Ballyhoura Development CLG

16/10/2026

🌿 Managing Stress in Our Daily Lives – Free Six-Week Programme
As part of the Farm Forward Programme, Ballyhoura Development is supporting a new six-week wellbeing programme designed to help participants better understand stress, strengthen resilience and develop practical ways of managing everyday pressures.

Delivered by the ._project (SHEP), the programme will provide a supportive and welcoming space to explore stress management, emotional wellbeing and practical strategies that can be used in daily life.

The programme is suitable for farmers, farm family members, people living in rural communities, and anyone interested in improving their wellbeing and building positive stress-management skills.

📅 Starts: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
🕦 Time: 11:30am–1:30pm
📍 Location: Hospital Family Resource Centre, Hospital, Co. Limerick
⏳ Duration: Six weeks
🎟️ Free to attend – registration is essential as places are limited
👉 Find out more and register:
https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/Event/managing-stress-in-our-daily-lives-programme

16/10/2026

🌍 CITICESS Final Conference | Shaping the Future of Citizen-Centred Social Services

How can we build more inclusive, responsive and person-centred social services that truly meet the needs of individuals, families and communities?

On Wednesday, 18 November 2026, Ballyhoura Development will welcome European partners, policymakers, practitioners and community organisations to Charleville Park Hotel, for the CITICESS Final Conference.

We are delighted to announce Dr Katriona O'Sullivan as our keynote speaker. A psychologist, author of Poor and passionate advocate for social inclusion, Katriona brings a powerful perspective on overcoming barriers, the importance of opportunity and the role of inclusive support systems in changing lives.

Co-funded by the European Union through Interreg Europe, the CITICESS project has brought together partners across Europe to explore innovative approaches to citizen-centred social services.

The conference will provide an opportunity to:
🔹 Share learning and practical outcomes from the CITICESS partnership.
🔹 Explore how European innovation can be adapted to local needs.
🔹 Discuss approaches to more coordinated, inclusive and person-centred service delivery.
🔹 Experience community-based initiatives through optional afternoon study visits.

📅 Wednesday, 18 November 2026
📍 Charleville Park Hotel, Co. Cork
🎟️ Attendance is free, but registration is essential.

🔗 Full programme and registration: https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/Event/citicess-citizen-centred-social-services-final-conference

15/10/2026

🏮 Lanterns are taking shape, costumes and masks are ready… and the spirit of Samhain is coming alive in Kilfinane! 🍂✨

A little glimpse of the creativity from our Samhain at the Crossroads workshops this week. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!

🔥 Now we're getting ready for Saturday's Final Gathering!

👻 Come in disguise so the spirits don't steal you into the Otherworld...

📅 Saturday, 17 October | 6:30–8:30pm
📍 Meet at the Fountain, Kilfinane

Join us for a magical lantern procession, music, stories, song and dance. Everyone welcome!

Register 👉 https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/Event/samhain-at-the-crossroads

15/10/2026

🌊 Water is the New Solar – Bringing Community Energy to the European Stage!

On Tuesday, 13 October, Ballyhoura Development's Sean Sweeney delivered an EURegionsTalk entitled ‘Water is the New Solar: Aquathermal Energy for Life’ at the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels.

Representing Ballyhoura Development as lead partner of the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) project, Sean highlighted how the natural energy found in rivers, lakes and canals could provide sustainable heating and cooling for our communities.

💧 But the message went beyond technology.

The energy transition must be about communities too - giving local people the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to shape their own energy future.

Through AquaCOM, European partners are working together to share expertise, develop practical solutions and explore how aquathermal energy can become part of a more sustainable energy future.

A fantastic opportunity to showcase community-led innovation from rural Ireland on the European stage and contribute to the wider European conversation on renewable energy.

🔗 https://eu-regions-week.europa.eu/programme/current-edition/63977
🔗 https://aquacom.nweurope.eu/

14/10/2026

🌿 Interreg Wetlanders Project Partners Visit Griston Bog

We were delighted to welcome representatives from Eurosite - the European Land Conservation Network and The Rivers Trust to Griston Bog, the Irish pilot site for the Interreg Wetlanders project, supported by Interreg North-West Europe (NWE).

The visit provided an opportunity to explore habitat restoration opportunities, discuss stakeholder engagement and exchange knowledge on the challenges facing wetlands across Europe.

Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment CLG, owners of Griston Bog, welcomed the project partners and shared the site's history, ecological significance and their ongoing commitment to conserving this important community-owned peatland.

🤝 With partners from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland, the Wetlanders project brings together expertise and experience to address challenges in wetland restoration, governance and long-term conservation.

As the Irish pilot site, Griston Bog continues to contribute to European collaboration and knowledge exchange, helping to shape approaches to protecting and restoring valuable wetland habitats for future generations.

🔗 Read more: https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/News/wetlanders-project-partners-visit-griston-bog-to-explore-habitat-restoration-opportunities

13/10/2026

🏡 Fantastic Turnout for Ballymacoda Home Energy Night! ⚡🌱

Over 60 people attended a fantastic community information evening in Ballymacoda, where Sean Sweeney, SEAI Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Mentor, broke down complex home energy grants, funding options and energy efficiency upgrades into clear, practical advice.

💡 The key message? You don't have to do everything at once or spend a fortune. It's about making informed choices that suit your home, your needs and your budget.

This is also why more communities are getting involved in the SEAI Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme - taking control of their energy future, exploring local opportunities and working together to reduce energy costs.

With recent changes to SEAI grants and funding announced in the Budget, having access to accurate, up-to-date information is more important than ever.

🏘️ Would your community or organisation like to host a FREE Home Energy Information Night or learn more about becoming a Sustainable Energy Community?

We're inviting community groups and organisations across Cork, Limerick and Tipperary to get involved!

📩 Contact Sean Sweeney at [email protected] to find out how we can help your community explore the options available.

More info: 🔗https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/news/bring-a-home-energy-information-night-to-your-community

👏 A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the Ballymacoda event such a success!

12/10/2026

💻 Help Shape Better Digital Supports for Community Organisations Across Ballyhoura

Community and voluntary organisations across the Ballyhoura region are being invited to take part in a new Digital Needs Survey for Community Organisations.

From storing important documents and managing bookings to communicating with members, promoting activities and keeping organisational records, digital tools are now part of everyday community work - but they don’t always make that work easier.

This survey will help us better understand the digital challenges, skills gaps and practical needs of local groups, so that future training, resources and technologies can be shaped around what organisations actually need.

Whether your organisation or community group is just beginning its digital journey or already uses technology regularly, we want to hear from you.

👉 Find Out More and Complete the Digital Needs Survey:
https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/news/digital-needs-survey-for-community-organisations-in-the-ballyhoura-region

The survey forms part of the INSPIRE project, supporting new approaches to digital inclusion and innovation in rural communities.

Help us understand the digital skills, challenges and opportunities experienced by community and voluntary organisations across the Ballyhoura region.

10/10/2026

🌱 Growing Your Own Food: Winter Gardening Programme
Would you like to grow more of your own food and build practical gardening skills for the winter months?

As part of the Ballyhoura Farm Forward Health & Wellbeing Network, we’re delighted to support a free six-week Winter Gardening Programme at Kildorrery Community Garden.

Delivered by an experienced Cork Education and Training Board tutor, the programme will cover practical topics including seasonal planting, soil health, growing vegetables, harvesting, garden maintenance, preparing for winter, sustainable gardening and supporting biodiversity. No previous gardening experience is required.

📅 Starts: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
🕥 Time: 10:30am–12:30pm
📍 Location: Kildorrery Community Garden, Co. Cork
⏳ Duration: 6 weeks
🎟️ Free to attend – advance registration required:
🔗https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/Event/growing-your-own-food-winter-gardening-programme

08/10/2026

Great to see Teach na Cille opening its doors as a vibrant community space in the heart of Kilfinane. 💚

Creative Places Kilfinane was delighted to join local groups and members of the community at the recent Open Night, celebrating the newly refurbished space and the opportunities it creates for people of all ages to meet, connect and get involved.

From crafts, wellness and drama to the new snooker club and darts facilities, Teach na Cille is already becoming an important hub for local activity.

For Creative Places Kilfinane, it was also a great opportunity to meet the community, share more about the programme and explore how the space could support future creative projects, workshops and activities.

We’re looking forward to seeing what develops here in the months ahead. ✨

Read more: https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/blog/creative-places-meets-the-community-at-teach-na-cille-open-night