Castlebar MD staff, former members of Castlebar Community Development Association and family representatives, Mayo Foróige, Castlebar MD councillors, including Councillor Al McDonnell, cathaoirleach, David Mellett, head, Castlebar MD, and John Condon, director of services. Photo: Alison Laredo

Legacy of Castlebar Community Development Association celebrated

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THE former members of Castlebar Community Development Association (CCDA) have been honoured with a civic reception to celebrate their legacy to the county town.

The honour was proposed by Councillor Ger Deere to recognise the contribution CCDA made to Castlebar over many years, especially at a time of great need in the town.

The reception was hosted by the cathaoirleach and members of Castlebar Municipal District.

Castlebar Community Development Association members at the civic reception. At back, from left: John Moran, Geraldine Joyce, Tony Cawley and Tony Deffley. At front: Bridie Robinson, Sheila Cawley and Paddy McGuinness. Photo: Alison Laredo

Community development is seen as the careful amalgamation of two separate elements - neither of which can be fully effective alone. One, which often lies dormant, is the capacity, initiative and spirit of self help which exists in every community. The other is the expertise, finances and materials which can be supplied through state agencies and local authorities. The matching of these two elements is the dynamic known as community development.

Any review of the work of CCDA from the mid 1980s to 2000 shows that the organisation was spectacularly successful in welding the two diverse elements together. As a consequence of its work, Castlebar came through an unemployment crises and secured noteworthy amenity improvements.

CCDA was central to attracting industries, encouraging local enterprises and campaigning for infrastructural improvements. Significantly, all this took place at a time when Castlebar had suffered a series of employment blows and was facing the closure of one of its biggest industries.

Castlebar Municipal District regarded it important that their achievements be recognised.

CCDA was established in 1985 as a result of an initiative by Paddy McGuinness, then chairman of Castlebar Urban District Council, after the town was hit by the closure of the bacon factory and Grumbaccher Brushes, followed by an announcement of the impending closure of Travenol. An ambitious plan to attract industry together with astute use of job creation schemes had significant results.

The association later acquired a disused premises and transformed it into an 10-unit enterprise centre. After it outlived its original purpose, it was sold, with the proceeds - €1,132,000 - given back to the community.

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