The 2024 Wicklow Connecting Communities Roadshows wrapped up with a successful final event in Arklow, held just before Halloween. Over five events across County Wicklow, the roadshows brought together diverse voices, empowering community members to explore challenges and shared goals under the theme of “Strengthening Community Voices.”
Spearheaded by Wicklow Public Participation Co-ordinator Helen Howes and her colleague Grainne Quinn, our own Barry Symes, Head of ROI Community Finance Ireland, was in attendance to hear from volunteers and the community conversations.
Barry Symes- Head of Community Finance RoI, Community Finance Ireland with Carina Holmes- Wicklow LCDC, Delgany Community Council and Wicklow Older Persons’ Council at the Wicklow Connecting Communities Roadshow.
Having collaborated with clients such as Tinahely Community Centre and Arklow Maritime Museum and more recently supporting Enniskerry Tennis Club Barry has first-hand experience of supporting community empowerment through the use of social finance solutions.
Community Finance Ireland’s Head of Community Finance RoI Barry Symes pictured with Enniskerry Tennis Club who recently benefitted from Community Finance Ireland’s support.
Wicklow looks forward to building on these conversations for a more connected and engaged future. For more details on how social finance helps empower voices click here.
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Local volunteers at Enniskerry Tennis Club were delighted to welcome a recent visit from Community Finance Ireland (CFI), where they received social finance, to continue their work in fostering an inclusive and thriving community tennis club. The funding will aid ongoing club memberships and contribute to an exciting new court resurfacing project.
With a strong focus on inclusivity, Enniskerry Tennis Club has introduced initiatives such as Affordable kids’ camps and Women in Sports programs. These efforts have made the club a welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds. Thanks to the support from CFI, volunteers can continue to invest in improving the facilities for todays and tomorrow’s members.
Serving up community spirit at Enniskerry Tennis Club were Back Row L to R: Conor Dowd (Club Secretary), Barry Symes (Head of ROI Community Finance Ireland) and Charlie Weijer (Club Treasurer). Fore: Jose Poveda (Club Founder). Photo credit: Julien Behal.
Conor Dowd, Club Secretary, expressed his gratitude for the backing, saying:
“The support from Community Finance Ireland couldn’t have come at a better time. This funding will not only enhance our facilities but also help us continue making tennis accessible to everyone in the community.”
Barry Symes, Head of CFI ROI and a tennis fan himself, was thrilled to take to the court during his visit, picking up some tips from the volunteers on improving his own game.
Commenting on the day, Barry said:
“Community facilities like what the group is doing at Bog Meadow are proof that with community buy-in, progress can and is made. We were delighted to be in a position to support them in their journey to game, set, and match for everyone.”
With CFI’s backing, the club looks forward to continuing its objective of making tennis affordable, accessible, and enjoyable for all, in the Wicklow region.
If your local sports club has ambitions get in touch and see how we might help here.
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– Community Finance Ireland delivers €7 million of support in Munster region since 2016-
A new community garden and café will open its doors at Killaloe Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre following major renovations. The renovations have been completed in time for the centre to celebrate its 20th anniversary in early July, thanks to support from Community Finance Ireland (CFI).
Well established in the local community since its foundation in 2003, the Family Resource Centre moved into the former Garda Barracks on The Green in 2017.
With the support of Community Finance Ireland, refurbishments were undertaken to make the building fully accessible; to upgrade toilet facilities; repurpose outbuildings; and to landscape the rear of the building into a community garden. The outbuildings now accommodate a training kitchen and café which will be open to the public in Autumn 2023.
Providing training and education, information services and tailored supports for young people, elderly people, parents, refugees and those with disabilities, the Family Resource Centre also offers rooms for hire to local community organistions, including the newly established training kitchen.
Kees Duson, Manager of Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre, said:
“When we first opened our doors in 2003, we were based in a small residential apartment, which we outgrew very quickly. We spent the next decade located in a commercial premises on Main Street in Killaloe, which, while it gave us fantastic footfall and helped many people in the community to discover our services and supports, the steep hill meant it was difficult for older people in our community and for those with mobility issues to access.
When we agreed a long-term lease with the Office of Public Works for this building, we knew we’d found a home for the community that was full of potential. This is a very old building and it had been empty for four or five years before we took it over so it needed a lot of work to address wear and tear and damp and bring it up to standard on accessibility and energy ratings. There weren’t many options for community groups seeking funding around that time so we were delighted to discover Community Finance Ireland’s tailored supports for volunteer and community-led organisations. It was exactly what we were looking for.”
Pictured at Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre’s new premises in Co. Clare: Gillian Costelloe, Chairperson; Bróna Moriarty; Nora Keogh, Client Relationship Manager for Munster at Community Finance Ireland; Linda Stainsby; Marie Moroney and Kees Duson, Killaloe Ballina FRC Manager.
Nora Keogh, CFI Client Relationship Manager for the Munster Region, said:
“We’re delighted to have played our part in supporting the Killaloe Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre through these works and to have helped make this renovation possible. The team approached us with a dream of what could be made possible with this fantastic building which would provide an accessible and welcoming space for so many individuals and groups in the community, delivering a broad range of activities, courses and events including art and crafts, computer classes and cookery programmes for all ages and abilities, youth services including a youth cafe, to name a few- and now with the expanded rooms, the new training kitchen, community cafe and garden space, all of that has been made possible. I have no doubt that for their next 20 years, this team of change-makers will be dreaming even bigger for the local community.”
Community Finance Ireland provided Killaloe Ballina Community and Family Resource Centre with a long-term loan of €218,000 to undertake the repairs and renovations required on the buildings. Further funding was provided by the Town and Village Renewal Scheme from the Department of Rural and Community Development via Clare County Council, and LEADER funding from both North Tipperary Development Company & Clare Local Development Company.
Between 2016 and 2021, Community Finance Ireland delivered €7 million in social finance supports to volunteer and community-led organisations in Munster, including €1.7 million in support of projects in Clare, and €1 million in support of projects in Tipperary.
– Community Finance Ireland delivers almost €1 million of financial support in Cork since 2016 –
Na Piarsaigh GAA, a thriving football and hurling club with almost 800 playing members, is looking to the future with further expansion plans, after support from Community Finance Ireland (CFI) enabled the club to restructure existing bank debt.
First founded by a group of local schoolboys, Na Piarsaigh GAA Club has been at the centre of the Fairhill community in Co. Cork since 1943. As the club prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary, the board are outlining plans for further expansion to meet the demands of a growing membership.
During the recession, the club experienced financial difficulties, which former Club Chairman Denis O’Neill says led to an anxious time for the board:
“The recession hit us badly, we fell back on payments and were very worried. When we dealt with the bank, they were dealing with us like we were a business. It was at that time that James O’Connor, Selector and Club Accountant at Na Piarsaigh, brought Community Finance Ireland to the attention of the Board.”
At Na Piarsaigh GAA club Grounds Fairhill Cork City are L to R:)Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (local player & legend); Nora Keogh, CFI Client Relationship Manager Munster and Daire Connery (current club legend). As the club restructures its finances with CFI support and advice all looks well for the future legacy of this fantastic volunteer led GAA Club.
Community Finance Ireland provides social finance loans to community and volunteer-led organisations that drive social impact through sport, community projects, faith-based groups, and social enterprises. Operating a model similar to traditional credit unions, all loan repayments go toward supporting other communities across Ireland. CFI provided Na Piarsaigh Hurling and Football Club with a long-term loan of €500,000 to restructure their existing bank loans.
Club Chairman Na Piarsaigh GAA Denis O’Neill said:
“I particularly like that Community Finance Ireland are a non-profit organisation. CFI understand that we are volunteers who just want to provide quality sports services for our local community. They understand where we are coming from and the challenges we faced as a voluntary board.”
Nora Keogh, CFI Client Relationship Manager for the Munster Region, said:
“Na Piarsaigh are an important hub for the local community with members playing at under six right up to senior level. Beyond the players and their families, the club also offers accessible facilities to the wider community through hire of the hall, and their indoor arena, the first of its kind to be built in Ireland which is a great source of pride for the club. We’re delighted to have helped the club refinance and find a pathway to become debt free. The legacies of the recession still have a hold on many clubs across Ireland and we’re proud to help them pave a way forward so that like Na Piarsaigh, they can plan for the future, rather than feel bogged down by the past.”
O’Neill says the club hopes to develop new facilities for the local community and upgrade the public walkway. They hope to secure adjacent land to accommodate an additional training pitch.
Between 2016 and 2022, Community Finance Ireland delivered €7.8m in social finance supports to volunteer and community-led organisations in Munster, including €0.8m in support of projects in Cork.
A total of £16.9m (€18.5m) has been allocated to 162 sports clubs and organisations across Ireland between 2016 and 2022.
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