News & Events

Monaghan County Council has announced its plans for Africa Day 2022, which will include a Family Open Day at Teach na Daoine Family Resource Centre on Saturday 28^th May 2022 to celebrate the occasion.

It will be the second year that Africa Day is celebrated in Monaghan and this year will see the first event which the public are invited to attend in person. Teach na Daoine Family Resource Centre which is located in Mullaghmatt in Monaghan Town will host an open day on Saturday May 28^th which is open to the public and which will be a family friendly event. This event will allow participants to gain a richer understanding of the diversity of African Culture. The family open day held in the Teach na Daoine FRC will include African food, musical and dance performances.

Africa Day, which falls on Wednesday, 25^th May, celebrates the richness of African cultures and the contribution of people of African descent to Irish life. Africa Day celebrations are organised by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with African embassies in Ireland and local authorities around the country.

Commenting, Packie Kelly of Teach na Daoine said: “We are delighted and very proud to host Africa Day 2022 in Teach na Daoine Family Resource Centre. Our centre caters for the whole community and everyone is welcome to join us to take part in our Africa Day celebrations”.

Cllr. Aidan Campbell, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council, said that “I am delighted that Teach na Daoine have partnered with Monaghan County Council and Irish Aid to organise the second Africa Day celebrations in Monaghan. Africa Day celebrations occur across the globe and celebrate Africa’s rich culture and heritage, and we are proud to celebrate Africa Day in Monaghan. This year will see the first event being open to the public and I would encourage people to come along to Teach na Daoine on 28^th May where they will receive a very warm welcome”.

This year will see Ireland’s largest-ever Africa Day programme, with events being held nationwide. Africa Day 2022 will see the return of in-person events for the first time since 2019.

Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, said: “Ireland has been enriched in so many ways by the presence of a vibrant African community. Ireland’s arts, culture, business, community development, sport and so much more have been strengthened by people of African origin or descent. Africa Day is about recognising that contribution and celebrating the culture and potential of the continent as a whole.

“After two years of online events, this year will see the welcome return of in-person events nationwide. Irish Aid’s partnership with local authorities will bring the fun of Africa Day to communities around the country. I am delighted that Africa Day 2022 is set to be our biggest-ever Africa Day celebration.”

For more information visit www.AfricaDay.ie, Teach na Daoine’s Twitter page and Monaghan County Council’s social media pages.

 

Contact: Barry Eaton, Social Inclusion Development Officer, Monaghan County Council. Tel: 086 3134557.

 

Notes to Editors:

• Barry Eaton (Monaghan County Council) and Packie Kelly (Teach na Daoine FRC) are available for interview on request.
• Africa Day is an international day that commemorates the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. It falls on 25^th May each year.
• Irish Aid has hosted Africa Day celebrations since 2006. Activities in 2020 and 2021 were held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Thirty local authorities will stage events and activities to mark Africa Day 2022. Funding for these events has been provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Events will take place nationwide from 21^st – 28^th These events will be listed on local authorities’ social media channels and websites, as well as on www.AfricaDay.ie.

 

This May the RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Monaghan and we will be visiting the following locations in Monaghan:

The service is quick, it’s easy, it’s free and it is coming to Monaghan where our experts will advise on how to fix any problem, demonstrate how to fit the restraint correctly and answer any queries participants might have.

 

Click here to book your appointment www.checkitfits.ie

Click here to like our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/RSAIRELAND

Click here to like our Instagram Page www.instagram.com/rsaireland/

Click here to follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/RSAIRELAND 

Don’t let your child be a statistic. Get your child car seat checked

To mark the completion and achievements of Monaghan County Council’s, €3m, PEACE IV funded, Local Authority Action Plan, a special booklet has been released.

 The booklet features a number of key projects delivered under the plan, including case studies and a collection of images.  Detailing the programmes achievements and outputs. The booklet is available online at https://monaghan.ie/communitydevelopment/peace-iv/ or copies are available by emailing npayne@monaghancoco.ie

Funding for the Action Plan was provided by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding was provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Commencing in 2017, the Action Plan delivered four projects under the theme of Children & Young People, involving over 800 participants (aged between 3 and 24 years of age). Project themes were diverse and included youth resilience, outdoor pursuits, diversity awareness, active citizenship and creativity and understanding our shared history.

It also delivered three projects under the Shared Spaces and Services theme which included: a multi-use games area at Mullaghmatt, a children’s play area at Rossmore Park and the redevelopment of Clones Post Office into a home for the arts. A small grants programme supported seven community led projects. These included a small astro turf area, a community garden and renovations to community halls.

 

Furthermore, it delivered five projects under the Building Positive Relations theme. Projects covered a range of distinct themes including an intergenerational project, cultural awareness programmes, diversity awareness and active citizenship. A small grants programme supported six peace building projects developed and led by community groups. These covered a range of areas including documenting accounts of ex-prisoners, cultural awareness, documenting stories of life on the border and understanding of minority faith communities.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD said: “I am delighted that my Department of Rural and Community Development was able to partner with the Northern Executive and the Special EU Programmes Body in providing support for these essential projects and initiatives that promote positive relations between people from all backgrounds.

Monaghan County Council secured over €3 million under the European Union’s Peace IV programme to deliver the Local Action Plan for the district and I would like to commend the collaboration, hard work and dedication between the project partners, including Cavan Monaghan Education & Training Board; Clones Erne East Sports Facility Management Company; County Monaghan Community Network, Monaghan Integrated Development and Monaghan County Council.”

Reflecting on the achievements of the Councils Action Plan, Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body said: “In recent years significant progress has been made to help us overcome issues associated with our shared past. However, many people still experience high levels of sectarianism and racism within our society with little or no opportunities to positively engage with each other.

“The EU PEACE IV Programme was designed to help change this with a significant amount of funding provided to local authorities across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, who have direct access to address local community needs. Monaghan County Council’s PEACE Action Plan is a great example of this as it has encouraged better community relations, built and improved shared spaces for all and invested in our children and young people; encouraging them to become active citizens and positive agents of change.”

“I would like to congratulate all of those involved in delivering and participating in the wide range of programmes that this Action Plan has afforded.” she continued.

Patricia Monahan, Director of Service at Monaghan County Council and Chair of Peace IV Partnership Board said, “The Monaghan LCDC Peace IV Action Plan has continued the good work of previous peace programmes by delivering activities with a focus on peace building, community engagement and community cohesion.  It is important to recognise the contribution made by the members of Monaghan LCDC and its Peace IV Partnership Board.  I would also like to acknowledge the work and support of the SEUPB and both match funding departments.”

For more information on this PEACE IV funded Action Plan please contact Nicola Payne, Peace Programme Manager with Monaghan County Council 047 30500 or email: npayne@monaghancoco.ie

For more information on the EU PEACE IV Programme, please contact John McCandless, Communications Manager with the SEUPB via mob. 07841 367052 or email: john.mccandless@seupb.eu

A Public Meeting will take place in Ballinode Community Centre on Thursday 31st of March 2022 at 7.30pm to discuss the Draft Ballinode Community Plan.

All welcome.

View the Draft plan here:

Draft Ballinode Community Plan

To celebrate National Tree Week, which runs from 20-26th March, the Tree Council of Ireland have given us 300 saplings to distribute out to communities, to be planted in spaces where they will be enjoyed by the public (so, not in someone’s private garden!!). There is a mix of species on offer, shown below:

– red oak

– pedunculate oak

– silver birch

– common birch

– scots pine

– beech

– hazel

– rowan

– sycamore

Groups interested in availing of this offer should email clambe@monaghancoco.ie, stating the number and species of trees required.

Groups are asked to run an event to mark the planting of their tree(s) and to register their event on the National Tree Week website. https://www.treecouncil.ie/register-an-event

Trees will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Monaghan County Council in conjunction with The Paul Hogarth Company has developed a Draft Public Realm Spatial Plan for the village of Inniskeen. We now invite you to have your say
and help us shape the Public Realm Spatial Plan so that it accurately reflects the needs of the village both now and in the future.
Please join us for an initial online webinar, on the Draft Spatial Plan, on Tuesday the 17th August 2021 at 7pm. The webinar shall be accessible via the following link:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87497585137

Following the webinar, the Draft Plan, together with summary supporting documentation, shall be available for review on Monaghan County Council’s website, www.monaghan.ie, for a three week period, commencing Wednesday the 18th August 2021. You may submit your views/comments via the completion of a dedicated online survey and/or by emailing them to inniskeen@paulhogarth.com on or before 5pm on Wednesday the 8th of September 2021.

It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone. The Draft Public Realm Spatial Plan shall also be available for inspection at Carrickmacross Civic Offices, Riverside Road, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, during normal office hours (9.30am- 4.30pm), from Wednesday the 18th August 2021. Please contact the above-mentioned offices, via telephone on 042 9661236 or alternatively via Email at carrickmacross@monaghancoco.ie, to arrange an appointment to view the Draft Plan.

Hardcopy/handwritten submissions with respect to the  Draft Plan may be made in writing to:
Mr. Damien Thornton,
A/Municipal District Co-Ordinator,
Carrickmacross Civic Offices,
Riverside Road,
Carrickmacross,
Co. Monaghan
A81 RY22

no later than 5pm on Wednesday the 8th of September 2021.

Let’s Play Monaghan booklet launched

Monaghan Sports Partnership has launched a new family fun games & activities booklet. The booklet is a compilation of traditional and new games and activities that encourage children and adults to be more active at home through fun play.

Some of the games and activities chosen require little equipment and many use household items as alternatives to specific equipment.

The games and activities selected are adaptable for various ages and ability levels so there’s something for everyone.

From yoga stretches, chalk games, skipping, cycling, and ball games to ‘old school’ games that we are familiar with, the booklet will be a fantastic resource for ideas for families at home – especially during the current time.

For anyone planning a family break away in Ireland, they can even bring the booklet along for ideas for children when away from home.

The booklet has been produced as a result of funding received from the Healthy Ireland* Fund and Monaghan Sports Partnership has also put together play packs through a combination of Healthy Ireland Funding and, as reported last week, National Play Day funding. The initiative supports proposed action on the Government-led initiative of ‘Let’s Play Ireland.

The play packs of equipment and an activity booklet will be distributed to targeted families in Monaghan via family support services to support their needs at home.

However, there are extra supplies of the booklet alone that any family can avail of. If you would like a booklet please contact Monaghan Sports Partnership at 042-9755126 or by email to info@monaghansports.ie.

The booklet is also available to download at www.monaghansports.ie  or Monaghan County Council website at www.monaghan.ie 

Let’s Play Monaghan Games & Activity Booklet (PDF)

* Healthy Ireland is a government-led initiative aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland.

* Let’s Play Ireland is a government-led initiative aimed at promoting play for all children living in Ireland during the COVID-19 emergency.

COVID19 Time Capsule Booklets have been produced and offer a nice activity for children to do over the Easter Holidays.

This is a very strange time in our history and this is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to capture it.

The booklets are available to download here: Covid 19 Time Capsule Sheets (PDF)

The first Community Text Alert scheme to cover an entire local authority area was announced yesterday by Head of IS Carmel O’Hare at the Joint Policing Committee meeting. The scheme brings together the 26 local community alert and text alert groups which are active in parts of the county, and offers coverage for the first time to residents in parts of the county where no active community alert group exists.

The initiative is a result of a collaboration between the community alert groups, an Garda Síochána and Monaghan County Council, who have been working together for almost a year to find a better way to get messages out to the public quickly and cheaply. The new scheme simplifies the task for the Gardai, who were experiencing problems with messages not getting through their ‘Pulse’ IT system. It also removes much of the administrative burden on the local group, which can focus its energy instead on delivering crime prevention projects in the area. Monaghan County Council is covering the cost of the messages sent out to subscribers.

Members of the public can join the new service for FREE. You can opt to receive messages to a device such as a smartphone via App or email, or you can opt to receive the more conventional Text Alert to your mobile phone.

The new service replaces the existing Text Alert services around the county. If you currently subscribe to a local Text Alert service, you will be contacted shortly by your local group to be assisted to set up to receive alerts from the new service. The new service is also open to new subscribers, who can join by downloading the App or by returning the sign-up form.

To find out more about the new service, and how to sign up, follow this link:

Monaghan Community Alerts