps meet with the Secretariat to share information and also to take the opportunity to invite in a speaker on an issue which affects the community sector, so that they can learn more about it. At the most recent Reps Network meeting in June, Padraic Smyth from Cavan Monaghan Transport Co-Ordination Unit spoke to us about the issues facing people living in rural areas with regards to accessing transport. Padraic would like us to remind all groups that the TCU is there to help. If your group is trying to provide a service locally, but people can t avail of it because they have no transport, contact Padraic and he will put on a service. That s what he does. Padraic also flagged up an issue which every one who hires buses should think about: If your group hires a bus and it is involved in an accident, should it come to light that it did not have the proper safety certification, the courts are jointly holding the person/ body who hired the bus responsible, if they did not check for certification when hiring. Hence a group, or a school board, could find itself with a civil case against it should someone on that bus come to harm, and the group hadn t checked the bus s certification. To protect yourself, you should be looking for proof of their insurance, and their compliance with safety regulations, both for the bus and for the driver they will be providing you with on the day. THE TCU HAS A LIST OF COMPLIANT BUS CONTRACTORS AND CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF WORRY. CONTACT PADRAIC ON 049 555 2401
Outdoor Activities at Crom Castle, (Newtownbutler): Sunday, 3 July. Afternoon of fun outdoor activities celebrating the beauty of nature and wildlife at Crom. Take part in craft activities, bug huts, woodland trails and more. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/crom Junior Eco-Watchers Training Week (for Primary School Teachers): 4-8 July. This oneweek course will equip primary school teachers with the knowledge, skills & inspiration to carry out practical, hands-on and readymade environmental education activities related to Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Biodiversity and Outdoor education. The course will also give an introduction to Environmental Action Projects. Dept of Ed Approved. Tel (01) 662 5491. Email: education@ecounesco.ie. Annual Beekeeping Summer Course (Gormanston, Co Meath): Sunday evening, 24 July to lunchtime Friday, 29 July. Beginner to Advanced lectures and workshops. Organised by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations. See News at www.irishbeekeeping.ie Sustainability Matters A Transition Monaghan Initiative Compiled by Liam Murtagh NOTICEBOARD Notices with a County Monaghan Focus New Leader Programme Local Development Strategy approved for County: The new LEADER programme for Monaghan will bring of 7.6m.funding into the county including support for projects in the area of protecting biodiversity and water resources. Further information on the LEADER programme at www.midl.ie or by contacting the LEADER Team on 042 9749500 or emailing LEADER@midl.ie. Training for Daubentons Bat Surveying (Inniskeen): Monday, 4 July at 8.30pm in Inniskeen Social Club. All welcome. See www.tidytownsnetworkmonaghan.wordpress.com Tidy Towns ECO Summer Camp (Castleblayney). Monday, 11- Friday, 15 July. Aimed at 8 12 year olds. Tel 086 8462294. For details on other summer camps in county see link in next item. County Monaghan Upcoming Events Listing: To see a listing of a wide range of upcoming events in the county, including summer camps for children and young adults, Muckno Mania, Carrickroe Homecoming Festival, Inniskeen Road July Evening and various 1916 Commemorative Events, see www.events.monaghantourism.com and www.facebook.com/monaghantourism. Monaghan Farmers Market: Every Friday morning outside the courthouse in Monaghan town. General Notices: Courses, Conferences and Events Organic Centre Courses (Rossinver, Co Leitrim. Saturday, 2 July: (1) Preserving: Traditional and Modern Methods. (2) Grow Wheatgrass, Sprouts and Microgreens. Sunday, 3 July: Grow Your Own Fruit - Summer Workshop. Saturday, 9 July: (1) Fermented and Cultured Foods - the next level. (2)Therapeutic Gardening: Sunday, 10 July: How to Design a Garden with award winning garden designer Leonie Cornelius. Saturday, July 16: The Organic Centre Garden Party- A fundraising event with Chef Neven Maguire and much more. See Courses at www.theorganiccentre.ie.
Annual Beekeeping Summer Course (Gormanston, Co Meath): Sunday evening, 24 July to lunchtime Friday, 29 July. Beginner to Advanced lectures and workshops. Organised by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations. See News at www.irishbeekeeping.ie Wickerman Celebration (Armagh) A festival of Fire & Flames: Saturday, 6 August at Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh. See www.armagh.co.uk/event/wickerman All Ireland Permaculture Gathering 2016: Friday 19 - Monday 22 August in Cloughjordan Eco Village, Tipperary. Camping facilities available. See www.permaculture.ie. For other permaculture events see www.cultivate.ie. SPUD OFF SOUTH MONAGHAN POTATO GROWING N COOKING COMPETITION by Conan Connolly, Transition Monaghan A celebration and get together for the potato lovers and growers of South Monaghan will take place again this year in Carrickmacross. Now in its second year, we are running this event to promote awareness of the humble spud, the Transition movement and of course promoting GIY in a fun and friendly competitive way. The final will be on Saturday, 11 September in Carrickmacross. This growing / tasting competition is open to all local schools community groups and individual growers. It's a local competition, so contestants must have grown the spuds locally. No experience is required to grow potatoes. Check out this link for all you need to know and to see how easy it can be to grow and also care for your potato crop until harvesting time. See www.thegardenshop.ie/how-to-grow-potatoes. There are loads more hints tips and tricks out there and other growers are only too keen to talk about spuds and hear ways to improve their flavour, texture and yield. Seamus McEnaney from Castleblayney last year s champion. To find out about the rules of the competition go to www.transitionmonaghan.org or Transition Monaghan s Facebook page or alternatively email transitionmonaghan@gmail.com or tel Conan Connolly at 086 0641864 Conan Connolly is the Co-ordinator of this year s Spud Off competition Pictured at the 2015 Spud Off were Conan Connolly (left) and Seamus McEnaney, who won 1 st Prize. While every effort has been taken in relation to the accuracy of notices, it is recommended that readers check relevant websites for up-to-date information. Transition Monaghan is a voluntary community initiative promoting local and global sustainability. See www.transitionmonaghan.org and our Facebook page or email
Funding Focus So, a quick round-up of where things are at. PEACE IV Your help needed community space in Monaghan town The Special EU Programmes Body has a call open at present for the Spared Spaces theme of the PEACE IV programme. This theme is open to all off Northern Ireland and the Border Counties, and seeks to fund a small number of large, iconic spaces which will serve as a legacy for the PEACE programme and its role in bringing the people of this island together. It was under this theme in the last PEACE programme that the Peace Link sports facility in Clones was created, attracting over 7 million in EU funding. Monaghan County Council intends to submit an application under the Shared Spaces priority of the Peace IV programme for a new iconic building in Monaghan Town, to be known as Monaghan Peace Campus. The campus will provide a multi-purpose community hub, youth hub, cultural heritage centre, library service, and outdoor recreation areas, and will be located where the old Council machinery yard and fire station were, down beside the Garda station. As part of the application process the Council must demonstrate the need for this kind of facility. The Council has distributed an online questionnaire and would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete it, and help them to build the case for the need for such a shared space in Monaghan town. Please also share this across all your groups and networks. Monaghan town is badly in need of a community hub such as this. Please help the Council to make it happen. Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ktj72np Thank you for your support Further information: Nicola Payne, Monaghan County Council npayne@monaghancoco.ie LEADER: The Local Development Strategy for Monaghan has been approved. There is word of the LEADER programme being launched nationally within the next fortnight. Groups can expect to be able to apply for funding to Monaghan LEADER before the end of the summer. IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!! In previous LEADER programmes, there was an open call, and groups could apply whenever they were ready. This time round, it is intended to have CLOSING DATES for various elements (eg rural tourism), so if you re not ready, you could miss the boat! So get ready. John Toland is ready and willing to talk to community groups and private individuals about their plans no obligation. Call 042 9749500 to make an appointment Monaghan Peace IV Partnership Monaghan Peace IV Partnership has been formed, under the auspices of the Local Community Development Committee. Elections were held on 9th May in Corcaghan to appoint three PPN Reps to the Board. Thanks to the great turnout on the night. They are: Brendan Lillis - Border Bounce Gymnastics Egle Pasternokiene Lithuanian Community Art Agnew Patrick Kavanagh Centre Thank you to our reps for agreeing to serve, and to all those who put their names forward. Monaghan Peace Partnership has engaged a consultant to assist them in preparing their Local Action Plan. This document interprets the PEACE programme objectives for the Monaghan context, and says what kind of project should be prioritised for funding by the Monaghan Partnership. This document, when ready, will be made available for comment to the public before being submitted to the SEUPB. It is only when the SEUPB accepts how Monaghan Peace Partnership proposes to deliver the programme in Co Monaghan (as outlined in its Local Action Plan) that it will give Monaghan Peace Partnership the go-ahead to start rolling out the programme in Co Monaghan. So, we are a few months away from being able to make an application for funding to Monaghan Peace Partnership at least. But at least we know. All this talk of Peace reminded me of one of my favourite Kavanagh poems, so it being a Friday evening, I thought I d share the sentiment with you... PEACE And sometimes I am sorry when th Is growing over the stones in quiet And the cocksfoot leans across the That I am not the voice of country Who now are standing by some he Of turnips and potatoes or young c Of turf banks stripped for victory. Here Peace is still hawking His coloured combs and scarves a Upon a headland by a whinny hed A hare sits looking down a leaf-lap There's an old plough upside-down And someone is shouldering home Out of that childhood country what To fight with tyrants Love and Life
Playgrounds I will be reviewing Monaghan County Council s Play Policy over the next month or so. I ll be looking at why the Council provides playgrounds, they type of playgrounds we provide, where they re located etc. If your community has plans to develop a play facility, or is planning to approach the Council to request that we provide one, now is the time to come forward. Let me know what s going on out there, so I can provide for it in my review, and plan for it in the work plan I hope to develop coming out of the review. Every year for the past four years, the Dept of Children and Youth Affairs has made a small amount of funding available to the Council to enhance play facilities in the county. There are other potential sources of funding, including the LEADER programme. The Council is open to developing play facilities in partnership with community groups. I would like to have a list of projects for 2017-2020 at the ready, so that we can make the most of any opportunities that come up in the coming months. If you want on that list, let me know. clambe@monaghancoco.ie Here s one I made earlier...wilbert s Enchanted Garden in Muckno Park, Castleblayney Road Safety Gear & Smoke Alarms on the Way Get your Orders In! Apparently I am known in certain circles as the Freebie Fairy I ll take that title, could be much worse I m sure! The Dept of the Environment is running its smoke alarm scheme for vulnerable households again, and we will shortly be taking delivery of some 500 units. These will be given out FREE of charge to older people, people living alone and people living in private rented accommodation. If your group is interested in targeting people who fall into the vulnerable category and distributing alarms, please let me know and I will set some aside for you. We will also be taking possession of a large number of hi viz vests, armbands, and other paraphernalia from the Road Safety Authority, as part of a drive by the Joint Policing Committee to ensure everyone is safe on our roads as we come into the autumn months. Again, if you re interested in distributing these, or perhaps carrying a stock in your community centre or other such enterprise, let me know Clambe@monaghancoco.ie e grass hollows rutted cart-pass ellows adland talking orn nd beads of horn. e ped furrow on a weedy ridge a saddle-harrow. fools climb and Time? In case you re Wondering Yes, I give out my email address a lot. This is because I m in and out of the office a lot, and therefore I m hard to get on the phone It s also because I can t work the answering machine on the phone! So don t leave a message. If you don t get me on the land line, hang up, and email me! Carol Lambe Community Development Officer Office of Community & Enterprise, Monaghan County Council clambe@monaghancoco.ie 047 30500
The North Eastern Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force is running a number of courses. The following may be of interest to community volunteers Community Addiction Studies Course The CASC course is a 20 session programme that enables people living or working in the community to become more effective when they encounter drugs/alcohol misuse or addiction. The course covers drug types & effects and the process of addiction. The course is QQI FETAC Level 5 accredited. When: Commencing September 2016 Where: Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan More info on this, and other courses on offer: info@nedrugtaskforce.ie 046 924 8630 Have you Seen the My Monaghan campaign yet? A series of engaging, quirky and very real videos, showcasing what makes county Monaghan truly unique, is about to go live and through the stories, secrets and observations of our own local people, our county is finding its voice in the most compelling of ways. Titled My Monaghan, the initiative is being launched with a number of short video pieces less than 90 seconds long focusing on what we in Monaghan have to offer the curious tourist from heritage and art to music, gastronomy and golf. However, these short videos are just the beginning as local people are being invited to share their own stories, memories and moments about what makes home the special place it is. As Monaghan County Council Tourism Officer, Dympna Condra, says The more we talked about what makes Monaghan special, the more we kept coming back to the people. Real people, characters, personalities and stories of the locals. We wanted people to share what they felt about the county in a very true, personal and engaging way and so the concept of My Monaghan was born. The result is an initial series of mini films that start to put a face and a voice to Monaghan featuring the likes of chef Conor Mee and Monaghan footballer, Dick Clerkin. Simple and short, these are videos that truly celebrate ordinary heroes reminding us that in a place like Monaghan, magic can be found on every street corner. What s Your Monaghan? A Monaghan sunset? The buzz at a festival? Or sheer match day magic? Monaghan County Council, through the My Monaghan initiative wants to find out what makes Monaghan unique to you and why you just love calling our beautiful county, home. And it could just make you a winner! Here s how: 1. TAKE a pic or make a quick video of whatever it is that best sums up My Monaghan for you. 2 SHARE it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #mymonaghan. STAND the chance to win! Monaghan County Council Tourism Unit will use the best entries to help promote the county AND three overall winners will be awarded cash prizes as follows: First prize 250 Second prize 150 Third Prize 100 The following Terms and Conditions apply: By submitting an entry, entrants consent to Monaghan County Council Tourism Unit using or reproducing their photographs and videos for the purpose of promoting the county. Competition is open to amateur photographers & videographers only Winners will be selected by a judging panel and the judges decision will be final Winners will be announced via the Monaghan Tourism social media feeds on 26 th August 2016. So come on, share the story, tell the tale, celebrate the extraordinary of the ordinary. Share YOUR Monaghan NOW! Next edition of Monaghan PPN News: Friday 15th July 2016. Send your items to Leona at ppn@monaghancoco.ie