Milford, County Cork
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Milford, County Cork Áth an Mhuilinn, Contae Chorcaí. Milford Community Socio-Economic Plan 2008-2013 Contents Introduction 3 Profile of Milford 4 Historical Background 5 Population 6 Community Structures 7 Employment, Retailing & Economic Activity 8 Milford Creamery 9 Infrastructure & Services 10 Housing, Planning & Development, 10 Health and Care Services 11 Education & Training 11 Amenities & Facilities 11 Tourism, Heritage & Culture 12 SWOT Analysis 13-14 Outline of Community Plan 15 Action Plan 16-26 Implementing the Plan 27 Appendices 28-30 Appendix A: Community Groups Appendix B: List of Protected Structures Appendix C: Townlands in Milford DED Additional Resources 31 Milford Socio-Economic Plan 2008 - 2013 2 Milford Community Socio-Economic Plan 2008-2013 Introduction This Milford Community Socio-Economic Plan has been undertaken by the people of Milford Community to identify the needs of the community into the future and to plan adequately to make sure that these needs can be met. The Milford Community Socio-Economic represents the community’s vision for how it would like to see Milford develop and prosper in the future by proposing certain action points to make Milford a more attractive place to live and recreate and seeks to enhance quality of life. It is long-term in its focus and covers a wide range of social, environmental and economic issues in an attempt to promote, facilitate and guide development in the community of Milford. The plan aims to guide the work of local clubs and organisations and provide a reference point for the local community. It must be remembered that this is a plan for the people of Milford. It is the result of a series of meetings which were held to seek the views of the local community. Every effort was made to include all local organisations and members of the public with meetings advertised locally, through community groups and in the press. Thus, responsibility for implementing the plan rests largely with the community. The method 1 used in compiling the plan aims to provide a more strategic approach to involving representatives of the local community in their own community’s development in that it is an inclusive approach to community planning and representation. • The first meeting on 24 th October 2007 outlined the planning process and the procedures involved. • The second and third meetings on 8th November and 22 nd of November 2007 identified the key issues facing Milford and the steps needed to address them. • On 24 th January 2008, meetings were held with representatives of the various state agencies and public service providers to seek their support for the plan and to discuss their potential roles. • A draft plan was presented and discussed at a public meeting on Thursday, 5th February 2009 . • This final version of the Plan was approved by Milford Area Community Council at a meeting in March 2009 The planning meetings were facilitated by Ballyhoura Development Ltd. 1 “ADOPT: a development model to strengthen the community sector in Ireland’s local development process”. Pat Gibbons, UCD, 2003 . Milford Socio-Economic Plan 2008 - 2013 3 Profile of Milford – Area in Context The community of Milford is situated in north County Cork close to the County Limerick border. It is located on the R515 regional road that runs between Charleville and Newcastle West. In the context of the Kanturk Electoral Area Local Area Plan 2005, Milford is designated as a key village as it has many key services and has the potential for future growth as varied. At the first Public Planning Meeting in the consultation process, it was decided by those present that the Community of Milford was defined as the DED of Milford plus 5 additional town lands in three DED’s (see table). For statistical purposes, figures for Milford DED will be considered through this plan. Townlands within Milford Community DED Townland Name Acres Hectares Milford Acres 54 21.9 Milford Ballagharea 316 127.9 Milford Ballyhane Lower 262 106.0 Milford Ballyhane upper 167 67.6 Milford Coolnagour 229 92.7 Milford Delliga 182 73.7 Milford Doony 301 121.8 Milford Gortaheeda 29 11.7 Milford Gortnagoul 339 137.2 Milford Kilbolane 421 170.4 Milford Kilmore 336 136.0 Milford Kinteera 53 21.4 Milford Kyle 181 73.2 Milford Laragh 542 219.3 Milford Lyragh 171 69.2 Milford Moanarnane 180 72.8 Milford Moanavraca 209 84.6 Milford Moanroe 117 47.3 Milford Prohust 611 247.3 Milford Scart 221 89.4 Milford Shronepookeen 277 112.1 Milford Teeracurra 144 58.3 Milford Trienieragh 269 108.9 Newtown Main North 817 330.6 Newtown Main South 495 200.3 Allow Concealment 87 35.2 Allow Cromoge 560 226.6 Dromcolliher Gorteens 128 51.8 TOTAL 7698 3115.2 * This table shows the DEDs & Townland’s which represent geographically the Community of Milford Milford Socio-Economic Plan 2008 - 2013 4 Historical Background Milford is a quiet rural village at the foot of Kilbolane Hill. Kilbolane Castle sits on top of the Hill and dates back to the coming of Strongbow to Ireland. It was the stronghold of the De Cogans and later of the Fitzgibbon branch of the Fitzgeralds. The Castle was partially destroyed by Cromwell’s troops in 1642. It is recorded that in 1905 2 Milford Village had the following trades, professions or businesses: Shopkeeper and Vintner x 4, Carpenters x 4, Vintners x 2, Blacksmiths x 2, Shopkeepers x 2, Cooper x 2, and Grocer/General Merchant, Watchmaker, and shoemaker x 1, Post Office, Creamery, and the R.I.C. Station with living quarters, and National School. Time moves on and today in 2008, the residents of Milford Community are no strangers to the economic terms of the “Celtic tiger” and perhaps the more damaging the “global village” and as a Community how has this benefited us? We have 1 shop/post office, 2 Vintners, 2 Garages, 1 cabinetmaker, 1 Builder, a Garda Station which is staffed remotely on certain opening hours,. In 1973 when the Dairy Co-ops were amalgamating / reorganizing / rationalising this resulted in the loss of 20 permanent jobs and 15 to 20 seasonal jobs in our Creamery. The National School went from being a 6 teacher school to a 4 teacher school over a period of two years in the 1970s due to falling enrolments. Another loss here is the social interaction which is the heart of any Community and gives people a sense of belonging and community spirit, this loss cannot be measured in monetary terms. What does the future hold for Milford, or more importantly how can we as a Community influence or shape the future, for us as a Community going forward. In 2005 elections were held to elect a new Milford Community Council {term of Office 3 yrs.} which elected 26 members from across the whole Community. And in 2008 a new Community Council was elected with 29 members reflecting the growth in numbers in the Community. The Community Council on its own does not have the resources to achieve its goals but it does have the social capital i.e. the dedicated and skilled people capable of bringing about much needed progress and change in the community with assistance from local agencies and national statutory bodies. * A rticle provided by Gerard Falvey, Kilbolane. 2 Grove-White, James, Historical and topographical notes, etc... on North Cork , (four vols.,1905-1918). Covers part or all of the four northern baronies of County Cork Milford Socio-Economic Plan 2008 - 2013 5 Population Census 2006 showed a total population of 603, comprised of 298 males & 305 females in the Milford DED. This figure indicates a percentage change in population between 2002 and 2006 of minus 2.1%, going against the trend of the previous Census figures which had shown an increase in population. Milford DED Population Statistics Population Males Females 2006 2002 1996 2006 2002 1996 2006 2002 1996 603 616 571 298 304 284 305 312 287 *The table above shows population changes in Milford DED between the years 1996-2006 (CSO 2006) Milford DED Population Statistics Population Change Males Change Females Change 2002- 2006 1996- 2002 1991- 1996 2002- 2006 1996- 2002 1991-1996 2002- 2006 1996-2002 1991-1996 -2.1% 7.3% -8.5 % -1.97 % 7.04% -11.3% -2.24% 8.7% -5.6% *The table above shows percentage population changes in Milford DED between the years 1996-2006(CSO 2006) Milford DED Population by Age (CSO 2006) Age Male Total Female Total 0-4 20 19 5-9 23 24 10-14 18 24 15-19 27 25 20-24 14 21 25-29 15 19 30-34 20 13 35-39 18 17 40-44 21 25 45-49 23 28 50-54 28 20 55-59 17 17 60-64 16 11 65-69 14 12 70-74 8 15 75-79 11 4 80-84 3 7 85 + 2 4 Total 298 305 *The table above gives a breakdown of population in Milford DED by sex and age (CSO 2006) Milford Socio-Economic Plan 2008 - 2013 6 Community Structures Milford has a vibrant community, voluntary and sporting sector with up to 15 active groups and sub- committees. Milford Community Council Milford Community Council reformed in 2004 to undertake projects that would benefit the community of Milford. Members of the Community Council are elected and representative of all areas of the community. The council has regular monthly meetings and an AGM. There are 29 elected members on the council. Aims of Milford Community Council: • To promote the involvement of the people of Milford in the promotion of education, cultural and economic welfare of the whole community regardless of class, political or religious persuasion.