REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE CONG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE CONG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION ON TUESDAY, 8TH DECEMBER, 1998
I am very pleased to be with you in Cong, and to have this opportunity to acknowledge the initiative by the members of the newly-formed Cong Community Development Association as it sets out to tackle some of the social and economic development issues in the area.
- The Association has already demonstrated a degree of maturity and common sense in preparing a profile of the area outlining the current situation - the strengths and weaknesses – the opportunities and potential for development - and some of the supports available. The Cong Development Profile which we are launching today is a fine example of a community taking the initiative in helping to shape our future - providing the motivation and the Inspiration for the entire community to work together for the development of the area to the benefit of all concerned.
- We see evidence every day of rapid and often traumatic changes in rural communities, sometimes posing a threat to our traditional culture and values. One of our concerns is the risk that we might lose those most valuable national characteristics - our sense of community and neighbourliness. Our greatest resource is our people, young and old. Here in Ireland, we are fortunate indeed to have inherited a strong sense of place and a loyalty to the place and people from which we come.
- Community development is essentially about making our communities better places in which to live and work for ourselves and our children. Communities throughout Ireland have always demonstrated a willingness to contribute to improvement of the fabric of local, social, cultural and economic life in the area. This involves considerable voluntary effort and the use of structures, both formal and in many cases informal. The Cong Community Development Association have shown that the tradition of community involvement is alive and well in this area, and I congratulate you on the example which you are giving, not just in Cong, but in other communities in rural Ireland.
- With the growing influence of urbanisation in our society, many rural areas are facing a serious challenge to retain their population levels - to attract jobs and income creating opportunities - and to retain the services to support and promote vibrant communities. I know that there are a range of State services and supports in place to help community groups and I would like to acknowledge the support and assistance you have received to date.
- One of the most important developments in recent years has been the establishment of the local development programmes which are based on the principle of 'bottom-up' development - programmes which are particularly responsive to the needs of local groups and communities. I note for example, that the local LEADER group in this area of South West Mayo, has provided encouragement and assistance by way of advice and guidance to the Cong Community Development Association. The process of encouraging, supporting and facilitating communities to act on their own behalf is one of the key elements of rural development policy.
- I am well aware from my visits to similar groups in communities throughout the country, that people in rural areas particularly, are willing and able to contribute in a meaningful way to the economic, social and cultural development of their own areas. I hope that your efforts in Cong will encourage you to further success and that my visit will in some way provide the recognition which you deserve. I wish you every success with your work and I look forward to hearing about your progress in the future.