LOCAL GROUP WIN PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

The Community Development Agency, based in Glengormley, has won a prestigious “STAR” award. The award, recognising the work of their cross-border project, the Newtownabbey and Drogheda Intercommunity Partnership, was presented, on Monday 4th February, in Dublin Castle.

left to right - Lorraine Cunningham, Southern Partnership Coordinator
Nigel Hamilton, Mayor of Newtownabbey
Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS
David Neill, Vice-chair of the NDIP
Victor Robinson, Project Director
Vikki Robinson, Admin Officer 

The Awards ceremony, organised by the awarding body, AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation in the Republic of Ireland, was part of their annual festival of lifelong learning.

Left to right are: David Neil, Vice-chair of the NDIP
Ide Lenihan, Partnership Chair
Vikki Robinson, Project Director
Adree Wallace, Committee Member
Victor Robinson, Project Director
Lorraine Cunningham, Southern Partnership Coordinator

The Newtownabbey part of the celebration was held on Monday 11th February in Mossley Mill, where community representatives involved in the project from Newtownabbey and Drogheda attended. Also in attendance was Alderman Nigel Hamilton, Mayor of Newtownabbey, who said he was delighted that a community organisation from Newtownabbey had achieved such recognition both north and south, and expressed the hope that their good work would continue and that they would go from strength to strength.     Left: Victor Robinson, Project Director

New Links Between Newtownabbey and Drogheda

A cross-border partnership initiative has been set up between The Community Development Agency in Newtownabbey and The Community Forum in Drogheda, Co Louth. Several exchanges have already taken place.

From left - Victor Robinson, Project Director
Alderman Lynne Frazer, Mayor of Newtownabbey
Michael O'Dowd, Mayor of Drogheda
Ide Lenihan, Partnership Chair
Lorraine Cunningham, Southern Co-Ordinator

On Friday 4th May, the Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Michael O’Dowd visited Newtownabbey along with members of the Drogheda Community Forum. He was met by Alderman Lynne Frazer, Mayor of Newtownabbey, who welcomed him and the other guests to the borough. Alderman Frazer went on to point out that there were historical links between Newtownabbey and Drogheda, and that this cross-border partnership project would certainly build on those links.

The group was then treated to a tour of Sentry Hill. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Also in attendance were representatives of several Newtownabbey Community groups.

The Partnership arranged a tour of Stormont
before going on to a training workshop

Victor Robinson, who is the project Director, welcomed everyone and explained that this visit was part of a programme that would include work with young people, senior citizens, community groups as well as public representatives.

Adree Wallace, one of the Agency’s Directors, explained how she and others had enjoyed taking part in an OCN Citizenship course and how learning together was an excellent way of building bridges. She went on to say that CDA, with its usual good timing, had embarked on the project at a time when opportunities for sharing and developing understanding were many and varied.

The Mayor of Drogheda expressed his pleasure at being invited to Newtownabbey, and also at the events taking place within the political arena and hoped that it would be a success, and that the politicians could work together for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.

Ide Lenihan, Chair of the Cross-border Partnership, and a member of the Drogheda Community Forum, provided an overview of the project and said that this was one of the best projects that she has been involved with. If both governments wanted to move forward, she continued, this project was certainly an excellent vehicle for that purpose.

The Partnership plans to build on the links that have already been established between the Community Development Agency in Newtownabbey and the Drogheda community Forum in Co Louth. New networks and links will be established and strengthened between various groups associated with each organisation, north and south, and will include community development groups, youth and senior citizens’ groups, women’s groups. The aim is to bring groups together from both sides of the border to explore each other’s communities and cultures. Training and educational programmes will be provided, designed for cooperation and reconciliation. These will include personal development, conflict resolution, cultural exploration, local history and economic and social development. The project is financed by the European Union’s Peace and Reconciliation Programme and can be viewed at www.beyondborders.org.uk

Visit To The Lord Mayor's Parlour

In December, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Patrick McCarty, hosted the Cross-border Partnership. After tea and coffee in the Lord Mayor's parlour, the group took part in the City Hall's traditional carol service.