Our Story
Omeath District Development CLG is a social economy enterprise with a charitable status providing social, recreational, economic, employment and environmental services within a CLÁR designated area.
Omeath District Development CLG was formed in 1993 as a registered company and charity and is managed by a voluntary board of 8 Directors. The company is now recognised as the primary social/economic driver and facilitator of Community Development on the Cooley Peninsula.
The Company currently employs a manager and 5 employees under the POBAL CSP, a youth development worker (Steering & Sparring Programme) funded by the Department of Justice Community Safety & Innovation Fund, and 8 Community Employment employees.
We currently deliver a wide range of services, supports and programmes to the Community.
Services to promote and support the local Economy include the provision of the Dolmen Business Centre – a Virtual Office supporting SME’s, Tourism Promotion of the Cooley Peninsula by our Cooley Peninsula Undiscovered Programme, and are part of the steering committee for the Fáilte Ireland Carlingford & Cooley Peninsula tourism development plan. Services also include our social media channels, the provision of 5 SME incubation units for rental (Dolmen House) and the formation of a Tri-Lateral European Partnership (France, Croatia & Omeath).
Our recreational facilities include the Provision of a Play Park, Multi Sports Pitch, Zip Wire and Outdoor Adult Gym located through out sites in the village. Within The Dolmen Centre we support the delivery of gymnastics, dance, music, art and drama classes, and in addition to the delivery of Community festivals and events we also host social inclusion events and community events in conjunction with the two primary schools in the village, and parish activities.
Under our remit for Personal Development we currently host LMETB adult education programmes, and parental support delivered by the Genesis ABC Programme. We also provide a Safe Space in the Community for youth (Omeath Youth Café) and an Intervention Room for the delivery of addiction support and counselling.
The promotion of Welfare and Wellbeing in the Community encompasses our support and delivery of a Mother and Toddler Group, Active Retirement Group, weekly addiction support and intervention support , delivery of youth programmes including the hosting of a weekly Scouts and Cubs meetings, Box Fit and the Steering & Sparring Programme. The Company also administers the POBAL Senior Alert Scheme for the elderly and undertakes collaboration with agencies to address issues of concern raised by the Community, and personal intervention support.
Under our Environmental strategy we deliver a Village Enhancement Programme and as part of our Biodiversity Programme we have established an ECO Garden in the Dolmen Centre, planted a community orchard, conducted a bat survey, erected bat nesting boxes, conducted a river quality sampling, and erected bird nesting boxes.
Our Achievements
- 1998 - The renovation of the disused and former St Lawrence RC Church to the Dolmen Centre (International Fund for Ireland Funding)
- 1998 - Construction and opening of 5 SME incubation units at Station Road Omeath. (International Fund for Ireland Funding)
- 2004 - Renovation of former disused swimming pool to a Children’s Play Park and provision of an all weather pitch, changing rooms, picnic area and car park (Louth County Council, Louth Leader and CLAR funding)
- 2006 - Opening of The Dolmen Business Centre (Virtual Office facility to support SME’s ) (Peace and Reconciliation Funding)
- 2015 - Construction of a Youth Café in the Dolmen Centre (POBAL Youth Capital Programme Funding)
- 2015 – Finalist Louth Business Awards
- 2016 – Television coverage by RTE and Channel 4 of our delivery of the Tain March Festival
- 2017 - Formed a Tri Lateral European Partnership with Rochefort Sur Loire (France) and Komiza (Croatia)
- 2017 - Officially twinned Omeath with Rochefort Sur Loire in France
- 2018 – Commenced Engage4Change Youth and Women’s Programme (International Fund for Ireland Funding)
- 2018 – Installation of Zip Wire within Children’s Play Park (Village Renewal Funding)
- 2018 – Resurfacing of All Weather Pitch (Louth County Council Funding)
- 2018 – Installation of 10 piece Outdoor Adult Gym in our Community Garden on Station Road Omeath (National Lottery Funding)
- 2019 - French Youth Exchange programme
- 2019 - Finalist in the Louth Public Participation Network Awards
- 2019- Regional Winner of National Lottery Good Causes Awards (Community Category)
- 2020 – Member of Omeath Community – Runner up of IPB Pride of Place Awards (Island and Coastal Communities)
- 2021 – Louth PPN Awards – Runner up in Youth & Children Category
- 2022 - Louth PPN Awards - Engage4Change Project was Runner up in Youth & Children Category
- 2022 - Louth PPN Awards - Omeath Biodiversity Programme and Ray Hunt’s creative art works were the winner of the Environmental & Animal Category
- 2022 - Community Safety Innovation Fund - Secured funding for the delivery of the Steering & Sparring Programme for youth
- 2023 - Summer Splash - Formed cross border partnership with Newry Mourne & Down District Council and Education Authority for delivery of a cross border youth summer programme
Meet our Staff
Jacqueline
Co-ordinator
Helen
Manager
Rachel
Biodiversity and Events Co-ordinator
Laura
Administration
Ricky
Steering & Sparring Programme Co-ordinator
Ann-Marie
Events Co-ordinator