Building bridges the Ballinagh way

Local communities along the Border are benefiting in a clear and tangible way from opportunities offered by the Peace III programme with a varied range of projects run under the auspices of phase two of the programme helping to build up trust and create new friendships between immigrants and members of the Irish born population and between people of different religious faiths and none. The town of Ballinagh is one example of a community that has grasped the hand of help offered by the EU and through the enthusiastic embrace of the Peace III programme by local groups there are positive social and regenerative benefits for the Ballinagh area. Ann McPhillips explains that the Peace programme facilitated the setting up of Ballinagh Community Enterprise Association and Ballinagh Women's Group and to get the Foróige club going. She referred to the redevelopment of the O'Rahilly Hall under the programme and stated that this fine historic building was now the venue for a host of sporting and recreational facilities. With regard to Ballinagh Women's Group, Ann revealed that the 32 women in the group have taken part in numerous training courses, which benefited them in a real and positive way. The Peace III programme also helped stimulate a whole swathe of community activity such as plans by another enthusiastic group of local people to develop Fleming's Folly, which overlooks the town as a tourist attraction. Ballinagh also has a vibrant Tidy Towns Committee, which is working hard to increase the town's standing in the national tidy towns competition. People from the Ballinagh area are also active participants in the Good Relations programme, which is run with the support and under the direction of Jennifer Hill the Good Relations officer with Cavan County Council. This Good Relations programme is also funded by Peace III. Jane Crudden is the development co-ordinator of the Peace III programme and she is heartened by the level of activity being engaged in by so many groups from all walks of life in the Border region. Ann McPhillips stresses that the Peace funding will not be around forever and a county like Cavan should avail of it to the maximum. Both Jane and Ann state that the big focus is on reconciliation, diversity and equality. "In relation to Ballinagh, the Peace programme is making a real difference in many many ways. It is helping to build lasting friendships; people who wouldn't have known each other very well are now firm friends," says Ann.