The South Leitrim Community Network along with its counterpart, the North Leitrim Community Network was instigated in the early 1990’s under the auspices of County Leitrim Partnership. The CLP support Worker at the time, Michelle Anne Houlihan was the driving force behind the Network at start up.
Efforts were made to contact all community and voluntary groups in the south of the county to come together in a network to exchange information, lobby and support each other.
Currently there are 17 groups affiliated to the South Leitrim Network, who are now ably supported by Bernie Donoghue Support Worker with Leitrim Integrated Development Company.
The groups affiliated cover a wide range of interests from hill walking to local development groups, from Water Music Festival to Active Age. The network meet several times a year to discuss areas such as funding opportunities, challenges arising to groups and to exchange information. We also lobby our representatives on local and national issues. The South Leitrim Network has four representatives on Leitrim Community Forum and these representatives raise the concerns and issues affecting the Network at county level. Currently the four representatives on the County Leitrim Forum are: Gerry McGee, Michael McGovern, Mary McKiernan, and Bernadette McLoughlin. The Network representatives can serve on three consecutive Fora. They then have to be replaced by new members.
In May 2011, a joint seminar was held with the North Leitrim Community Network.
North and South Leitrim Community Networks Joint Training Day
Topics covered were
- How to organise a group more efficiently.
- How to hold effective meetings
- Fundraising ideas.
This proved very successful and popular. It is hoped to arrange further events with our partner organisation in the northern half of the county.
The committee of South Leitrim Community Network are elected annually.
The current officers are: Ellen Keane Chairperson, Annie Creegan Secretary, Josephine Creegan Treasurer, Jackie Lee PRO
The Network can be contacted through the Leitrim Integrated Development Company (LIDC) offices on tel. 071 9631715.