Special offer for Kilfenora residents from Common Knowledge

As has been well publicised in the local and national media, social enterprise Common Knowledge has taken over what was formerly the Boghill Centre. It offers a range of courses in practical skills from building to gardening, with accommodation and food as needed. It also seeks to engage with its adjoining communities, Lisdoonvarna and Kilfenora.

To that end it is offering a limited number of free places for Kilfenora residents (and Lisdoonvarna too) to attend a special Open Day on Saturday 12 August (12-5pm), on a first come first served basis. All tickets for general attendees are sold out.

The Open Day is called The School for Lost Skills, subtitled “Re-kindling the lost skills of building, food, culture and land”. It will kick off with a discussion panel chaired by Anja Murray and featuring some other well-known personalities – Darina Allen of Ballyamaloe House, gardening expert Mary Reynolds and the writer and TV programme maker Manchán Magan. That initial session will also be live-streamed on the internet.

For more details see https://www.ourcommonknowledge.org/lostskills . If you want to book your free place, scroll down to the booking section.

As part of the same initiative, Common Knowledge is staging a 4-day skills course for €680 plus booking fee, with accommodation onsite available for attendees. Full details and booking are available using the same link.

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It is extremely rare for public bodies to undertake thorough local consultation. (They tend to use consultants and/or surveys, and generally keep their distance.) But this is exactly what Clare Local Development Company is doing this April – see their website here.

Kilfenora is first on the list of eight locations in Clare where CLDC is inviting local residents to help them devise their plan of activities for 2023-17. (See below if you are not aware of what CLDC is and does.) Note that Kilfenora has benefitted from CLDC support over the years – for example they have funded enhancements to the Burren Centre such as the Kilfenora Céilí Band Parlour and the current improvement works at the front part of the building.

On Tuesday 4 April CLDC is running a consultation workshop open to ALL residents in Kilfenora, from 7-9pm in Kilfenora Community Hall. They want to hear our ideas on how to make Clare a better place for all, in which to live, work and socialise, and of course we can state what we feel is important for our particular area.

The format is simple. After a 10-minute overview by CLDC (and a 6-minute case study video), participants will break into groups facilitated by a CLDC staff member to discuss priorities to be included in the next LEADER plan.

Even if you don’t have a particular bee in your bonnet about what needs improving, please come and join the discussion in what should be a stimulating occasion – participate in letting Kilfenora’s voice be heard.

About CLDC
The mission of CLDC is to support – through advice and project funding- social inclusion, enterprise, rural and community development, both from its own resources and in collaboration with other agencies. Formed 21 years ago, CLDC employs over 200 people on a wide range of programs and schemes such as LEADER, SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) Local Training Initiatives, Rural Social Scheme, Community Employment Scheme and Rural Recreation Project and Tús.

Its ethos is inclusive and community led – building the capacity of people and communities to address their own development needs; and working in partnership with community groups and other local bodies to deliver the best outcomes for the county.