Westmeath PPN Newsletter Public Participation Network

Volume 1, Issue 2 July 2018 The Voice of the Community

Check out Westmeath PPN Website Special points of & Register your Group interest:

 Westmeath PPN Westmeath PPN website has been created to As with this Monthly PPN Newsletter, ‘the Voice of the inform groups about opportunities as they it is only as good as the information we Community’ become available: such as: receive to include; so please send us in news, events, stories and useful  Community  Funding information, so that we can share with Enhancement Grant;  Grants other PPN members replaces Facilities

Scheme & RAPID Along with Send to [email protected]  Consultation Documents  Articles & And check out www.westmeathppn.ie  News items that may affect your group for all updates/news/events etc

Inside this issue: It is also a media for your group to advertise  Upcoming events Winners of European 2  Fund raisers Year of Cultural Heri- tage Primary Schools Art Competition And

Graveyard 2 To let other groups know of your group Information Day  Successes and Mullingar Garda 2  A method of sharing information Station Open Day

The Meet and Code 3 project events Community Enhancement Programme— Birdwatch Ireland 3 Replaces the Communities Facilities Scheme & recast RAPID Swift nesting sites

Reuse Academy free 4 Westmeath County facilities in disadvantaged ment Section at 044-93- workshops Council is currently areas. 32215 or by email at inviting grant applications [email protected] The National Lottery 4 Full details and applica- Good Causes Awards for 2018 Community Enhancement Programme. tion forms are available The closing date for on our website at https:// receipt of completed Ballymore Country 5 www.westmeathcoco.ie Music Festival The Community Enhance- applications is by close th ment Programme (CEP) is of business Monday 30 If you require further in- Peatlands Community 5 a new programme for July 2018. Engagement Scheme 2018. It builds on and formation you can contact replaces the Communities the Community Develop- Mullingar Agri Show 5 Facilities Scheme and the recast RAPID programme, Photographic and 6 which launched in 2017. Butterfly Survey The CEP provides funding Midlands ARI Summer 6 to communities across Festival Westmeath to enhance Latest News & Events - www.westmeathppn.ie Westmeath PPN Newsletter Page 2

Congratulations to the Winners of European Year of Cultural Heritage Primary Schools Art Competition.

Congratulations to the https://www.sia.ie/ to Belvedere, Athlone Winners of European index.php. Castle, Dún na Sí Year of Cultural Heri- Heritage and Amenity tage Primary Schools Class winners were: Park, Fore and a trip on Art Competition. This Odhran McDermott, Scoil the Viking Boat. Many competition was organ- Eoin Naofa, Ballymore; thanks to the venues for ised by the Heritage Annabelle Durkin, Fionn sponsoring these prizes. Office of Westmeath Leslie and Niamh County Council, in Corcoran, St Fintan’s Two other ‘Big Dig’ conjunction with Creative Lismacaffrey; Joey events will take place Ireland, to celebrate Dunne, St Paul’s during Heritage Week; at European Year of National School, Athlone; the ‘Picnic in the Park’, in Cultural Heritage. Aoife O’connor, St Mullingar on 18th August Mary’s, Raharney; Sarah and at McCormack The overall winner Rian Holland, St Feichin’s Square in Athlone on Williams of St. Tola’s National School, Fore, Saturday 25th August N a t i o n a l S c h o o l , and Leon Doyle, Castle- 2018. Places can be Killulagh has won a visit pollard Parochial School, booked via https:// to his school from ‘The were awarded prizes www.sia.ie/index.php/the Big Dig’ including family passes -big-dig .

Graveyard Information Day – Recording headstones ‘Are you th interested in Sat 7 July 10:30am – 12:30pm Are you interested in learning a learning a simple, effective system for simple, surveying historic graveyards? effective If so come along to a talk by John system for Tierney of the Historic Graves surveying Team, followed by a visit to the historic graveyard in Ballymore. historic Ballymore Community Centre. graveyards?’ Free event, all welcome.

Mullingar Garda Station Open Day

Mullingar Garda Station Open Day

7th July 2018 12pm to 3pm

Open to all members of the public

 Station Tours

 Road Policing Unit

 Command Control

 National Units

 Scenes of Crime

 Regional Units

 Garda Mounted Unit Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 3

The Meet and Code project is funding digital and coding events

Meet and Code is a new project which aims to introduce children and young people aged eight to 24 to the world of technology and coding. The Meet and Code project is funding digital and coding events of all kinds during the EU Code Week (6-21 October 2018).

There are 25 grants of €500 each available to host such events. To apply for these grants you approved and receive your grant must: 4. Host your event.  Be a registered charity Applications are now open via the  Your event must take place Meet and Code website. during the EU Code Week (6- The Awards 21 October 2018) When you apply for the grant you will ‘There are 25  Your event must revolve be given an opportunity to enter your grants of €500 around the theme of program- event in the European Meet and Code each available ming (coding, robotics, Internet Awards. of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelli- Two events from each category will go to host such gence (AI) etc.) on to represent Ireland at the events.’  Your event must engage with at European Awards ceremony in least 20 children or young people Germany. The winner of the Awards aged between 8 and 24 will be presented with a prize of  Your Meet and Code event €2,500 for the winning charity. must be free to attend. Please submit your application How to apply before Wednesday 15 Sept 2018 Applying is easy, just follow these and share this information with four steps: other charities in your community. 1. Register your organisation on the Meet and Code website This programme is run across 2. Submit your planned event Europe by TechSoup. The Wheel is 3. Wait for your application to be the partner for Ireland.

Birdwatch Ireland walk— Swift nesting sites in Mullingar town.

Tues 3rd July Anton from Birdwatch Ireland will be leading a walk around the Swift nesting sites identified in the survey of Mullingar town. This is an informal walk, all welcome, meet at the Arts Centre (front door) at 9am Westmeath PPN Newsletter Page 4

Upcycle your cycle…or fashion or furniture with the Reuse Academy free workshops

Community Groups in Officer with Westmeath starting a reuse social Weatmeath are being Co Co explained that enterprise or micro enter- offered FREE upcycling “Each course provides a p r i s e i n t h e workshops in the award- fun and creative way to community.

winning Rediscovery find new uses for old Centre, Ballymun as part items. Each participant Places are limited and as of the Reuse Acad- will leave having learned always the courses will emy. It is a partnership a new skill. These be really popular so we between the Eastern furniture, bike & fashion would encourage groups Midlands Regional upcycling workshops to book as soon as Waste Office and the help to reduce the possible Rediscovery Centre. amount of items going to landfill, instead giving The Reuse Academy them a new lease of To book a place on the aims to promote reuse life.” REUSE Academy and to skills in areas such discuss the course best as furniture upcycling, The bike maintenance suited to your group, ‘The Reuse fashion upcycling and workshops will teach contact bike repair. The Reuse participants how to repair Academy aims to Academy is offering a and maintain their bikes Ruth Maxwell, Westmeath County promote reuse limited number of FREE and are particularly Council at aware- courses facilitated by popular. skills in areas skilled trainers from the [email protected] In addition to fostering Rediscovery Centre and or such creativity, reusing materi- suitable for community als has excellent Joanne Rourke, Re- as furniture groups, youth clubs, potential to create jobs source Efficiency Officer men’s sheds upcycling, within communities and in the Eastern Midlands and secondary schools. Regional Waste office fashion the Reuse Academy Ruth Maxwell, Environ- courses can be tailored at joanne.rourke@dublin upcycling and m e n t a l A w a r e n e s s to include advice on city.ie . bike repair’ The National Lottery Good Causes Awards

The National Lottery Good Causes Awards aims to celebrate the inspiring and innovative work being carried out by individuals, organisations, groups and sports clubs all over Ireland who benefit from National Lottery Good Causes funding. Projects can win up to €35,000 for their own work in their community. The National Lottery Good Causes Awards initiative has six categories that projects can apply under. These include Arts & Culture and Heritage. 2018 is the first year of these awards and these awards are open to any community project, club or individual who has received National Lottery funding from the years 2014, 2015 and 2016. See https://www.lottery.ie/good-causes-awards Volume 1, Issue 2 Page 5

Ballymore Country Music Festival

Ballymore, Co. Westmeath Bank Holiday Monday 6th August 2018  Derek Ryan  Mike Denver  Michael English  Jimmy Buckley  The Sheerins  John Brady  Brendan Shine  Cliona Hagan  Andy Feery  Olivia Doughas Ticket €20 in advance €25 on the day (Under 14's Free) Gates Open at 12 Midday - Concert starts at 1pm https://ballymorecountrymusicfestival.com/

Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme

This Scheme aims to encourage local communities, local groups, schools and individuals to engage with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation ‘promote public to the conservation and revitalisation of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Natural Heritage Areas engagement and (NHAs) and other raised bog areas and promote public engagement and awareness of our natural heritage. awareness of our natural Details of the Scheme are available on https://www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/peatlands-community-engagement- heritage’ scheme.

Mullingar Agricultural Show—Sun 8th July 2018

For over 180 years the reflect the traditional large trade stand area, indoor Mullingar Agricultural agricultural strengths of and outdoor, with stands Show has supported Westmeath in pedigree & reflecting all aspects of country agriculture and industry commercial cattle and and town life and living – from throughout the Midlands. sheep showing. Horse and jodhpurs to jewellery, wellies Mullingar Show is run by pony showing are to wine, food to fire extinguish- the Committee of the traditionally very strong ers. Westmeath Show Society at Mullingar Show. Limited, a not-for-profit As always at Mullingar, there is company and registered There are classes for entertainment for all the charity, on their show- poultry and a vibrant dog family. grounds at Culleen, show with horticulture & www.mullingaragrishow.com Mullingar and attracts cookery well-represented entries from across along with arts, crafts Ireland. and photography.

There are classes to Mullingar Show has a

Photographic and Butterfly Survey of Cloncrow Bog

Photographic and Butterfly Survey of Cloncrow Bog, near Tyrrellspass. This is an ongoing project over the Summer Months. If interested in getting involved contact [email protected]

Midlands Region of Active Retirement Ireland Summer Festival

The Midlands Region of men's ARI group from Liz McKeown, who Active Retirement Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, planned and presented Ireland held a very gave a rousing perform- this day. Also thanks to successful, well ance of popular songs. the many helpers that attended Summer we had on the day. Festival on Thursday After lunch; the RAMS 7th June 2018 in the sang again and event Thanks also to Bloomfield House Hotel, e n d e d w i t h t h e Westmeath County Mullingar. excellent 'Kavanaghs' for Council, Festival and social dancing. Events Committee, and The day was opened by Mullingar Credit Union Midlands Region A Bumper Raffle went for their sponsorship. Chairperson Des Skelly down very well at the & Active Retirement's end with a variety of Our thanks also to the President Kay Murphy. prizes; thank you to all Bloomfield House those who sponsored Hotel. Those in attendance prizes watched & joined in with demonstration of Pickle- There was also great ball & Go For Life selection of exhibition Games, presented by s t a n d s i n c l u d i n g Marian Mooney and Westmeath Public her team from Ballinafid/ Participation Network. Multyfarnham/ Bunbrosna ARA. Along Well done to the with Line Dancing from hardworking midlands Claire Baker and her committee, Maureen team. McCormack (midlands www.westmeathppn.ie region development After this the RAMS a officer, Maura Farrell and

Invitation - 'A Vision for Change'

The Department of Health are Meeting are to be held in revising the National Mental following locations: Health Policy 'A Vision for Change'. The Oversight Group Cork City 17th July (2pm to 5pm) for a review of Vision for Tullamore 18th July (2pm to 5pm) Change are holding national Sligo 19th July (2pm to 5pm) stakeholder consultation and Dublin 10th Aug (2pm to 5pm) you are invited to attend and provide input. Your input can Register to attend? influence the revised policy Register for your free ticket on Event Brite: Who can attend? Service users, family members, Tullamore 18th July voluntary group reps, commu- nity reps and those working or (Other venues; open PDF on Westmeath with an interest in Mental Health PPN website)

An Roinn Slainte/Department of Health Bookings are on a first come,

first served basis www.yourmentalhealth.ie

The Oversight

Group for a review of Vision

for Change are holding national

stakeholder consultation and you are invited

to attend and

provide input.

Your input can

influence the

revised policy Westmeath Public Participation Network

Community Development Section, Westmeath County Council, Áras an Chontae, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 FH4N

Phone: 044 9332157 Email: [email protected] Web: www.westmeathppn.ie

Westmeath PPN website: www.westmeathppn.ie for News & Upcoming Events

Register as a Westmeath PPN Member All information you need to register your group as a Westmeath PPN member is on our website www.westmeathppn.ie

You can also contact our office to find out more. When registering, we ask you to provide contact details of two people. This does not limit your organisation’s participation in Westmeath PPN to these two people. Any number of members in your organisation can be involved in Westmeath PPN once your application for registrations approved.