Doohamlet District Community Development
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Doohamlet is a small village situated in the very centre of Co Monaghan on the R183 between Castleblayney and Ballybay.
Due to recent housing developments over the Celtic Tiger period this hamlet has grown to almost 100 private houses with a Catholic Church, Pub with adjoining B&B, Primary School and a 20th century Community Centre.
A further 200 houses are located throughout the District but even with this small catchment area the local GAA team claims and boasts of playing at a senior level.
Over ten voluntary organisations are active in the area covering young, old, sport, leisure as well as the very necessary local Group Water Scheme. With the growth of the area new residents joined our community, people with family roots in the area and those with none and also some eastern Europeans.
Obviously this raised an awareness that diversity is now part of our community and must be acknowledged and embraced.
With all of the above changes to Doohamlet within a short space of time it was decided a Community Development Association should be set up to highlight issues that didn't fall into the remit of the established groups and also to act as a watchdog for the community in the face of future developments and changes within the district.
Consequently three years ago - over 20 local people came together and formed the Doohamlet District Community Development Association.
Initially it was difficult to establish our role and focus on achieving objectives. An audit of the area was carried out to measure the support of the wider community and also to identify projects for the future.
Out of this came a 200 page document which presented a further challenge on how to get focussed on specific actions.
Website: http://www.ddcda.blogspot.com/
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Doohamlet District Community DevelopmentDoohamletCastleblayneyIreland
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Sat, 2009-10-31 14:32
Really really enjoyed this event in Armagh City Hotel, am really glad we geeting opportunity to do the CLP, guest speakers were inspiring.. Just not looking forward to seeing the video I made!! When are these due to be put on the site??
Thu, 2009-05-07 11:33
On first hearing of CLP - The Development Association thought this would be an opportunity for the group to get professional assistance with moving forward (with little expense!!) and also to grow the capacity of its members to be creative in their thinking and exploit opportunities that arise whether in the form of accessing funds or getting stuck into projects.
Furthermore it is accepted that learning in a shared environment offer lots more practical examples of how similar groups operate as well as identify problems and propose solutions in advance of difficulties arising .
Up to this point the group hadn't been successful in securing any major funding - so it wasn't anticipated that the application would be successful initially.
However after a visit from Brenda, outlining the content of the course- widespread interest was generated in participating in the programme.
When the Email arrived - a week ahead of schedule saying we were accepted onto the programme - we were over the moon.
This was just the boost the Association needed to assist in tackling issues recommended by the Community Audit for action.
Initial concerns were in relation to the round table sessions and how volunteers could balance these meetings into their already hectic schedule however these fears were quickly allayed at the first session in Cookstown at the end of April.
Now with a clear understanding of the programme and all the supports attached to it, members of the Association are looking forward to the facilitated sessions in being held in the local community centre shortly.
Furthermore the Association has just recently learned that they have secured €50,000 under the Peace 111 small scale grants scheme. We know this programme will be invaluable to our group in assisting in the delivery of activities outlined in the application and also provision of corporate governance and guidance on accounting procedures and other financial matter.