Year: 2013

The prize fund available for this year’s Kerry Rural Biz competition has increased to €17,500 in total. The increase was announced by the sponsors at the launch the competition in Killarney this week. The competition aims to encourage and support people in Rural Areas to come forward with new business ideas and develop them into viable businesses where possible. The competition was founded by South Kerry Development Partnership in 2008 and has since expanded county wide with North & East Kerry Development joining in with the project.

The prize money for the competition comes from private and public sponsors through the Local Community Development Programme, The Rural Development Programme and Kerry County Enterprise Board. Private sponsors include Radio Kerry, Dan Tim O’Sullivan, McCarthy Insurance Group and Lee Strand

The overall first prize of €5,000 is for entries from any part of the county sponsored by the County Enterprise Board. There is then a first prize for entrants from the South Kerry area of €2,000 as well as an equipment grant prize up to €1,500. A second prize of an equipment grant of €1,000 is also available in South Kerry.

In the North Kerry area the first prize is €1,500 and an additional equipment grant prize of up to €2,000 is also included. The second prize for North Kerry is €1,000.

Both South Kerry Development Partnership and North & East Kerry Development also have a specific prize available for projects entering from their respective Gaeltacht areas.

Speaking at the launch SKDP’s Rural Development Manager Joseph McCrohan thanked all of the sponsors for their continued support, particularly in these difficult economic times. “Many of the entrants in this competition down the years have gone on to develop very successful businesses bringing sustainable employment opportunities to the county and we would encourage anyone out there who has a business idea to come forward and enter,” Joseph said.

Seamus O’Hara of NEKD said they are delighted with the response they have had since getting involved in the competition and echoed Joseph’s call for people with ideas to come forward and enter. “The great thing about this competition is that many of those who have succeeded in developing a business as a result have not actually won the main prizes but have availed of the supports of the organisations involved to establish themselves in business” Seamus added.

Entry forms are available from any of the South Kerry Development Partnership Offices in Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Killarney or Kenmare or on the SKDP website www.southkerry.ie. In the North Kerry area the entry forms are available through the NEKD offices in Tralee, Listowel and Castleisland or the website www.nekd.ie

The closing date for applications is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4^th and details of where to send applications is on the form.

To download an Application Form please click on the following link  Kerry Rural Biz Competition 2013

The very successful initiative that is South Kerry’s Rural Men’s Group is planning its next outing to coincide with this year’s Listowel Racing Festival for those in the group who would like to attend the internationally renowned event.

The trip, on Thursday September 19th will also visit Ardfert, Ballyheighue and Ballybunnion before heading into Listowel where a trip to the races is optional.

Tour organiser Paddy Casey of SKDP said that he expects a strong response from the men of South Kerry for this latest trip and encouraged those who might not have gone with them before to get involved this time around. “It is a great opportunity for people to get out and see things that they might not get the chance to visit normally and it is great value at just €35 per person that includes lunch and the transport cost” Paddy added.

“The visit to the races is optional and a special price of €15 per person entry fee has been agreed with the race committee for this it they want to avail of it” Paddy added.

The usual buses will run for this event with the collection points in all of the main areas and as spaces are limited, people are asked to ensure they have booked and paid for their place by Friday next, September 13th. Places can be reserved through contacting any of the South Kerry Development Partnership’s offices in Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Killarney or Kenmare or by contacting any of the committee members as follows:

Bart Moriarty 087 2827984; John Kelly 086 3941769; Andy Murphy 087 2281907; Joseph McCrohan 087 2849165; Batt O’Connor 087 3155233; Paddy Casey 087 1360238; Tony Horgan 085 7563599 or Kevin Griffin 087 2346091

The closing date for those wishing to apply for funding under the Tom McBride Bursary fund, operated by South Kerry Development Partnership is Friday September 13^th next. The bursary provides funding for those taking up 2^nd chance education opportunities in the further education or training sectors and covers costs in areas such course fees as well as indirect costs such as childcare and transport costs.

Education & Training coordinator with SKDP Deirdre Fleming said that they have received a large number of applications to date and it is vital that those intending to apply get their forms in on time.

The bursary is open to those living in the South Kerry area only and applications will be considered from those proposing to take up either full time or part time accredited courses or training. “The bursary gives people the chance to help themselves improve their employment prospects through gaining additional accredited education or training” Deirdre said and added that this greatly improves their potential employment opportunities.

The application form is available by download through the link Application Form 2013 Tom McBride or you can contact James McDermott on 066 9761615 or by e-mail [email protected]. Again, the closing date is 5pm on Friday next, September 13^th.

 

There has been a strong response to date from farmers in Kerry to get involved in the Kerry Social Farming Project. The project aims to build closer links between the farming community and people with additional needs.

South Kerry Development Partnerships Rural Development Officer Joseph McCrohan said that they are delighted to date with the numbers of farmers interested in being involved with this innovative project. “Farmers from many areas of the county have expressed an interest in taking part in the scheme but we would still be delighted to hear from others, particularly in the area stretching from Kenmare to Waterville in South Kerry” Joseph said.

Joseph added that the farmers involved will open their farm gate to people with additional needs to come and spend time on their farm and enjoy the experience of being with animals and plants in a safe and friendly environment. While on the farms people will be encouraged to participate in the farming activities of the day and build relationships with the wider community. In Social Farming, the farm remains a working farm at its core but invites people to participate in the activities of the farm.

The Kerry Social Farming project is being promoted through a working group which consist of members from South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd, Kerry Parents and Friends, St John of God Kerry Services, North & East Kerry Development, Cunamh Iveragh and Kerry Down Syndrome.

The working group have an open mind on the type of farm required and training will be provided to assist farmers that want to develop a Social Farm.

Other farmers who are interested in getting more information on the scheme, or who wish to sign up are asked to contact Joseph McCrohan by e-mail on [email protected] or by phone on 066 9472724 // 087 2849165. In the North Kerry area farmers can contact Seamus O’Hara by e-mail on [email protected] or by phone on 066 9180190 // 087 1231429.

“This project is likely to be an incredibly worthwhile experience for all involved” Joseph concluded.

A survey is currently being conducted amongst the people of South Kerry to get their views on the vibrancy of their communities. The work is being undertaken by geography department of Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick through the INTERREG IVB NWE Rural Alliances Project which is being run by South Kerry Development Partnership.  Mary Immaculate College, UL is the academic partner on the Rural Alliances project with SKDP. Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe of the Mary Immaculate Geography Department said that the survey aims to get the views of the people of South Kerry on how vibrant they feel their communities are. “It is part of a broader study on what is termed Rural Vibrancy that includes examining what public and commercial services are currently available to people who live and work in South Kerry and how vital local services can be sustained and developed” Dr. O’Keeffe explained. Questions on the survey include those focusing on employment, the local community, community development and the environment and survey forms will be distributed in a variety of ways to people in South Kerry over the coming weeks including face to face meetings with people on the streets of the region by Ms. Sandra Duggan, a research intern with the Geography Department at present. It will also be sent out by e-mail to people and will be physically distributed at events around South Kerry over the coming weeks. “SKDP is delighted that Mary Immaculate College is undertaking this work through the Rural Alliances project in South Kerry and the information gathered through the survey will be combined with the results of similar surveys being conducted in the 11 other partner areas in Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK” according to Project Manager Seán de Buitléar. “This information is vital in helping to identify specific areas and elements that need improvement in the rural regions of Europe and will provide a very strong platform from which to lobby to have these become the focus of future European development projects” Seán added. “All of the information being gathered through the survey is both anonymous and confidential and the data will be collated independently by Mary Immaculate College” Dr. O’Keeffe pointed out. “Anybody who wishes to receive further information or to get an electronic copy of the survey to complete can contact Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe by phone on 061 204344 or by e-mail [email protected] . “I would like to thank in advance all of the people who take the time to complete and return this survey over the coming weeks” Dr. O’Keeffe added.

Walkers on the Kerry Way are being urged to take extreme caution on a 1km section of the walking route which was damaged by a recent landslide near Mountain Stage. A substantial amount of rubble has been deposited on the section in addition to large holes being gouged out by the water and material that flowed over it during the landslide. The landslide, which occurred on Sunday the 25^th of July, resulted in the main Ring of Kerry road being closed to traffic resulting in major diversions.

South Kerry Development Partnership’s Rural Recreation Officer Trish Deane said that major damaged occurred to the surface of the section of the route which the landslide crossed. “A substantial amount of rubble was deposited on the route and in addition many holes have appeared in the surface due to the significant water that flowed down the mountain. “While the 1km section of the route is still open to walkers, we are advising them to exercise extreme caution while walking on this part of the Kerry Way and to avoid going through holes of water as they may be deeper than they first seem” Trish said. “Warning signs have been erected along this section to alert walkers of the dangers due to the landslide damage” Trish added and she said that every effort will be made to return the trail to normal as soon as possible.

A large number of applications from prospective students are expected to seek funding under the Tom McBride Bursary, which is provided through South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP). The bursary provided funding for those taking up 2^nd chance education opportunities in the further education or training sectors and covers costs in areas such course fees as well as indirect costs such as childcare and transport costs.

“This fund is really aimed at giving those on low incomes the chance to gain further education or training and provides financial supports for elements that would not be covered through other grant schemes” Education & Training coordinator with SKDP Deirdre Fleming pointed out. She said that there is a strong link between lower education levels and unemployment and this bursary gives people the chance to help themselves improve their employment prospects through gaining additional accredited education or training. “Given the current levels of unemployment in the region and the fact that many people out there realise the importance of improving their skills and education levels, we are expecting a large number of applications for funding under the bursary” Deirdre added.

The bursary is open to those living in the South Kerry area only and applications will be considered from those proposing to take up either full time or part time accredited courses or training.

The application form is available on the SKDP website www.southkerry.ie or you can contact Deirdre Fleming on 066 9761615 or 087 9631935 or by e-mail [email protected]. The closing date for completed application forms to be received is Friday, September 13^th

^{Application Form 2013 Tom McBride}

 

John McCrohan has been employed as South Kerry Development Partnership’s new Rural Development Officer, working for the Killarney and Mid Kerry areas offering Information Supports & Services for

–          Rural Low Income Farm/Families

–          Young Farmers Groups and those wanting to set up business in South Kerry.

Under his remit, John will

–          Provide Free & Confidential supports and information to Low Income Farm Families and Low Income families in targeted rural areas in South Kerry

–          Raise awareness through information talks to farming communities on various schemes and help applicants complete the relevant application forms &

–          Be available on a one to one basis offering supports with issues such as

Farm Assist & other Social Welfare Payments

Family Income Supplement

Back to School Clothing & Footwear

Medical/G.P. Visit Card

Training & Up-skilling

Off-farm Enterprise

 

For more information contact:

 

John McCrohan

37 High Street; 2^nd Floor

Killarney

064-6636572

Skinners by Joanne Griffin

Passionate about the latest fashion?

Introducing to you, Skinners, the latest fashion hub in Kenmare where they are one step ahead of the game, following the latest trends hot off the runway. They’ve got your style covered with their wide range of clothing and accessories.

Skinners is excited to showcase their collection which includes designers from Gasoline, Ripstop, Glamorous, Crosshatch, Animal Clothing and Canterbury but to name drop a few! Skinners has brought cool niche labels to Kenmare and is combining womenswear, menswear, and of course not forgetting their kidswear!

Eoin Finnegan, Skinners keen eyed owner-buyer is successfully bringing “urban cool to Kenmare”. Eoin edits the collections meticulously to bring his fashion loving customers trendy basics and must have pieces each season. Skinners is located on Henry Street, Kenmare and is fast gaining a reputation as a “must visit” destination.

Make sure, you’re on trend this season …. with Skinners!

Further information on this enterprise, can be found by contacting Eoin directly on 087 6439 912, on face book @ Skinners-Kenmare or simply by calling into Eoin at Skinners on 33 Henry Street, Kenmare.

This exciting new enterprise has emerged in 2013 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.