Changing Ireland

Changing Ireland Ireland’s No. 1 Community Development magazine, publishing quality journalism since 2001. HQ Moyross, Limerick.

A new guidebook by Dr Maura Adshead aims to make community research more accessible to the people who want to use it.Doi...
09/09/2026

A new guidebook by Dr Maura Adshead aims to make community research more accessible to the people who want to use it.

Doing Community Research, published in May, offers straightforward advice for community practitioners and academic researchers who want to work together. Created in partnership with The Wheel and published by Boru Press, it provides practical guidance on building partnerships, planning research and dealing with the challenges that arise along the way.

The book is written with the Irish community and voluntary sector in mind and includes real-world examples and links to open-access resources.

Dr Adshead is Professor of Politics and Public Administration and Head of Community Engagement at the University of Limerick. All profits from the €24.99 book will go towards funding a community research programme in UL.

Could better access to research help community groups make a stronger case for the changes they want to see?

📖 Read Allen Meagher’s full story on the Changing Ireland website through the link in our bio.

08/09/2026

Ireland is one of the few EU countries with a dedicated community-based programme focused on tackling poverty and promoting social inclusion and equality.

Through – the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme – local development companies work directly with people and communities who face some of the greatest barriers to participation.

The programme supports disadvantaged communities and individuals, from people experiencing long-term unemployment or educational disadvantage to Travellers, Roma, refugees, disabled people, one-parent families and island residents.

And when crisis hits, SICAP has shown it can respond. During Covid-19, and later with the arrival of Ukrainians fleeing war, its flexibility allowed supports to reach communities when they were needed.

As Ireland holds the EU Presidency, it is worth remembering what we do well — and the community-based work we can be proud of.

What do you think Ireland could teach other countries about tackling social exclusion at community level?

Read Allen Meagher’s full story on the Changing Ireland website through the link in our bio.

SICAP Connemara, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme
Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
"

As Ireland takes on the EU Presidency, it’s worth remembering something we’re particularly good at — giving our time to ...
07/09/2026

As Ireland takes on the EU Presidency, it’s worth remembering something we’re particularly good at — giving our time to our communities.

Almost 655,000 people in Ireland volunteered in 2025, contributing an estimated 7.5 million hours every month.

People in the West — Galway, Mayo and Roscommon — were the most likely to volunteer, while sporting organisations attracted the largest number of volunteers.

The figures also show an interesting link with working from home: people who sometimes or usually work remotely were more likely to volunteer than those who never do.

From Tidy Towns and sports clubs to charities and community organisations, volunteering remains a huge part of life in Ireland.

What keeps volunteering so strong in Irish communities — and what would encourage even more people to get involved?

📖 Read Owen Ryan’s full story on the Changing Ireland website through the link in our bio.

TidyTowns Ireland

Twenty years ago, Issue 17 of Changing Ireland was reporting on community-led regeneration in Fatima, Gardaí working alo...
03/09/2026

Twenty years ago, Issue 17 of Changing Ireland was reporting on community-led regeneration in Fatima, Gardaí working alongside youth leaders in Cork, disability inclusion in rural Mayo, migration and advocacy, Traveller accommodation and racism.

Reading it today, what stands out isn't simply how much Ireland has changed.

It's how familiar some of the conversations still feel.

And throughout the issue, one idea keeps resurfacing: the people most affected by decisions should have a voice in making them.

So for this week's , we're asking:

Which of these issues do you think Ireland has made the most progress on since 2006 — and where is there still work to do?

Read the full archive edition through the link in our bio.

Former cabinet minister and current Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland Chair Richard Bruton believes the sector has...
02/09/2026

Former cabinet minister and current Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland Chair Richard Bruton believes the sector has enormous potential—but needs better support from the State to realise it.

Speaking to Changing Ireland, Bruton called for a “New Deal” for social enterprise, arguing that current funding structures can be too rigid and often leave social enterprises without access to the same supports available to private businesses.

Yet these organisations are already tackling some of Ireland’s biggest challenges—from positive ageing and mental health to climate action, inclusion and supporting people at the margins of society.

As Bruton puts it:

"They are extraordinarily creative people who are doing wonderful things with often very slender resources.”

Could a stronger partnership between the State and social enterprise deliver more for our communities?

📖 Read Allen Meagher’s full interview with Richard Bruton on the Changing Ireland website — link in our bio.

If you have 60 seconds tonight, two Irish community-based projects are calling for your vote to make a mark on the Europ...
20/08/2026

If you have 60 seconds tonight, two Irish community-based projects are calling for your vote to make a mark on the European stage.
But hurry! Public vote closes 11pm.
You can pick your two favourites (three max) in under a minute. Cast your vote here:
https://socialinnovationplus.eu/social-innovation-match-sim/meet-the-social-innovators/

The two are among 31 shortlisted projects vying for ESF+ Social Innovation Awards and the public vote will help decide which 12 projects make it through.

The Irish projects are the Ballyhoura Breakthrough Pilot focused on Charleville, Co. Cork, and Rural Revive which operates in Cavan and Monaghan.

The Breakthrough project supports individuals and families facing complex challenges through a person-centred coaching approach that promotes self-advocacy and empowerment. Through adopting lessons learned in communities in the Netherlands, the project sought to build on the strengths of Ireland’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
Ballyhoura Development CLG’s 2026 SICAP Plan incorporated further lessons learned from the pilot, embedding more flexible, needs-led and collaborative approaches into the community outreach work.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITscdaFbnjI

The Rural Revive project aims to support over 100 people aged 45 or over in parts of Ireland and Greece to return to meaningful, local employment while supporting local employers with valuable wage subsidies.
This age-group is being targeted because they have often been overlooked when outreach programmes are developed.
Two local development companies Monaghan Integrated Development CLG and Cavan County Local Development are among the collaborators behind Rural Revive. It is also supported by a private company based in Cavan called Future in Perspective Ltd.
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7hUYCSTZqY&list=PLUTaC3sVRKh8&index=23
LONG VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js9DQ97D16M

If you have time it’s well worth looking at all 31 projects from 11 European countries.
Full video and descriptive details here: https://socialinnovationplus.eu/social-innovation-match-sim/meet-the-social-innovators/

Community development appears to be very well rooted in County Roscommon from what Changing Ireland saw visiting three l...
31/07/2026

Community development appears to be very well rooted in County Roscommon from what Changing Ireland saw visiting three locations over two days – on invitation from Roscommon LEADER Partnership.
We were swept off our feet by yoga in a heritage garden led by a community worker studying to be a druid that marked the start of a conference in Strokestown called ‘Rooted and Growing’. It brought together 80+ people from the worlds of community development, medicine and nature to explore the theme of people, place and health - to see how nature-based approaches can support health, wellbeing and stronger communities. It - like other projects we saw - was the result of intense collaboration between community volunteers, agencies and local and central government.
After Strokestown, we joined 150 people who descended on Kilbride Community Centre to celebrate 35 years of LEADER. Addressing the audience Minister Dara Calleary said the event “highlighted the value of community-led development and the important role that LEADER plays in creating sustainable opportunities for rural areas into the future”.
You can’t argue with the 1,200 jobs LEADER has created in the county and hopefully the government and EU will continue to strongly support LEADER.
Finally, we moved on to Ballaghaderreen where the opening of a fabulous new childcare facility had to compete with the pending arrival of the Sam Maguire Cup. Months earlier when Roscommon Leader Partnership asked Minister Calleary to attend, few would have imagined that 5,000 people would be dancing on the streets outside, blowing horns and letting off red and green smoke canisters.
The minister visited more sites in Roscommon that same day and officially opened over €1 million worth of projects - including new community spaces in Castleplunkett, Ballintober and Tulsk.
We will report in more depth on the launches we attended, but for now – as we enter a long weekend – enjoy some photos from our site-visits. Thanks to all we met, interviewed and photographed. And a special shout-out to Kilbride Community Shop for the tea and toasted sandwiches! - Allen Meagher, editor

Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Local Development Companies Network

In Christmas 2005, Changing Ireland highlighted a striking housing contradiction.While the average national house price ...
30/07/2026

In Christmas 2005, Changing Ireland highlighted a striking housing contradiction.

While the average national house price was reported at €268,040, good-quality homes in some disadvantaged Limerick communities were selling for as little as €30,000. Families were effectively trapped by decades of neglect, crime and the stigma attached to where they lived.

The message on our editorial page was clear:

“Your house should be your home, not your prison.”

More than 20 years later, Ireland faces a very different housing market—but many of the underlying inequalities remain.

The median price of a home reached €395,000 nationally in the year to May 2026 and €500,000 in Dublin. Even in Longford, which recorded the lowest county median, the figure was €198,000. These are median rather than average prices, so they are not a direct like-for-like comparison with 2005, but they demonstrate how dramatically the cost of buying a home has increased.

Renters are also under growing pressure. The average rent for a new tenancy reached €1,755 per month in late 2025, while 61,719 households were assessed as needing social housing support.

In May 2026, 17,447 people were living in emergency accommodation, including 5,583 children.

In 2005, some communities were struggling because their homes were valued too little. Today, many people are struggling because homes cost too much or are simply unavailable.

The circumstances have changed, but the central question remains:

Does everyone in Ireland have access to a secure, affordable home and a community in which they can thrive?

📖 Explore Issue 16 of Changing Ireland through the link in our bio.

💬 Has Ireland’s housing inequality improved—or has it simply taken a different form?

29/07/2026

Currently, just 12 of Tipperary County Council’s 40 councillors are women. An event organised by Tipperary Public Participation Network and See Her Elected highlighted the work already under way to improve women’s representation in politics and public life.

The message was clear: many women are already leading in their communities through volunteering, advocacy and organising—they may simply not recognise it as leadership.

See Her Elected is helping women build confidence, understand political structures and explore how they can influence decisions, whether by standing for election or becoming more involved in their communities.

As Tipperary PPN co-ordinator Ruth Smith said:

“Information is power.”

The organisation’s Guide to Running in the 2029 Local Elections provides practical information for women who may be considering taking the next step.

📖 Read the full article through the link in our bio.

💬 What would encourage more women to become involved in local politics and community leadership? Share your thoughts below.

From making tea and welcoming young boxers through the door to coaching, judging internationally and supporting generati...
28/07/2026

From making tea and welcoming young boxers through the door to coaching, judging internationally and supporting generations of Olympic athletes, Anna Moore has dedicated much of her life to Irish boxing.

Known affectionately as the “Mammy of Irish Boxing” after Olympic champion Kellie Harrington publicly thanked her, Anna has seen first-hand how boxing can transform young lives.

She believes the sport can give young people discipline, build confidence, provide a healthy outlet for aggression and bring people from different backgrounds together.

At St Francis Boxing Club in Limerick, there is no divide between Traveller and settled boxers.

“If you come into our club, you’re treated the same as everyone else. There’s no difference.”

Anna also reflects on the devastating loss of talented young boxer Kevin Sheehy and how the club supported its members through grief while continuing to provide a safe and positive space for other young people.

Her story is one of dedication, inclusion, resilience and a lifetime spent supporting others—both inside and outside the ring.

📖 Read the full article through the link in our bio.

Address

Community Enterprise Centre, Moyross
Limerick
V94V0NP

Telephone

+35361574506

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Changing Ireland posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category