Some of Our Supported Projects

Community Focus

Although the PPN was just set up in September we are already engaged with supporting local projects. To give you an idea of some of
our work, here are a some sample projects we have supported lately.
Community Gardens
Across Cavan
The PPN supports community gardens across
Cavan and is now in the
process of re-growing
Fairgreen Gardens in
partnership with Cavan
County Council, Breffni
Integrated, The Congolese
group and members of the
public. We also hope to
set up a
garden
network in
2015!

Your Community Voice

Your Community News

2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Belturbet Brainstorm
We are now working with local people in
Belturbet to rejuvenate the Festival with
an aim to use the next 39th Festival as a
platform to launch the 40th in 2016
which we intend to be one of the best
Belturbet Festivals ever. Some ideas
include Floating Gig Rig, A Boston Tea
Party, BBQ @ The Bush, Go Cart and
Raft Building & Racing. Come join in
the fun with The Belturbet Festival!

Community Voices
Online & International
Cavan Community Radio
went online just over a year go.
Since then it has had over 22,000
downloads in a huge number of
countries worldwide. The PPN
continues to support this and
invites local people to use it as a
voice and vehicle for your groups,
projects, issues and ideas.
All welcome with free training and
support!!!
Public Participation Officer Daniel Downey at ddowney@cavancoco.ie
086 351 2308 or call to our offices in Cana House in Cavan Town

WINTER

A NEW FORM OF DEMOCRACY

At the start of 2014 it was decided that Ireland

needed a new form of democracy for local
Creating Your PPN
2
people. Unlike representative democracy where
PPN As A Voice For
3
you vote for people to go to represent you, the
You!
form of participative democracy aims to give
Your Public
4
YOU the chance to be YOUR representative.
Participation
5
Representatives
6 Across the country Public Participation
Where The PPN
7 Networks (PPNs) were set up to give
Works & Acts
communities the chance to raise up leaders to
Some of Our
8 have a voice on local matters.
Supported
The PPN in Cavan was set up from
Partners &
Projects
among the almost 600 community groups and
public elections held to choose 36
representatives from among them. This PPNs
job is to consult the public on what issues face
your lives and to bring these issues to the table
for discussion and action. The PPN has been
Going Out To Hear given wide ranging membership on decision
making bodies in Cavan and in partnership with
Your Issues
others we aim to create a community rich county
within which social justice can thrive for the
betterment of our citizens.
This cannot happen without your
participation, without the public who can form
our policies, our solutions and our actions.
Bringing You
This is our first newsletter but it is also an
Together To Gather invitation to the public of County Cavan, an
Solutions
invitation to participate in helping to shape civic
society in our communities. Join is now in making
Cavan a better place to live and visit!

JOURNEY TO CREATING YOUR PPN

The process of creating a PPN was lengthy.
First, we spoke with the community groups.
Then with the assistance of Cavan County
Council, Peace Partnership and Cavan
Community Forum public elections were
held to choose people to represent the
community in July. Finally, in September
the very first PPN meeting was held
to decide who would be officers and
representatives on other bodies. See
below for more:

The Place Your Voices Are Heard

The PPN has representation on Cavan County Councils Strategic
Policy Committees (SPCs) of the following:
Housing, Community, Social & Cultural SPC (3 reps)
Environment & Planning SPC (2 reps)
Transportation & Infrastructure SPC (1 rep)
Economic Development & Enterprise SPC (1 rep)
The PPN also has a significant voice on the Local Community
Development Committee (LCDC) which oversees the development of the
county as a whole and works to coordinate & collaborate the various
organisations and bodies to implement real change in Cavan.
Cavan Peace Partnership is a deliverer of European and
Irish funds for community development with a goal to
creating a peaceful and just society with emphasis on cross
community & cross border work. The PPN holds seats on
this partnership committee.
Breffni Int. is a rural development company which
supports a wide array of people & groups in Cavan.
The PPN has a very interactive voice here.
The Sports Partnership develops sports &
physical fitness in Cavan and the PPN has
members on this body elected each year.
The Cavan Heritage Forum works for the maintenance &
appreciation of heritage sites in the county. The PPN
places 2 representatives onto this body annually.
The North Eastern Regional Drugs Task Force
works to mitigate addiction & the impact on people
directly and indirectly. The PPN elects 2
representatives onto this body each year.

These are only some of the bodies that the PPN has a representative
voice on. Other include the Joint Policing Committee, Social
Inclusion Measures Unit, County Childcare Committee and others.
We work in partnership with others on these for an improved Cavan!

Your PPN Representatives

The Ballyjamesduff Municipal District
Noleen Brady Smith of
Maghera Development
works to motivate and
keep her area the
beautiful gateway to
County Cavan.

Helen OReilly has been a long

time contributor to the
community in Cavan &
represents Kilnaleck Community
Co-Op.

Patricia OReilly is an
active county volunteer
& represents
Ballyjamesduff
Community Council.
Collette McKiernan
of Kilnaleck Social
Services,
volunteering to make
her area great!

Kathleen Duffy
represents works on
many community
groups such as
Lurgan Faroige &
The Virginia Show
Kate Ennals is an
experienced
community activist & represents
Gowna Housing.

The Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District

Chris Kirk works to
make Killeshandra
beautiful through
Killeshandra Tidy
Towns. He is also
Active in local
heritage projects.
AnneMarie Johnston
works on many
groups but her
representation is
with Cavan Faroige.
Stephen Shannon has been a
community leader in Cavan
for many years and he
brings his skills, passion and
ideas from Belturbet
Development Association.

Brian McDermott is
all about Belturbet, the
Festival, the area, the
people. He represents
Belturbet Tidy Towns.
Bernie Brady has given
so much to Cavan Town.
She represents
Tullacmongan Family
Resource Centre in the
PPN.
Christy Quinn is the
man for Community
Games in County
Cavan & has guided
young people to success
in this field for years.

How Can This Help You?

Project
Support &
Development
Going out to our communities is
key to the PPN and we aim to
help build and improve our local
areas in a real and impactful way.
Whether this is through taking on
an issue like difficulties in local
transport or helping to organise a
Festival Committee or getting a
community garden growing the
PPN is there for you.
This is especially valuable when
applying for funding when the
PPN will hold focus groups for
communities on the funding body
& show past successful projects.

CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
The PPN is here
to help provide
public platforms
on issues
affecting
community and
the public in general. It is also a way
that the public can participate in the
decision making processes of County
Cavan. If you feel you have an issue
for your area or in one of the sectors
we work within, then let us know.
On a regular basis the PPN will
organise local consultations and
discussion groups on topics and
issues aiming to seek actions and
solutions to tackle these and create a
better society in Cavan.

RERESENTATION & RAISING AWARENESS

The PPN is also there to network
the almost 600 community groups
in County Cavan, let them and the
public know whats happening
and to raise awareness on issues
of importance in the area.
If you have something on or if
you want to hear about whats on
in the community then contact us
to get involved. Our Participation
Officer is Daniel at 0863512308
or ddowney@cavancoco.ie

Your PPN Representatives

The Environment Sector
Finian McNamara from
Community Resilience
Cavan works on many
sustainability projects
in County Cavan.
Declan Fitzpatrick, the
Green Fingered Man,
has helped bloom
Drumlane Community
Gardens beautifully!
Fintan McCabe of The
Environmental Network
has worked nationally
& locally to champion
green issues.

Bernard Engle from

Cavan Anglers has a
keen eye on the health
of our waterways in the
area.
Danielle Wilson Higgins
is all about heritage and
her work in Cavan has
focussed on the
maintenance &
appreciation of heritage
Tereasa Walsh has
helped to create a gem
at the heart of Cavan
Town in The Fairgreen
Community Garden.

The Social Inclusion Sector

Bob Gilbert has been a
tireless volunteer for
decades & works passionately to create an
Age Friendly County
Marisa Goldstone
represents Cavan
Multicultural
Network working for
the voice of the New
Communities of
County Cavan.
Madeleine Ui Mhealoid
has worked with The
Society of Saint Vincent
de Paul in the area of
poverty alleviation.

Your PPN Representatives

The Community & Voluntary Sector
Thomas Maughan
represents Cavan
Traveller
Movement which
works to
advocate for
Travellers in
Cavan

Tess Brady (centre)

from Mountnugent
Irish Countrywomens
Association.

Jet Calders
represents Cavan
Family Support
which works for
families in County
Cavan on a wide
range of issues

Larry McCluskey
represents Cootehill
GAA and has worked
with young people and
mental health for many
years here & abroad.
Jerry Fitzpatrick from
Gowna Development
works relentlessly on
community issues locally, across the county
and nationally for us all

The Bailieborough-Cootehill Municpal District

Bernard Joyce works
for Cavan Town
Traveller Mens Shed
creating a space for
Travellers to celebrate
culture & crafts.
Olive Hannigan
represents the youth
organisation of
Macra na Feirme
which has brilliantly
worked on youth
issues in Cavan.
Veronica Williams is
of The Cavan
Womens Network
working to highlight
gender equality.

Natasha OBrien
represents The
Bailieborough Arts
Group which brings
colour and life to
groups and people in
the local area.
Thomas Smyth of
Cavan PTAA works
for temperance to
create a better
society in Cavan
Eamon Donelly from
Tierworker Parish
Council has helped local
projects and people get
off the ground.

Jim Maguire of Bailieborough Development is

a veteran representative
for community issues in
Cavan and will continue
to do so
Nellie Smith
represents her local
Community Alert in
Carrickallen
Mountain Lodge
Ronnie Reillys passion
is for Bowls. This ever
growing sport has had
the continued support
by Ronnie and his
groups.

Cavan Community Forum: Contact Daniel Downey at ddowney@cavancoco.ie