A New York state of mind

Laura Brady somehow manages to keep a lot of balls in the air at once for the benefit of the community

Having lived in New York for ten years, Laura Brady is eager to bring some of the Big Apple's energy into the town of Ballinagh.

Laura started in Ballinagh Community Enterprise Association last September.

“Collaboration is the key in here,” she said if her work within the community.

“I have about ten things going at once, but I like that,” she said of her work. “It’s the New York in me.”

The Lacken woman’s aim is to create more outlets for people to meet in the town.

In her former days in the US working in a fast-paced bar, she remembered events taking place every night of the week from traditional music sessions, poker and quiz nights, karaoke and more. She enjoyed the social aspect of this life and wants to incorporate this in Ballinagh.

She has organised a women’s shed for the town, which among the names in circulation is ‘Folly’s Fillies’ to create a space for people to meet.

The initial meeting of the group took place last Thursday where over 25 people showed up and others texted to relay their interest in attending future gatherings. With great interest in the group and a range of ages, Laura is planning to host arts and crafts meetings, health and wellbeing sessions, guest speakers, IT and computer skills among other community-based initiatives.

“There’s not many social things for us,” she said.

Sustainability

Missing the lifestyle of her former home, the Lacken woman has also organised a range of initiatives in Ballinagh inspired by her passion for sustainability. She wants to break the second-hand stigma by organising a 'toy library' where people can borrow toys for two weeks at a time at a cost of €2.

She explained a “snobbery” prevails when it comes to second-hand items.

“I just don’t care,” she remarks of utilising pre-loved goods. She volunteers that if her son is happy “that’s all that matters.”

All toys are disinfected upon return, and if people want to keep them for longer, they can text Laura to renew.

“I don’t want to be buying toys constantly,” she said, explaining that she feels “so guilty” when buying new toys with excessive plastic packaging.

“I just don’t want to do it anymore.”

She has sourced a grant to buy new toys for the library and plans to do a survey locally to see what toys children want. The Toy Library is open from 3-5pm every Thursday afternoon.

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Laura has also got Ballinagh involved in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan with ecologist Heather Bothwell doing a survey on the town, finding that most of the flowers planted are not bee friendly.

She has instigated this initiative against a backdrop where more than 50% of the Irish bee population has declined in recent years.

“I have noticed it from just watching my garden, you don’t see them,” she said.

They have installed ‘bug hotels’ throughout the town, created areas for nature and also started a community garden to encourage biodiversity in the town.

They are currently growing vegetables in the garden with a polytunnel arriving this week which will be used to grow pollinator friendly flowers to plant around the town.

She hopes that this will see the beginning of nature reclaiming a stake in our communities.

“Everything is getting mowed back too much and getting pesticides put on them,” she laments.

Laura mentioned that the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan has prizes for the best newcomers, and hopes Ballinagh could be a contender.

“It would be nice to win it to give them all a pat on the back,” she said, referring to the volunteers.

“It’s the same people,” she said of the volunteers. She hopes to see schools getting involved in community initiatives in the future.

Laura is currently working on a mural with a young local artist on the wall at Ballinagh Community Park which she hopes to finish in the coming weeks.

She hopes the mural will “add some colour” to the town.