Is this the true face of rural Ireland?
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An article in Saturday's Irish Times features a photograph of Jackie Healy-Rae and asks "Is this the True Face of Rural Ireland?" suggesting that the Rural Debate so often centres on bachelor farmers driving to the pub, while ignoring widows, single parents and disabled people – and the disintegration of local businesses and communities?
Is it time for "out with the old in in with the new" when it comes to Rural in Ireland. Is the fact that a few colourful T.D,s and Councillors are presented as the "voice of Rural Ireland", that they have that entitlement, or is it a failure of the rest of us to speak out.
It would be great to at least initiate the debate here in the relative safety of the RSA website.
Fellow members and associates, What do you think?
Hi Bernard, this is a very interesting article.
I am very mindful of the need for a holistic approach to looking at rural issues.
I am particularly interested in the visioning process of the future of rural communities and how this would take place.
I have completed Community Powerdown tutor training with Irish Rural Link.
The objective of the Community Powerdown Training course developed by the Cultivate Living and Learning Centre is to nurture community leadership in sustainability and support a strategic shift towards global citizenship, ecological thinking and local resilience.
If anyone is interested in participating in this training, please let me know mob 085 7469548 or email innovativedialogue@gmail.com
Working in Pettigo Co Donegal some years ago I was struck by how funders sought to 'reach out' to the atypical rural bachelor farmer. It is hard to see how in the current economic climate we can look forward to proper targeting social need in rural areas North and South. It's expensive, time consuming research that will raise more questions than answers with an unwelcome scrutiny for equality. Meanwhile here in Fermanagh many rural businesses (including the pubs) are at breaking point and we will see the the impact of this on rural isolation in the years to come.
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I wonder has anyone come across the organisation in the UK called "Pub is they Hub". They have branches in Wales and England buy not that I know of in Northern Ireland. They support local pubs' survival in rural areas and even help them in getting funding under the Leader Programme. The role of "Pub is the Hub" is to
"Encourage rural pub owners, licensees, and their local communities to work together to support,retain and locate local services where possible within the pub whilst often improving the viability of the business itself. Pub is the Hub assists with guidance on the availability of local and regional project funding, and having a thorough understanding of the pub business, is able to advise on the best way to progress with each individual project." (source: http://www.pubisthehub.org.uk)
Is there a role for such an organisation in Ireland?