Donegal LEADER projects in the running for national awards

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Three Donegal LEADER funded projects are appealing for public votes after becoming finalists in the National Rural Network’s (NRN) Celebration of LEADER Impact Campaign.

Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) is calling on the public to show their support for their favourite project in a bid to bring a prize back to Donegal.

The selected projects are:

• The Wild Atlantic Camp in Creeslough, which is a key tourism hub in the Northwest. LEADER supported the expansion of the facility by developing a number of family-friendly Glamping Villas
  
• Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, who used LEADER funding to develop and publish a number of books and to contribute to the restoration and reinstatement of a unique steam engine ‘Drumboe’ back to Donegal
• Malin Head Community Centre, who received LEADER funding to install a new kitchen & LED lighting in the centre which is the hub of the community and is used by numerous groups of all ages.

Donegal Railway Heritage Centre and Wild Atlantic Camp have been selected under Theme 1 – Economic Development | Enterprise Development and Job Creation, while Malin Head Community Centre is nominated under Theme 2 – Social Inclusion.

They have all prepared a short video detailing the impacts of their LEADER funded project and these can be viewed at www.nationalruralnetwork.ie or clicking on the following link.
https://a.cstmapp.com/entries/900417/cf37908:Donegal.

The project with the most votes in each category will be showcased nationally and internationally by the NRN. The winners will also each receive a One for All Gift Voucher to the value of €200.

There is only one winner per theme, so it’s time to get voting for your favourite project.

According to Frank Kelly LEADER Rural Development Manager, “I am delighted to see both projects make it through to the final. It’s testament on both promoters who continuously work hard to help promote their own town and village while also increasing the overall Donegal Tourism Product. Both projects are a great fit with LEADER in that they will increase tourism footfall with many other spin off businesses becoming viable in the process while also making their areas a more attractive place to live and visit. Both DLDC and Donegal LCDC were very happy to support both projects”. 

The campaign celebrates the impact of the LEADER Programme, which has been in operation in Ireland since 1991, on Rural Communities across Ireland. Impact, simply refers to a positive change that has resulted due to the LEADER programme, which may not otherwise have been possible.

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