Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 Longford Public Participation Network (PPN) E-bulletin September 2015 CONTENTS: 1. NEWS FROM LONGFORD PPN Page 1 2. WHAT’S ON IN YOUR MUNICIPAL DISTRICT? Page 2 3. LOCAL NEWS & SERVICES Page 15 4. THE GATHERING IRELAND Page 21 5. NATIONAL NEWS Page 24 6. EU NEWS Page 26 7. UPCOMING TRAINING/WORKSHOPS Page 29 8. FUNDING Page 34 1. NEWS FROM LONGFORD PPN Public Participation Network update: The PPN would like to welcome Longford Comhairle Na Og as our newest members and look forward to working with them in the future. Meetings held/ planned: PPN Secretariat Meeting held Monday 14th September 2015. PPN resource worker attended and participated on a panel for the Active Citizenship seminar hosted by Longford Women’s Manifesto Group. Upcoming Community Vacancies on the Board of Citizen Information Service and Longford County Childcare. Invitation to submit submission of interest will be sent out shortly. General: The PPN Facebook page is Longford Public Participation Network. Please copy and paste the following URL below if you cannot get direct access from link above: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Longford-Public-Participation-Network/1583548325216241? If your group has any information they would like posted please contact us on Facebook where we will share your information or if you are not on Facebook e-mail [email protected] and we will post it on your behalf. Don’t forget to “Like” our page!! If there are any community group’s you know who are not yet registered with the Longford PPN they are invited to do so online or download at www.longfordcoco.ie , e-mail [email protected] or contact Siobhán at 087 261 5583 Page 1 of 41 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 2. WHAT’S ON IN YOUR MUNICIPAL DISTRICT? New for the month of September: Longford LGBT meets every Wednesday evening in Longford town at 8pm. Our aim is to provide a safe, secure and friendly environment for the LGBT community, families and friends in and around Longford. Anyone attending our meetings is assured of discretion and it is an environment where everyone respects everyone else's personal circumstances. For information on this or any other aspect of our service please call us on 086 3022161 and a committee member will return your call. Alternatively we can be found on FB at Longford LGBT or our web page at www.longfordlgbt.ie' Longford Charity Colour Run: 27th September, a fun 5km Charity Colour run in aid of Temple Street Hospital and Longford Mental Health. This event has no limits in relation to age or capability. Young and old are welcome as are those who wish to walk or maybe even crawl the event! Registration is at 09:30am Backstage Theatre Group presents their annual series of One Act Plays on Friday 16th and Sat 17th October @ 8.30pm in Backstage Theatre. This year we showcase a wealth of acting talent drawn from our increasing membership producing three amazing plays. The three plays are, Chip Van plays Dixie ( Drama) a play which is set to go on One Act Festival Circuit. Drinking Companion (Comedy) and Ruby of Elsinore (Comedy). This will be a great night out for just €12/10 with something for everyone so go ahead and book early by ringing 0433347888 or online www.backstage.ie Longford Historical Society : Public Lecture on one of Drumlishs’ most famous sons, William O’Higgins who was born in Barraghbeg and who laid the foundation stone for that ‘glorious undertaking’ - St. Mel’s Cathedral in the 1840s - The lecture will take place on the 15th October in Drumlish Community Centre and is part of the Longford Historical Society series of Autumn Lectures. Longford Beekeepers: Longford Beekeepers Meeting on Monday 21 September in Teagasc at 8 pm, Speaker: Keith Pierce, Topic: Winter preparations Longford Toastmasters Club Meeting: Thurs 17th Sept 8.20pm, Longford Arms Hotel First floor . COME AND JOIN US!! Become a better Speaker - Become a Leader- Your potential is UNLIMITED Safe Learning Environment - Great Feedback - Lots of suggestions for how to improve - Lots of Fun - You’ll love the applause - Visitors always welcome. Quote from Secretary Jude Portbury " Great buzz at our meeting tonight 5 visitors, 4 of which spoke on a Topic .Two excellent stage 6 speeches. Thanks to Anne and Bernie from Cavan Toastmasters for supporting us on our first night back from our summer break". Meetings first and third Thursdays of the month at 8.20pm Longford Women’s Link celebrates 20 years: Join us and celebrate 20 years of Longford Women’s Link in the Longford Gold Club on Thursday 15th October 2015. Includes a Champagne reception Page 2 of 41 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 and a fabulous 3 Course Meal in the Hilltop Restaurant. Music on the night Paschal, Liz and Davey! Great night’s entertainment guaranteed! Tickets at €25 can be purchased at Farrell & Coy, Centenary Square, Longford Office Supplies, Hazelbrook Shopping Centre or from Reception at LWL 043 33 42511 Longford Women’s Link: Fundraiser, Table Quiz night this Friday 18th September at 8.30pm at The Sin Bin Event Centre Longford Rugby Club. Great night promised - finger food and prizes galore! Ladybirds, Brownies, Guides & Sr Branch of Irish Girl Guides will all be starting back in September. A fun evening of activities for girls from age 5 years upwards, providing the opportunity to discover new ideas, new skills, new experiences and new friendships - "giving girls confidence". Do you fancy a couple of hours of youthful enthusiasm and energy? Ladybirds/Brownies/Girl Guides are looking for volunteer leaders age 17 plus. If you have a skill to share and can give up to two hours a week to join in we are looking for Leaders for all of these groups in and around Ardagh, Longford and Clondra. If you would like to join the Leadership teams for a fun and very rewarding couple of hours please contact Joanna 086 237 2616. Find us on Facebook at: Irish Girl Guides - Ardagh Longford Girl Guides. A Meals on Wheel Network has now been formed under the umbrella of Irish Rural Link to tackle the issues affecting the delivery of the service. Issues include cuts to funding, increasing bureaucracy, food labelling, employment schemes etc. Irish Rural Link are calling on Meals on Wheels organisations around the country to contact them if they are interested in becoming members of this network. Please contact James Claffey IRL on 090 6482744 or email [email protected] for more information Lithuanian School opened on Saturday 5th September at 10am: Renata Rapkauskiene has informed LCRL that the Lithuanian School in Longford held a very successful Open Day in the Attic Youth Café, Temperance Hall, Longford Town on Saturday 29th August. This was a great opportunity for intending pupils and their parents/guardians to meet the teacher and learn more about the school. Classes will be held from 10am to 1pm every Saturday in the Attic Youth Café, Temperance Hall, Longford Town. This is a great milestone for the Lithuanian Community in Ireland as it will be the 13thLithuanian School in Ireland. Over the last few months the Rural Resource Worker at Longford Community Resources Ltd has been liaising and supporting Renata a Lithuanian lady living in Longford, in her quest to open the Lithuanian Saturday School in Longford. Renata is a qualified Primary School Teacher and Lithuanian Language Teacher. She graduated with a Level 8 Degree and has taught in schools for 15 years. Renata is currently taking enquires from parents of intending students by phone to 083-4708371 or by e-mail to address [email protected] or follow the link below to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vaik%C5%B3-ir-Jaunimo-centras- SAVASLt/757148621068252?sk=info&tab=page_info&edited=mission The RSA's 'Check it Fits' service: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has introduced a new, free service in response to a frightening statistic that shows that as many as 4 out of 5 child car seats Page 3 of 41 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 are incorrectly fitted which can result in serious injury or worse, a fatality in the event of a collision. Since October 2013, the RSA’s ‘Check it Fits’ Service has checked over 8,000 child car seats and restraints in Ireland. Of these, 83% required some adjustment. Worryingly, 79% of seats required a major adjustment, of which 3% were deemed