Ten years building community
A full house gathered in Ballinagh Community Hall on Thursday last as Cavan Public Participation Network (PPN) celebrated its 10 year anniversary.
Cathaoirleach Brady spoke highly of the work of the PPN and of the community spirit of County Cavan urging people to get involved in their local groups and communities.
The event was attended by over 30 stall holders from groups and projects from across the county, attracted over 100 community volunteers and the event was opened by Cathaoirleach Philip Brady on one of his final official engagements in the office, and PPN Chairperson Fiachra Keogh.
“I just want to say congratulations to the PPN - 10 years in anything we do, especially with community groups is a great landmark to get to. We all know in community groups how hard it is to keep getting new people and keep pushing forward.”
The Mullahoran man assured that Cavan County Council looks to support volunteerism in the community.
“For me this year I’ve been trying to promote volunteers - I keep saying, it’s like a drop in the ocean. The drop mightn’t seem much, but it can turn into a tsunami with how great it can get. The small thing you do for your community or your group can turn into a great thing.”
Newly re-elected councillors Winston Bennett (FG) and Patricia Walsh (FF), as well as Deborah Leahy representing Cavan County Council’s executive, also attended the gathering.
Opening the event, Fiachra Keogh spoke of his own personal experiences and difficulties in younger life when it was “community that saved me” in his journey.
CavanPPN is the officially designated networking and representational body of community groups in County Cavan. In the last decade Cavan PPN has grown to the point where it now represents and supports the voice of 444 groups with at least five members in each group. This, at the very least, represents 2,220 people engaged in community activity within the CavanPPN family in the county.
Economically, community volunteers contribute greatly to the fabric of Irish society and, at a low valuation of €15 per hour, we can estimate a conservative contribution of these 2,220 volunteers among PPN members at almost €5.2million per year if they only volunteer three hours per week each, and most do more than this.
“We at CavanPPN thank all those groups, agencies and individuals who have supported the project across the ten years and, looking forward, we encourage you and others to join us in continuing the journey to greater inclusion, empowerment and representation of community interests through your PPN,” said Cavan PPN coordinator Daniel Downey.