Community Life

Byrne-Perry summer school

Joined: 2000 Current Position: Press Officer

The Byrne-Perry Summer School was set up to examine Irish history and literature from the eighteenth century onwards in an objective, professional and learned manner. The school has a broad appeal to those with an interest in how the last two centuries of Irish history, have shaped contemporary Ireland, north and south. The Byrne/Perry Summer School is held on the last weekend of June from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
The Byrne/Perry annually attracts participants from all over Ireland, Britain and the USA. They enjoy a convivial as well as an informative weekend. The warm, intimate atmosphere has marked itself out as a key attraction. Entertainment over the weekend includes a dinner, cabaret and an Irish music session. In 1998 History Ireland became co-sponsors of the school. In 1999 the school forged an association with Keough-Notre Dame University that looks set to continue for a number of years. Since 2000, Wexford County Council has become a major sponsor. The school has tried from the outset to establish, develop and promote cross-border relations. For the year 2000 we established links with the northern-based United Irish Commemoration Society.

The Speakers: The Byrne/Perry attracts lecturers, speakers and panellists of international repute. Speakers to date have included Tom Bartlett, Kevin Whelan, Ruan O'Donnell, and Terry Eagleton. political figures like An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, Rurai Quinn, Dr. Martin Mansergh, Peter Temple-Morris MP, Seamus Brennan, Alban Magennis and Chris McGimpsey, authors such as Stella Tillyard, and media personalities like Mary Kenny, Mary Holland and Nuala O'Faoilain. The Gordon Wilson Memorial Lecture: In 1996 the school instituted the Gordon Wilson Memorial Lecture to honour the peace efforts of Senator Gordon Wilson. The object of the lecture is to invite speakers who had a particular role in the Northern Ireland peace process to address the Summer School. The speakers to date have been Bertie Ahern, Albert Reynolds, Martin Mansergh, Peter Temple-Morris and Alban Magennis. The school has welcomed Dail Eireann, Northern Assembly, Unionist, Scottish Nationalist and Westminster representatives.
www.byrneperry.ie

Gorey Community Based Drugs Initiative

Joined: 2000 Current Position: Committee Member Past Positions Held: Chairman

The County Wexford Community Based Drugs Initiative is a multi agency response to combat drug use in the County Wexford region of the South Eastern Health Board. In accordance with the South Eastern Health Board "Drug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Strategy". This committee takes Management responsibility for the initiative and oversee the development and functioning of the four Community Based Drugs Initiative Programs which are located in the Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross and Wexford areas. This initiative was set up in February 2000
The initiative has recently launched its Action Plan Framework for 2001-2004. Minister Eion Ryan T.D who is the minster for State for local development unveiled the CBDI's acton plan and annual report. In this report the following were identified as priority areas for action:- engagement with young people using creative methods, presenting reliable information to young people, with young people, in a way to which they will respond, targeting young people between 10 years and 13 years, their parents and those who work with them, to raise awareness, knowledge and understanding, and targeting young people between 18 years and 25 years, to develop programmes with them.

Gorey Community Based Enterprise Initiative

Joined: 2002 Current Position: Committee Member

Established following a motion placed by Colin Webb at a meeting of Gorey Town Council
www.wexfordceb.ie

Gorey Community Forum

Joined: 2000 Current Position: WORD Representaive Past Positions Held: Chairman

The County Wexford Community Forum provides a platform for community and voluntary groups to network, build linkages, and be involved in the delivering of issues relating to the economic, social and cultural development of the county.

The Irish public sector is large and complex, delivering many essential and varied services. Most public sector organisations have local arrangements for delivering their services. Wexford County Development Board (CDB) is the mechanism for local government, local development, the state agencies, and the social partners, to work out an agreed vision for the development of County Wexford. The Wexford CDB has prepared a Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development "Remodelling the Model County" which will provide the framework within which all public and local development services will be implemented at local level. As one of the four social partner pillars, it is of paramount importance that the views of the community/voluntary sector are co-ordinated and channelled into the formulation of the County Wexford Strategy for Economic, Social and Cultural Development to ensure that the local strategies meet the needs of the communities. The County Wexford Community Forum is the structure and mechanism for community and voluntary groups in County Wexford to achieve this. One measure of the success of the County Development Board will be if it has impacted positively on people's lives. To achieve this, the Strategy must reflect the needs of people and consultation and participation is an effective mechanism of ascertaining these views. The County Development Board is working with the Community Forum to facilitate input and participation and is working with sectors and geographical areas not represented or under represented and assisting where possible.

The Community Forum plays a major role in voicing and inputting the views of the wider Community. It is important that the forum is as inclusive as possible and that it has a broad-based representation that can reflect society at large and also that there is equality in representation. Consultation is a process of dialogue. When managed properly, it is a mechanism of two-way communication. It can be a powerful tool for improving the quality of decision-making and service delivery. Consultation is a process in facilitating the County Development Board to agree a strategy for the County. Participation in the Consultation process affords the wider community an opportunity to have an input and influence the Board's decisions. Good services do not happen, they need to be planned and co-ordinated. Part of the planning process is consultation with the public who use these services. The purpose of this consultation process is to inform the development of a strategy. By their nature, strategies do not deal with detail. Strategies look at the big picture. We must see where we are? We must decide where we want to get? And only then, can we look at options for getting there. In fact, before we can decide on action, we must identify the outcome we are trying to achieve. It takes time and effort to think strategically and to look at the big picture rather than day to day issues. To think strategically, we almost have to work backwards. We must decide what outcome we are trying to achieve. If it is an improvement to the quality of life, how this improvement could be measured and then look at how we can bring about the required changes. This consultation process needs to identify the outcomes we want to see and then explore the options open to achieve them. The key to successful consultation is matching the methods used to the purpose of the consultation. Consultation is time consuming, and it may not be possible to consult on every single aspect and priorities may need to be agreed. Consultation is not new, but its importance is growing. Organisations and Bodies are at different levels of expertise in relation to consultation, depending generally on their level of interface with the public. In the past, Statutory Bodies consulted based on the legal requirement to do so. However, most Bodies have extended their consultation far beyond the legal requirements and are involving the public in the process much earlier, returning with drafts for observations etc. Effective consultation can help to ensure that the policy makers stay in touch with citizens. It is a principle of the Board to facilitate consultation and participation: Involvement of the wider community is one of the key principles adopted by the County Development Board.
www.wexfordcdb.ie

Gorey Community Social Services Council

Joined: 1996 Current Position: Chairman Past Positions Held: Treasurer

Gorey Community Social Services Council is a network of two dozen community, caring and charity organisations in North Wexford. It's core aim is to work together in responding to the social needs of North Wexford. It principal funding is received from the South Eastern Health Board under Section 65. In responding to the needs of North Wexford, the Council facilitated the formation of local groups such as Gorey Youth Needs, Gorey-Courtown Special Olympics Host Town Programme, Gorey Community Based Drugs Initiative and the Gorey Branch of the I.S.P.C.C. Since it was founded three decades ago, the Council has only had three Chairpersons, Fr. Walter Forde, Mr. Jack McEvoy, and the current Chairperson, Colin Webb.

The Council also operates a number of services itself. The Meals-on-Wheels service operates one day a week (Tuesday). The meals are prepared using the facilities at Saint Aidan's Services and are distributed by volunteers. Referrals to the service can be made through your local public health nurse. Week of the Elderly is six days of events aimed at the senior citizen community. Held every May, an organising sub-committee put together a fantastic programme of events. Link, the Gorey Newsletter, is published every December and includes numerous reviews of the various activities in Gorey over the previous year. North Wexford emigrants living abroad can have issues posted to them at no charge. The Christmas Food Appeal involves the distribution of food hampers, turkeys (frozen and cooked) and toy vouchers to those with limited resources over the festive season. Food is collected by the Gorey and District Lions Club, sorted and packed by volunteers of the Social Services Council and distributed through our affiliated organisations. For the last number of decades, a loyal bunch of volunteers has operated our Hospital Visitations Service, visiting North Wexford people in Saint Senan's Hospital, Enniscorthy.

Affiliated Organisations: Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Ballygarrett 1914 Club, Camolin-Enniscorthy Wheelchair Association, Gorey and District Lions Club, Gorey Asthma Society, Gorey Arch Club, Gorey Carers Group, Gorey Community Based Drugs Initiative, Gorey Community Development Group, Gorey Credit Union, Gorey Guild of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Gorey Red Cross, Legion of Mary, North Wexford Branch of the National Council of the Blind, Saint Aidan's Services, Saint Columba's Over Fifties Club, Saint Mary's '79 Club, Saint Vincent DePaul, South Eastern Branch of the Spina Bifida Association, Representatives of the South Eastern Health Board (Gorey District Hospital and Gorey Community Care).
www.comhairle.ie

Gorey-Courtown Special Olympics Host Town Programme

Joined: 1996 Current Position: Chairman

Special Olympics is a year round sports training and competition programme for children and adults with a learning/intellectual disability. Founded in 1968 in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the organisation has now grown to encompass over 160 countries worldwide. In Ireland, Special Olympics began in 1978.

The Host town programme was made up of many co-ordinators, who put in a tremendous contribution and gave their time so generously:-
Colin Webb (chairman), Michael Field (treasurer), Dave Jordan (press officer), Liz Kavanagh (secretary), Margaret Boland (entertainment), Garda Sean Clince (torch run), Catriona Dixon (sports), John Doyle (Saint Aidan's liaison), Martin Dunbar (security), Eily Fitzgerald (catering), Joe Funge (fundraising), John Kavanagh (medical), Beryl Kelly (entertainment), Eleanor Leonard (art exhibition), Damien Marshall (education), Garda John McCarty (torch run), Raymond O'Brien (Saint Aidan's liaison), Sinead O'Connor (security), Joe O'Neill (committee), Mary Owley (accommodation), Anne Sheeran (volunteers), Aine Stafford (sports), Brona Stafford (sports), Mary Sullivan (transport), Dewi Williams (committee). The Group also relied on hundreds on volunteers whose help made the week a great success.
www.2003specialolympics.com

Gorey Tidy Towns Committee

Joined: 2002 Current Position: Committee Member

The Tidy Towns competition is a national competition organised throughout Ireland each year by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that aims to find the tidiest town in Ireland. The Tidy Towns competition has been running in Ireland for over 50 years and each year attracts more than 700 local communities who compete for a cash award and the title of Ireland's Tidiest Town. The competition has been proven to have a real impact on the vibrancy and prosperity of many Irish towns and villages and encourages people to take pride in maintaining their town's heritage by presenting a clean, attractive environment, primarily for their own enjoyment and to attract tourist and commercial investment to the area. The competition is for local communities who are interested in improving the quality of their surroundings. In general, it is necessary for an entry to have a committee that will organise and agree the work that needs to be carried out and who is to carry it out and also co-operate with local groups that need to get involved (such as your local authority, businesses, residents' associations, volunteers etc.,).

The Gorey Tidy Towns was set up in 2001, following a meeting between Councillor Colin Webb and a Wexford County Council Representative. At this time Gorey had the dubious honour of last position in it's size gategory. Invitations were sent to various local organisations to join and work to improve Gorey's results in the competition. The committee is made up of representatives of Gorey Town Council, Gorey Community School Green Committee, North Wexford Tourism, North Wexford S.P.C.A., Gorey Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Gorey Central Primary School, Gorey Loreto Primary School and numerous resident associations. Representatives from Wexford County Council also attend.
www.tidytowns.ie

Gorey Tourism

Joined: 1996 Current Position: Press Officer Past Positions Held: Chairman

Gorey Tourism Office
www.northwexford.com

North Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Joined: 1999 Current Position: Press Officer

The North Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was re-launched in North Wexford in 1999 following many years of inactivity. The aim of the organisation is promote animal welfare and deal with instances of animal cruelty. It relies on fundraising and public donations to fund its operations which include an animal welfare centre and volunteer inspector.

The Society has been operating for the last number of decades in the north of the county, but had suffered a decline in support and volunteers. Following a re-launch of the group, it got an injection of new members, and the committee has grown from strength to strength ever since. A major step in the first year was the launch of a junior branch based in Gorey Community School, this now boasts two hundred members. While the adult Society has grown to eighty. In 2000, the group moved to a new level of operation, when the first inspector started. Operating in a voluntary capacity, it allowed the group to respond to emergency call-outs and begin to offer a more professional service. Since that day, we have handled over one thousand enquiries. The introduction of a twenty-four hour emergency response line, made the group more accessible to the public. In some respect, too successful, as we get enquiries from as far away as Kerry and Donegal. But we continue to help. In March 2003, we gathered again for another animal welfare first in North Wexford - the opening of our new Welfare and Information office. While we had our own cages in a local cattery, this gave us a holding area for our dogs. The capacity was not enough to cope with our operations, and the group continue to use the services of two other kennels in North Wexford.

The Group has never looked back, in fact the more we develop, the more that needs to be done. Today, the Society is actively working with many other organisations in delivering animal welfare services and it's this partnership policy that has proved our greatest route to success. We work with local authorities, Wexford County Council and the Community Warden Service, receive help and assist the Garda Siochana and have taken our place on local initiatives such as tidy towns and community fora. This has given the group a high profile and the excellent work of our members proves it is well deserved.

While we are handling an increased number of cases in North Wexford, this is more a result of greater awareness of animal welfare issues rather than an increase in incidents. As a policy, we don't seek prosecutions but work with anyone accused of animal cruelty to deal with the matter to a satisfactory conclusion. And to the purpose we have been successful. The future, will bring new developments, a new information point in the town centre, an inspectors van and develop greater links with the new Community Warden Service are a number of options. But as always, we will continue to respond to the needs of a growing and developing North Wexford.
www.ispca.ie

North Wexford Tourism

Joined: 1996 Current Position: Press Officer Past Positions Held: Chairman

North Wexford Tourism
www.northwexford.com

Pearse Street Residents Association

Joined: 2002 Current Position: Chairman

Pearse Street Residents Association

People in Need (county wexford)

Joined: 2004 Current Position: North Wexford Representative

The People in Need Trust was established in May 1988. There is a special emphasis on helping the smaller, lesser known charities who, for whatever reason, are not in a position to raise sufficient funds themselves.The primary focus is on voluntary social service organisations. The main source of funds is the highly successful RTÉ People in Need Telethon which is supported by eircom. Seven Telethons have been held to date and over €28 million has been distributed in grants, ranging from €150 to €50,000,to thousands of organisations throughout Ireland. Grant applications are assessed by advisory committees in each region before final approval by the Board of Directors of the Trust. A key condition is that moneyraised in a particular county must go back in grants to organisations in that county - in this way, the money raisedalways stays locally. The organisations who benefit are not only spread widely throughout the country but they represent a wide spectrum of social need in Ireland - organisations providing ervices for the handicapped, the homeless, the elderly, deprived childrenand other disadvantaged groups. The support of the People in Need Trustenables many of these organisations to further develop and extend the invaluablework that they carry out in our communities.

In North Wexford organisations including Saint Columba's Over Fifties Club, Sister Clemen's Playschool, Castletown Community Alert and Saint Aidan's Services have all received money from People In Need. There are three North Wexford representatives on the County Wexford People In Need Committee.
www.telethon.ie

Saint Aidan's Services

Joined: 2002 Current Position: Vice-Chairman Past Positions Held: Board Member

Saint Aidan's Services

Wexford Organisation for Rural Development

Joined: 2004 Current Position: Board Member

Elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Gorey Community Forum, I take up the position on the Board representing the North Wexford Community.

Wexford Organisation for Rural Development Ltd., W.O.R.D., was established in 1992 and delivered the LEADER I and LEADER II programmes in Wexford. It has a key strategic role to play in promoting an innovative and comprehensive approach to the long-term development of rural Wexford. To do this it seeks and encourages the active participation of the people themselves in the design and implementation of the projects aimed at improving their communities. W.O.R.D. is currently delivering the third LEADER programme - LEADER+ which will operate from 2000-2006. The aim of LEADER+ is to encourage and help rural actors to think about the long-term potential of their area. It seeks to encourage the implementation of integrated high-quality, original strategies for sustainable development in rural areas. W.O.R.D. assists community groups in analysing their resources and needs in order for them to develop community strategies and development plans. With facilitation and grant aid available from W.O.R.D. communities are in a position to be able to develop a vision for their area.

W.O.R.D. has worked with many community groups over the years and facilitated community organisation and development throughout the LEADER I and LEADER II Programmes. Community organisation and development is still fragile in many rural areas and W.O.R.D. are continuing their work with community groups through the current LEADER+ Programme to enhance skills and awareness of members of the communities and developing community networks. W.O.R.D. recognises that community leaders are vital to the growth of small villages and rural areas and we will continue to facilitate training and empowerment of community leaders, with the result that there will be a base of trained and committed community leaders active in rural areas. There are many communities with development plans in place but who lack the facilities and resources to implement these plans. It is part of our strategy to assist communities implement their development plans with provision of financial assistance. This will involve cohesion and partnership work between local voluntary effort, the local authority, FAS where appropriate and W.O.R.D. Community groups who apply to W.O.R.D. for grant aid must be a registered community group with the Wexford County Development Board's Community Forum.

W.O.R.D. has a Board of 21 members who represent a wide variety of interests including farming, fishing, youth, womens' and community organisations, along with representatives from the Local Authority, Enterprise Board, FAS and Teagasc. The Board meets on a monthly basis where it sets out strategic policy and adjudicates on project grant awards.
www.wexfordleader.ie

Gorey Town Council
Elected to Gorey Town Council in the local elections, June 1999.
www.wexford.ie

Fine Gael

I decided to join Fine Gael because of its core beliefs:-

Equality of opportunity: Fine Gael wants to create a fair and caring society where everybody is engaged in democracy, and where there are no barriers to equal opportunity. Fine Gael stands for investment in our public services and sees health and education as rights, not privileges.

Enterprise and Reward : Fine Gael encourages initiative, innovation, investment and self-reliance. The Party also believes in preserving, enhancing and sharing prosperity. Fine Gael stands for a vibrant, competitive economy. To that end, we believe Government policy should encourage initiative and reward hard work, thus driving economic activity and creating jobs.

Security : Fine Gael wants to build a safe society in Ireland by protecting citizens and enforcing the law. The Party also believes in strengthening families, in all their modern forms, and in fostering communities. Fine Gael stands for law and order. We believe in tough sentences for criminals and more Gardai on the beat while also tackling the root causes of crime like poverty and educational disadvantage.

Integrity : Fine Gael believes in being truthful and courageous in what we do, and in promoting and upholding both the rights and the responsibilities of people. Fine Gael stands for integrity in public life. We believe in ensuring all of us live up to our responsibilities as well as enjoying our rights as Irish men and women.

Hope : Fine Gael wants to build an Ireland of excellence and ambition. We hope to do this by promoting a shared vision of a confident and sustainable future for Ireland, both at home and abroad. Fine Gael stands for a climate of hope. To achieve this, we believe in enhancing Ireland's international reputation through our support for the European Union, protecting communities through balanced regional development and safeguarding our children's future through protection of the environment.
www.finegael.ie