Press Release – 15th of May 2013 – Irish Rural Link

Awakening Change, a one day conference for
Summerhill Co. Meath on Friday 17th of May 2013 starting at 9.30.

Irish Rural Link calls on communities to support farm families who have been affected by the fodder crisis.

At its conference titled “Awakening Change” Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities is asking all communities to support farm families who have been affected by the fodder crisis.
Because of the fodder crisis coupled with an unusually long winter farmers have had to endure extremely high levels of stress. With high numbers of animal deaths and having to find extra money buy scarce feed, farm families affected are facing the year, knowing that their income will be severely affected.

Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link stated:

“In the last few weeks we have become aware of the high stress levels experienced by farmers. It is important that all of the agencies dealing with farmers, including the banks and merchants are aware of farmer’s difficulties and are prepared to take a longer term view in terms of credit limits offered as well as other loans that are due.”
He also complemented the work done by the Minister of Agriculture and his department and the many agencies such as Teagasc, farming organisations, which have been assisting farmers with advice and the sourcing of extra feed.
However there is a real fear that farmer’s mental health has also been affected.
In such cases IRL are calling on communities to encourage farmers and their families to seek out help as a first step.

For further details; please see conference programme below.

Or contact
Seamus Boland
0906482744
0862491153

Press Release – 15th of May 2013 – Irish Rural Link

Awakening Change, a one day conference for
Summerhill Co. Meath on Friday 17th of May 2013 starting at 9.30.

Irish Rural Link calls on communities to mobilise themselves in order to tackle rural decline as a consequence of the current recession.

At its conference titled “Awakening Change” Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities is asking all communities to support farm families who have been affected by the fodder crisis.
Because of the fodder crisis coupled with an unusually long winter farmers have had to endure extremely high levels of stress. With high numbers of animal deaths and having to find extra money buy scarce feed, farm families affected are facing the year, knowing that their income will be severely affected.

Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link stated:

“In the last few weeks we have become aware of the high stress levels experienced by farmers. It is important that all of the agencies dealing with farmers, including the banks and merchants are aware of farmer’s difficulties and are prepared to take a longer term view in terms of credit limits offered as well as other loans that are due.”
He also complemented the work done by the Minister of Agriculture and his department and the many agencies such as Teagasc, farming organisations, which have been assisting farmers with advice and the sourcing of extra feed.
However there is a real fear that farmer’s mental health has also been affected.
In such cases IRL are calling on communities to encourage farmers and their families to seek out help as a first step.

For further details; please see conference programme on website

Or contact
Seamus Boland
0906482744
0862491153

Press Release – 15th of May 2013 – Irish Rural Link

Call for support for communities to address their own service needs.

Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities – is holding a major one day conference in Summerhill Co. Meath on Friday 17th of May 2013 starting at 9.30.
The conference will hear a call to government to support for communities to address their own service needs by establishing community co-operatives to run declining services.

Irish Rural Link Chief Executive, Mr. Seamus Boland said, “Many villages in rural Ireland are witnessing the decline of public and private services and are struggling with the consequences of the recession, which have seen unemployment rise to above 14% in rural areas and emigration among younger people rise to its highest since the 1980s“

“These closures largely as a result of the current recession and combined with natural processes such as the retirement of the local shopkeeper or a decision that small, time-intensive businesses, such as, a local shop cannot sustain a family. However, the effects for the wider community will be felt for some time

“Such initiatives could provide local part-time employment, increase local social cohesion, reduce the distances people need to travel to conduct their business and increase access to services for those without private transport”.

For further details; please see conference programme on website.

Irish Rural Link Annual Conference - Friday 17th May 2013

'Awakening Change' 

 in association with our hosts - Third Age Foundation.

The Community Centre, Summerhill, Co. Meath

The conference will;

1. Explore linkages with National and European rural communities
2. Provide a platform for stakeholders to 'give voice' to rural community issues and solutions
3. Consider ways to promote and increase public and political awareness of the value of rural community

With input from;

Martyn Evans CEO Carnegie UK Trust

Dr. Conor Skehan

Mary Nally Third Age Foundation

Billy Murphy Chairman Irish Rural Link 

Followed by an 'Open space' facilitation

Click here

Irish Rural Link, the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities, invites nominations for the Irish Rural Link National Rural Awards 2013.  These awards aim to recognise the hard work, energy, enthusiasm and dedication given to improving and developing local communities around the country.

for application form click here

Rural Pub decline
In the play, Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare exhorts us to 'Pray you do not be a laughing stock to other men's humours'
So when Kerry County Council's publican Councillors decided that rural drivers can drive with a higher level of alcohol in their system, it is little surprise that the native and world media had a field day. Their humours were well satisfied and once again the image of rural Ireland was plunged into the same archetype that does nothing except satisfy the cravings of media on a slow news day.
Leaving aside the comedy and mirth arising from the proposal it should be noted that the Kerry decision does not allow wholesale drinking and driving. Therefore accepting that there must be some limit, it is logical to assume that people would still have to curtail their drinking.
The bigger moral dilemma for drinkers is the reality that involvement in a traffic accident of any kind can be extremely traumatic for all concerned including the driver. It becomes ten times worse if there is a serious injury or fatality and since it is recognised that most fatalities occur on rural roads, it is more likely a rural dweller will be in involved. If so; and especially when over the limit the driver will be the subject of considerable shame and embarrassment. However, if he or she is over the limit that applies to everyone else and causes a fatal accident then that embarrassment turns to shame and public disgust. For the families of victims there is little comfort knowing that a pub might be saved and the life of their loved one is not.