News

Rural Biz 2014 A Huge Success in South Kerry

Ruralbiz 2014 award ceremony took place Thursday 6th November inAras an Phobail community building Deans Lane Tralee, This event was co hosted by 2 community organisations North East Kerry Development , South Kerry Development Partnership as well as  Kerry Local Enterprise Office..and key sponsors who helped bring total prize money to E 18,500.

John Stack of NEKD stated he was delighted with the quality of small business applications, and said he was encouraged by the manner in which NEKD/SKDP/ and Kerry Local Enterprise Office  had come together to support new and evolving businesses.

Pat O’Driscoll of South Kerry Development Partnership (Chair of Agricultural  working Group) said his organisation was delighted with the numerous applications and that there was a vibrant sense of entrepreneurship alive and well in rural Kerry.

The award competition was inclusive in many ways and had sought and received applications from younger people, from groups and from their respective Gaeltacht areas.

Tomas Hayes CEO of Kerry Local Enterprise office said he was delighted to adjudicate such well developed business ideas…many in a start up phase..and that with small  supports these could lead to new strong businesses with  exciting  futures.

Key sponsors including Mc Carthy Insurance Group, Lee Strand   and Patsy Tim O’Sullivan attended the award ceremony..and stated they were delighted to be involved in this initiative, supporting communities,,and supporting lively-hoods.

Award winners for the SKDP Area included ;

SKDP Joint 1st: prize was awarded to  Ml O’Dowd Ballycrispin Castlemaine and Jessica Clinton Ballyhar Creamery: E2,000 from Tim O’Sullivan plus equipment grant prize funding of 65% up to a maximum of E1,500 from SKPD

SKDP Gaeltacht AREA: Mark Smith Tullig Cahersiveen: Equipment grant prize, funding of 65% to a maximum of E2,000 of the best idea in the South  Kerry area.

SKDP under 35 award went to  Deirdre O’Connor Toormore Cahersiveen Equipment grant prize funding from SKDP up to a maximum of 500 for the best business idea

SKDP Group Collective enterprise went to Flor Griffin,Killorglin.: Equipment grant prize funding of 65% up to a maximum of E1,500 from SKPD.

Thanks to all entrants, sponsors, NEKD, SKDP and Kerry Local Enterprise office.

News

South Kerry Rural Alliance Delegates visit French Partners

Community representatives from South Kerry will be trying out new ideas in the region over the coming months following a very successful visit to France last week. The South Kerry delegation was in both the Laval and Redon areas of France as part of the INTERREG Rural Alliances project which is run in the region by South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. The key objective of the transnational meeting was to enable community representatives from all of the 12 partner areas learn from and assist each other in coming up with new approaches to common issues. Among the new ideas the South Kerry delegates are likely to focus on following the meeting areas such as creating a more inclusive role for people with disabilities and looking at alternative approaches to financing community initiatives.

Chairperson of South Kerry Development Partnership Sheila Casey, a community representative from the Greater Killarney area, said that the visit offered communities and regions such as South Kerry to develop new contacts and opportunities. “Many of the problems rural areas such as South Kerry face at present such as depopulation and lack of access to services are mirrored in the other partner areas and having the chance to look at the approaches they take to solving such problems offers us the chance to try new things in our areas” Sheila said. She added that they saw some very interesting new initiatives particularly around community transport and financing during the visit which they hope to pilot in South Kerry over the next number of months.

The issue of commonality of problems in rural areas throughout North West Europe was echoed by the Kenmare Alliance representative Maureen Sullivan who said that having the chance to build up contacts with the other partner areas through such project meetings was very beneficial for all. “This region is very similar in many ways to our area here in South Kerry and we can certainly learn a lot from working together to tackle the common issues” Maureen added.

Rural Alliances project manager in SKDP Seán de Buitlear said that the trip also offered the representatives the chance to feed back to each other the work they have been engaging in since a similar meeting took place here last year. “SKDP, in conjunction with Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe of Mary Immaculate College has also undertaken an extensive survey through this project of both community groups and individuals in the South Kerry area looking at the issue of rural vibrancy” Seán said adding that the issues arising from this work will then feed in to the development of policy papers, endorsed by all partners in the project, aimed at positively influencing future decisions at local, national and EU level in favour of rural areas. Seán concluded that they look forward to working with the communities to see the benefits of the new ideas gained from the visit being rolled out throughout the region in the coming months.

News

Rural Social Scheme & TÚS Annual Report for 2013

2103 has proven to be another very successful year for both the Rural Social Scheme and TÚS in South Kerry.

The RSS currently has 138 participants and 8 supervisors in the South Kerry Region and this brings some €2m in wages into the region. The TÚS project has 80 participants and 4 supervisors in the region.

For a full overview of the activities of both the RSS and TÚS in the South Kerry area during 2013 please click RSS Report 2013

If you would like further information in relation to either the Rural Social Scheme or the TÚS Initiatives please contact any of the South Kerry Development Partnership Offices and request to speak with a relevant staff member – SKDP contact details Click Here

News

BTWEA Featured Business – My Little Pet Shop

My Little Pet Shop by Joanne Griffin

Helping Pet Owners since June 2014, My Little Pet Shop at Upper Bridge Street, Killorglin, is fast becoming recognised as a benchmark in the provision of pet care & products. A true family run business, Michelle O Grady, together with her partner Ross Scott started this business after being unable to find high quality pet products at reasonable prices in the immediate locality.

All the products in stock are handpicked by Michelle and are of excellent quality, fantastic design and of course appealing price tags. Michelle’s personal involvement in the industry goes back to her college days, where she studied Equine Science at the University of Limerick before travelling to the USA and Canada to gain invaluable experience.

My Little Pet Shop will cater for all your pet needs from dogs to cats, birds to fish and even equine products. Michelle prides herself in offering a second to none customer service and so if the product is not in store, Michelle will source and order the product for you. The store is rapidly expanding and as a result, the addition of a grooming parlour is in the pipeline in the not too distant future.

More information on this exciting new enterprise can be found by contacting Michelle directly on 066 976 2500 or by mobile on 087 973 6711, by email on [email protected] or by viewing her face book page @ My Little Pet shop

This exciting new enterprise has emerged in 2014 with the help of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) facilitated by South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd (SKDP). This scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to take up self employment opportunities by allowing them to retain a proportion of their social welfare payment, plus secondary benefits.

For further information on the BTWEA, please contact an Enterprise Officer from SKDP in your area. Joanne Griffin (Killorglin and Kenmare) on 087 615 2660 or Anne O Riordan (Cahersiveen and Killarney) on 066 947 2724.

News

Tom McBride Education Bursary 2014

To Download an English Language version of the application form please click Application Form Tom McBride 2014

Chun cóip Gaeilge don foirm a fháil cliceáil le do thoil ar Application Form 2014 Tom McBride Gaeltacht

CLOSING DATE: 5pm on Friday 12th September, 2014 

Applications are now being sought by the South Kerry Development Partnership through the Tom McBride Education Bursary fund from people interested in getting a second chance at education. The fund, which is named in honour of a previous chairman of SKDP, is funded through the Local Community Development Programme administered by SKDP and is targeted at giving assistance to those in disadvantaged areas to get back into education.

The fund is targeted in particular at people on low incomes, those who are socially & economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, those engaged in seasonal work or lone parents. SKDP Education co-ordinator Julieann Lane pointed out that the fund can cover both direct costs such as course fees as well as indirect costs such as travel, childcare and the costs of books. Last year almost 40 people received assistance in getting a second chance at education through the bursary.

Angela Healy from Killarney who benefited through the fund last year to undertake a degree course in French and Spanish said that without the assistance received through the bursary, she would not have been able to do the course. The course brought additional benefits for Angela given that because she achieved a distinction in both subjects, she secured a scholarship to undertake further study in Spain and will now progress into her second year in 2014. Angela said that getting this qualification will greatly enhance her employment prospects including enabling her to teach these languages.

The courses or training eligible for the fund must be accredited nationally and must be seen to improve the employment prospects of the person undertaking the course. However funding may be provided for non accredited courses where a specific prospect of work exists for the person on completion of the course. Expenses covered by another source of funding are not eligible for grant assistance and those applying must be living in the South Kerry area. A percentage of the bursary is allocated specifically to applicants from the South Kerry Gaeltacht area.

“The importance of education in terms of securing employment is one that cannot be overstated” according to Julieann and this fund can greatly assist people to gain qualifications that can greatly improve their chances of getting into the workforce. Julieann also pointed out that both full and part time courses are covered by the bursary but that people must apply annually for funding where a course is more than 1 year in duration.

The closing date for completed applications is 5pm on Friday, September 12th and application forms are available to download from the SKDP website www.skdp.net or they can be collected from the reception at any of the SKDP Offices in Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Killarney or Kenmare. People can also contact Julieann directly by e-mail [email protected]  or by phoning 066 9761615.

News

Keep LEADER in the Community: NO to Alignment – LEADER Rally in Dublin Wednesday 9th July 2014.

Community and voluntary organisation representatives from all parts of Ireland are due to converge on Dublin on Wednesday next (9th July) in protest against Minister Phil Hogan’s Alignment proposals around the RDP (LEADER) Programme.  The rally, planned for Kildare Street at 1.30pm is to highlight the concerns of communities throughout the country around the changes to the programme which they see as stripping LEADER away from the Local Area Groups (LAGs) and putting it in under newly established LCDC’s in each local authority area.

SKPD Community Board member and Chairperson Sheila Casey said that “the protection of the EU’s most successful LEADER delivery structure remains a most urgent priority otherwise the LEADER ethos and its bottom up developmental methodology will be lost to Ireland”. “If we allow this to happen, the more than 20 years of experience, skills, expertise & local relationships built up by South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd and similar companies will be lost with all the negative implications for rural Ireland” she said. Calling on all communities to send along representatives to the protest Sheila added that “now, more than ever, we need your support, so that communities – and not Local Authority Committees – can continue to decide how LEADER funding should be administered in this area.

The protest will be addressed by MEP’s Marian Harkin and Liadh Ní Riada amongst others and SKDP is planning to organise a bus to enable community & voluntary organisation representatives attend the protest.

Those interest in travelling are asked to contact SKDP reception in Cahersiveen on 066 9472724 before 5pm on Monday.

“Negotiations on the future of the LEADER Programme and the role of Local Development Companies has reached a critical point, now more than ever we need to demonstrate our resolve, to demonstrate unity of purpose, to publically support our communities and each other in order to achieve the best possible outcome from the Alignment Process” Sheila concluded.

News

Need FREE Mentoring Support for your Business / Business Idea?

Need FREE Mentoring Support for your Business / Business Idea?

 

Are you interested in receiving free Mentoring Support for your business / business idea?

 

South Kerry Development Partnership has a multi disciplinary Mentor Panel available

Mentoring Support can be provided to eligible applicants in the following areas:

  • Marketing
  • Website/Social Media
  • Financial
  • HR
  • Business Planning and much more….

 

For further Information please contact:

 

Joanne Griffin, Enterprise Supports Mentoring Panel Co-Ordinator,

South Kerry Development Partnership, Library Place, Killorglin, Co. Kerry Tel: 066 9761615 or [email protected]

 

This project has been co-funded under the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme, administered in this area by the South Kerry Development Partnership Limited.

 

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Strong Turnout from Business Owners seeking to build new Contacts

More than 40 start up business owners from the greater Killorglin area gathered in The Manor Inn on Thursday night last in a bid to develop new contacts and to offer support and advice to each other in overcoming issues they are encountering. Organised through the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme, operated through South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. the event was addressed by Wayne Murphy of the Accelator Programme as well as Michael Kenneally of the Department of Social Protection and Paul Murphy of the South Kerry Skillnet. The business owners were also provided with the chance to interact and learn about each other so as to open up possible links where they could work together in the future.

Addressing those present, Wayne Murphy praised the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance initiative in allowing people to work while receiving support from the state while building up their businesses. He also stressed the importance of developing a business plan, not just as a tool for accessing finance initially but as a tool to help ensure the business achieves its goals and maintains its focus. The business plan is something that should be reviewed and updated regularly he said as it is the vision, the path to success and the foundation and structure for the business. He also outlined details of the Accelator Programme and encouraged the businesses present to see if it was something that they could get involved with.

Killorglin area BTWEA Officer with SKDP Joanne Griffin said she was delighted with the turnout and the interest the businesses showed in taking advantage of the opportunity to network with and learn from each other. “Many start up businesses experience similar problems and this has given those business owners the chance to learn how others solved them and to realise they are not alone when encountering such issues” Joanne added.

It is planned to organise similar events in other parts of the county over the coming weeks and anyone interested in getting more information about the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is asked to contact Joanne Griffin in Killorglin on 066 9761615 or Anne O’Riordan in Cahersiveen on 066 9472724 or through the SKDP website www.southkerry.ie

News

Tractor Safety Course for Killorglin Community College Students

The importance of operating a tractor safely in a farm setting was emphasised to senior students of the Killorglin Community College this week through a practical, hands-on course at the school. The course, organised by South Kerry Development Partnership’s Rural Agricultural Office John McCrohan and funded through the Family Supported Learning Budget of SKDP, was aimed at ensuring that Ag Science students at the college got the opportunity to see at first hand the potential dangers around operating a tractor and how to minimise the risk to both themselves and others when working on the farm with the tractor. The course was arranged following an approach from Killorglin Community College Principle Con Moynihan to SKDP and the Zetor Tractor and other farm machinery for the safety course was provided free of charge by newly appointed Zetor main dealer for Kerry, Hoare’s farm machinery in Killorglin.

SKDP’s John McCrohan said that he was delighted to get involved in organising such a course for the students given how vital it is to ensure that safety on farms is the number one priority. “We have seen over the last number of months’ accidents on farms involving tractors and machinery resulting in serious injury and unfortunately the deaths of farmers so helping stress to these students the importance of working safely with the tractor in particular is very important” John said.

Tim Hoare of Hoare Farm Machinery said that while manufacturers such a Zetor were always aiming to improve the safety of their products through innovation, it is still vital that farmers have the knowledge on how to handle and use these machines safely. The tractor is a key piece of equipment on the farm and one where a farmer spends most of their time working with so the safe operation of it is crucial in order to prevent serious injury and even death”. “We are delighted to provide the tractor and other machinery free for this course as we feel it is an ideal chance to give proper instruction to these young farmers on the safe operation of such a tractor” Tim said.

Ag Science teacher Marieke O’Connor pointed out that a farm is a dangerous work place, not just for the farmer but for other members of the farm family and by teaching the students the importance of safety and how to use a machine such as a tractor properly, we can hopefully reduce the danger of accidents on farms in the future. “I would like to thank both SKDP and Hoare Farm Machinery for enabling us to put on this course for our students here in Killorglin and I believe it is vital that students get exposed to a practical demonstration such as this one on tractor safety” she added.

The course was conducted by trainer Val O’Connor of the FRS training group and involved some 20 senior students at Killorglin Community College.