Sharing Power Conference

Cavan Community Forum hosted a regional conference, Sharing Power, on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September, in Cavan.

The conference examined the role and relationship of the Community Fora in the county structures, in particular with county councillors and council officers across the border region. The project was funded from the ‘Power and Responsibility’ programme of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.

The conference was a huge success in terms of attendance, engagement and participation. Over 90 people attended the first day and 70 the second. Half the delegates stayed over in the evening.

Delegates were made up of county councillors and community representatives from across the six border counties, with some representation from other counties (Wicklow). There were speakers from Northern Ireland, Cavan, Sligo, Dundalk, Leitrim, Louth – from the community sector, the councillor body and county council Directors of Service.

There was an evening speaker from the Shoreditch Trust in the UK. Two Government Ministers attended and spoke – one from the Department of the Environment, Heritage, and Local Government and one from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The recommendations of the Conference focused on increased dialogue between councillors and community, information and communication, education and training, budgets. See conference report for details.