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News
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News:11th January 2008
Rural Recreation Officer (Walking)
Wicklow Rural Partnership wishes to invite applications for the post of Rural Recreation Officer with responsibility for co-ordinating the maintenance and management of walking trails in Co. Wicklow. The successful candidate will also assist with the marketing and promotion of these trails.
Candidates should have a good knowledge of, and interest in, walking route management and promotion, have an understanding of the needs of tourists and the tourism industry and have some experience in rural / community development work. The successful candidate should be a good communicator, self-motivated and have the ability to work effectively with a network of individuals and organisations.
This is a contract position for a period of 3 years and is funded by the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
A detailed job description is available from: -
Wicklow Rural Partnership, Saville House, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow 0404-46977, www.wicklowleader.ie
Closing date for receipt of applications, which will include a detailed CV, is Friday, 8th February 2008.
WICKLOW RURAL PARTNERSHIP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER.
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News:22nd March 2007
Report on - Exploring the Impact of LEADER+ Support for Women and Young People in County Wicklow
As part of our role, WRP provides funding support to a wide range of community and enterprise initiatives in Wicklow. WRP established a number of specific initiatives aimed at supporting women and youth under LEADER + and also assigned dedicated staff resources to their implementation.
In June 2006, WRP commissioned a study to undertake a qualitative research study to capture the experiences of Wicklow based women’s groups and young people’s groups as recipients of LEADER Plus grant support. A small sample of the social, cultural, economic and environmental projects that resulted from the commitments made by Wicklow Rural Partnership under LEADER Plus in support of women and young people formed the basis for this evaluation study.
This report details the outcomes of the study and serves to highlight and to reflect the range and achievements of women’s’ and young peoples’ groups in Wicklow. We hope that this report will benefit the community groups involved and any local group investing their resources and their voluntary commitment in community projects to enhance services to women and young people across Wicklow. The learning gained from the project, will also help WRP’s community group members and partners to plan for the new LEADER programme, due to start in 2007.
Full Report and Case Studies available from our Downloads Link.
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News:5th March 2007
Good Food … the Wicklow way launched by Minister Éamon Ó Cuív
Delicious smells and mouth-watering tastes were the order the launch of a stunning guide to 20 artisan food producers and markets in Co. Wicklow.
In the atmospheric setting of Macreddin Chapel, The Brook Lodge & Wells Spa, Macreddin, Co Wicklow last Thursday, Wicklow’s cream of artisan food producers and markets laid out their wares in an astonishing array of colour and dedication to quality in front of food buyers from restaurants and supermarkets across the county.
Good Food … the Wicklow way features stunning photographs of the county’s rich natural environment and its artisan produce and farmers’ and country markets, as well as details on the produce available and where to find the producers and markets. The booklet, produced by Wicklow Rural Partnership, was launched by Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
“Wicklow hosts a wide range of on-farm or home-based speciality food producers, making high-quality food products like cheese, ice-cream, chocolates or organic vegetables and wild Irish game,” said Ruth Pritchard of Wicklow Rural Partnership. “This guide will encourage people to buy the excellent foods that are produced locally, either directly from the producer, fresh from the home or farm, or at farmers’ and country markets across the county.
“When you buy these foods, you’re buying from someone within your community, someone who’s passionate about what they do and can describe it to you. That connection means you can also afford to try something a bit different. Talking to the producer and sampling the food gives you a chance to explore different foods in a way you might not from large retail outlets.”
The launch was hosted by Wicklow-based food writer Paolo Tullio in, with food tastings available from the county’s top artisan producers. The bountiful range of foods available included mouth-watering sorbet ice creams, timelessly tasty breads, luxury handmade chocolates, exotic tea blends, award-winning marinades and organic lamb.
“This good food guide is a perfect example of how local groups can make the most of indigenous rural resources,” said Minister Ó Cuív TD. “In terms of countryside recreation, the booklet will provide tourists with yet another reason to visit this stunning part of the country. This is in line with the Government’s rural development strategy, which emphasises the promotion of agri-tourism and diversification into non-farming activities in rural areas.
“Under the new National Development Plan announced last week, the total investment allocated to the LEADER National Rural Economy Scheme is €461m – a trebling of its funding. I commend Wicklow Rural Partnership for this fine booklet and am confident that it will prove highly successful in raising the profile of the excellent artisan food producers in the Wicklow area.”
The spectacular richness of Wicklow’s natural environment is mirrored in the quality and distinction of the Garden County’s natural produce. Whether organic or farm-prepared, home-baked or bottled, Wicklow’s artisan producers honour the integrity of their natural ingredients.
The entire event and the quality of food on offer was an example of the astounding interest in good food, how it’s produced and in eating in season, said Mr Tullio. Ireland, and indeed Co. Wicklow, is perceived as a lush, green, clean country and we should strive to keep foods pure and market Ireland as a source of pure food, and not genetically modified foods, he told the gathering.
“Wicklow’s small food producers are a vital component in rural development,” said Brian Kehoe, manager of Wicklow Rural Partnership, which is responsible for the delivery of a number of initiatives in Co. Wicklow, including the LEADER programme. This guide to artisan producers and markets is a useful marketing opportunity for Wicklow’s food producers to showcase their produce before visitors to and residents of the county. Indeed, a reflection of that double economic and tourism benefit to artisan food production was shown by the financial support to the guide by Wicklow County Enterprise Board and Wicklow County Tourism.
Copies of Good Food … the Wicklow way are available from local shops, delicatessens and tourism sites across Wicklow and from Wicklow County Tourism at 0404 20070 and Wicklow Rural Partnership on 0404 46977.
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News:5th March 2007
BE HEARD, BE INVOLVED, BENEFIT
As the current LEADER+ Programme (2000-2006) draws to a close, Wicklow Rural Partnership is taking a look back over the changes brought about by the success of the LEADER+ programme in County Wicklow in that time.
The total LEADER+ spend in Co. Wicklow amounted to €3.5 Million during the 2000 – 2006 Programme. Close to 300 projects around the County were supported under the programme in all, including 40 plus countywide initiatives and some 260 comprising a wide range of community based projects and individual enterprises supported.
New Programme 2007 - 2013
With a trebling of the National Budget being made available under the new programme operated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Wicklow Rural Partnership is now seeking the views of communities across the county in order to help prepare Wicklow’s bid for the new Rural Development Strategy.
Expected areas of support under the new Rural Development Strategy will include
• Support for business creation and development
• Encouragement of tourism activities
• Basic services for the economy and rural population
• Village renewal and development
• Diversification into non-agricultural activities
• Conservation and Upgrading of the Rural Heritage
• Training and Information
For communities across the county, this will translate into opportunities to improve community facilities and local amenities as well as offering funding for community enterprise, tourism, heritage, village enhancement initiatives, training and research.
As this strategy will focus on the specific needs of communities from around the county it is of paramount importance that communities have a direct input and opportunities to contribute their views.
Wicklow Rural Partnership has circulated 140 community and voluntary groups with a questionnaire to allow groups around the county to participate in the preparation of the new programme. The deadline for return of these questionnaires using the SAE provided is Monday March 19th 2007. Groups contributing will have a further opportunity to have their say at public meetings, which will be held around the county during April/May 07.
Check Out Website – www.wicklowleader.ie
If your group does not received a questionnaire and would like one please call 0404 46977 or log on to www.wicklowleader.ie to download a copy. Please feel free to contact WRP if you have any queries in relation to this process or the questionnaire and staff will be happy to assist you.
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News:24th January 2005
Community Groups interested in the Rural Social Scheme
Community and Sporting Groups/Organisations in Co. Wicklow
Rural Social Scheme
WRP are seeking proposals from established community and sporting groups/organisations, who have identified a project which would benefit the local community. The type of project will be agreed by WRP in consultation with the local group/organisation.
Wicklow Rural Partnership (WRP) are delivering the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) in Co. Wicklow. This is an employment scheme whereby eligible Farmers or Fishermen (or their Spouses), who are in receipt of a long term payment from the Department of Social & Family Affairs), can work part-time on a Community Project in their locality and supplement their income.
For further details please contact Liam O' Loughlin at the WRP office at (0404) 46977 or email loloughlin@wicklowleader.ie
Due to limited numbers WRP cannot guarantee that all applicant groups/organisations will be able to participate in the RSS Scheme.
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Wicklow
Rural Partnership Ltd., Saville House, Saville's Cross, Rathdrum,
Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Tel: +353 404 46977, Fax: + 353 404 46978, Email: info@wicklowleader.ie
  
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