Meet the Champions
Bernie Wade
Wexford
Maura Canning
Galway
Mary Oakley
Tipperary
Mark Riordan
Kerry
Ned Kearney
Waterford
Robert Lally
Mayo
Niamh Monahan
Monaghan
Aisling Kelly
Kildare
Geraldine Delaney
Galway
Wexford
Galway
Tipperary
Kerry
Waterford
Mayo
Monaghan
Kildare
Galway
Venue: Borrisoleigh Community Centre, Pallas Street, Borrisoleigh
Date: Wednesday,29th October 2025
Time:7:30pm
New Futures Farming Group, Embrace Farm & Jim of the Mill
New Futures Farming Group and Mary Oakley, Farm Safety Community Champion, Irish Rural Link invites you to the Farmers Haggart, a gathering that rekindles the tradition of the “great neighbour” for support, assistance and connection.
Free Entry to Draw for 2 nights away!
All members of farm families are welcome!
For more information contact
Mary 086 0631912
Claremorris Farmer’s Haggart event Monday 13th October Cúram family centerF12F6C5 @ 8pm – all welcome.
The Farmer’s Haggart meeting aims to Unite farming communities to make for a safer, more collective inclusive and enjoyable farming life. Please come along tea and refreshments will be provided along with a competition for a Só hotel stay up for grabs.
The Farmer’s Haggart is led by local Farm Safety Community Champion Robert Lally and will encourage farmers to-assist one another in simple tasks on the farm. The goal of this is to foster local connections between farmers to further develop rural farming networks, and support community wellbeing.
The much changed Irish Family Farm is by far the most dangerous workplace in the country and for many Irish Farmers, the loneliest.
The Farmer’s Haggart programme suggests that the best of Change, brings the best of the Past along for the ride. Irish Farming in recent years as a way of life as much as an industry has become much less social.
The time where neighbouring farmers pulled together, did the odd job together, for practical, safety and social reasons has in many communities disappeared. Farmers no longer welcome their neighbours and friends into their Haggart or Farmyard for a chat or cup of tea as much as they used to. The time of the ‘Great Neighbour’ is not quite what it once was.
‘Hay in the Haggard’ – The Haggard was the small field where wheat, oats and barley were stacked and where the threshing took place. The Haggard was the centre of farm life activity in the autumn.
Covering all aspects of farm security, safety and wellbeing for the farmer and their families. Encouraging farmers to help, support and connect with each other. This Farmers Haggart event is supported by the Ballysaggart Community Development Company and facilitated by Irish Rural Link Community Champion and Munitir na Tire SE CADO, Ned Kearney.
Refreshments served
Farmers Haggart – Monaghan
Venue: Inniskeen Community Centre, A91 Y188
Date: Wednesday, 15th October 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Niamh Monahan invites you to the Farmers Haggart, a gathering that rekindles the tradition of the “great neighbour” for support, assistance and connection. Also in attendance will be a representative from Muintir na Tire.
Guest Speakers on:
All welcome!
Saturday October 11th, 8am to 12pm, New Ross Mart. Co-exhibiting with IFA’s ‘Croí’ health check initiative, join a ‘Farmers’ Haggart’ group to meet up, offer a lending-hand & more. Come along for some wellbeing & farm safety information, grab a Bord Bia risk assessment book, find out about upcoming opportunities for security branding of your property, win a weekend breakaway and lots more ! Thank you to the staff of New Ross Mart for kindly facilitating this Farm Safety and Wellbeing initiative.
Friday, October 10th, 6:30 PM sharp Carrig–on-Bannow Community Centre, Wexford. Rural Safety & Security Talk for those living in the countryside and on farms to build a safe and secure community. Co-hosted by Carrig-on-Bannow Tidy Towns in conjunction with a trained Crime Prevention Practitioner from Muintir na Tire with decades of Community Alert experience. Learn more about the ‘Cairde’ family emergency assistance service, smart device security usage, property branding items from phones to trailors and the importance of registering your property online. An Garda Siochana’s Community Policing division will also be in attendance. All welcome.
Sunday August 3rd, 10AM to 2PM Farm Champion exhibition at Farmers’ Market, Carrig–on-Bannow Community Centre, Wexford. Come along for some wellbeing, farm safety information, a Bord Bia risk assessment booklet, win a hotel breakaway and lots more !
Wednesday 24th September at 8pm
Introducing the Killererin Farmer’s Haggart Network!
Killererin Community Council are delighted to host the introductory Killererin ‘Farmer’s Haggart’ network meeting on Wednesday 24th September at 8pm in Killererin Community Centre.
This new network is open to all farmers and those with a wider interest in agriculture living in the area. It includes a focus on a modest return to shared farmwork tasks. Uniting farming communities to make for a safer, more connected, inclusive, and enjoyable farming life! Maura Canning, Irish Rural Link’s Farm Safety Community Champion for County Galway will be there to explain this new national organisation.
Teresa Roche IFA National Chair of the Farm Family & Social Affairs Committee and Co. Galway IFA Chair Stephen Canavan will also be speaking on the night.
For further information please contact Maura Canning, 087 647 8771, Brendan Mulry, Killererin Community Council, 087 2194243 or visit https://www.farmers4safety.ie/farmers-haggart/.
Refreshments will be served. All very welcome!
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October 10th 2025 – Cloughanover Community Centre, Headford, Galway, H91HH92 @8pm
Geraldine Delaney invites you to the Farmer’s Haggart a gathering that rekindles the traidion of the ‘Great Neighbour’ for Support, Assistance and Connection.
Great Speakers on the night
MUINTIR NA TIRE FARM SECURITY WALKS in collaboration with IRISH RURAL LINK’S FARM SAFETY COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
In partnership with Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine
Empowering farmers and farm families to assess and improve their on-farm security
Are you interested in joining us for a series of free farm walk security assessments delivered by our trained crime prevention practitioners?
Learn easy to implement tips to keep your farm house, farm yard and property safe and reduce the risk of theft, burglary, fraud, trespassing, harassment and intimidation. These events include collaboration from Irish Rural Link’s network of Farm Safety Community Champions, a position held by Muintir SE CADO, Ned Kearney.
September 26th: 11am
Tommy O’Loughlin’s Farm, Ballygarret, Gorey, Co Wexford, Y25 RC60
Muintir Contact: South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
October 3rd: 11am – 1pm
Michael and Laura O’Donnell’s Farm, Ballysaggart. Co Waterford
Muintir Contact: South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
October 30th: 11am – 1pm
Matt Ryan’s farm, Cahir, Co Tipperary, E25 H765
Muintir Contact: South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
October 10th: 8:15pm
With Irish Rural Link Farm Safety Community Champions, Bernie Wade and Ned Kearney
Tir Na Nog Pub, Wellington Bridge, Wexford
Muintir Contact: South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
October 15th with Irish Rural Link Farm Safety Community Champion, Niamh Monahan
Location: Inniskeen Community Centre, Co Monaghan
Muintir Contact: Northern CADO Caitriona Sinnott – [email protected]
October 30th: 11am – 1pm
Carrig on Bannow, Wexford (Farm security and safety)
Muintir Contact: South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
If you wish to get in touch with Muintir to organise a walk, email [email protected] or call 062 51163.
Welcome to Towra Livestock Services. We have been fortunate to receive funding from the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine (DAFM) under the recent Open Farm safety call.
The funding covers 2 practical training sessions
(1) Safe handling of Livestock.
(2) Animal Welfare Officer Training.
The training sessions are open to farmers, spouses, family members, employees, students and anyone working in Marts or at livestock events such as Agricultural Shows or on farm sales involving livestock.
There is no training like this available to farmers currently and there is no Animal Welfare Officer Training available to show committees/stewards or mart staff and farming community. The sessions will be run on farm and involve mostly practical work with modern facilities showing best practice when handling livestock.
Cost is FREE to all attendees
The programme is open from now until 15th November 2025
The Animal Welfare Officer training will be very relevant to all Mart and show staff as it’s a requirement to have AWO’s trained and on duty at sale and show days. It is envisaged that local professionals will also speak such as vets, ai companies, livestock equipment manufacturers as well as other relevant Agri-sector specialists.
The events will last 3 hours and group sizes of 10-15 approx. at each event. It will be very practical with full participation around animals for everyone attending.
Refreshments will be provided at each event. Where possible we plan to have covered facilities but bring your working boots and working clothes.Each successful attendee will be issued with a cert lasting 3 years. Early bookings are essential as overall spaces are limited to 250 people.
Location currently is on farm in the Midlands region, Eircode R42A 273 a number of other locations will be added pending requirements.
Please contact us via email to [email protected]
Facebook: Towra Livestock Services
Or by FB messenger
Or by phone to: 086 2569925
Friday October 10th, 8.15pm,
Tír na nÓg Wellingtonbridge Wexford.
In conjunction with the local IFA Wellingtonbridge branch, 1. launch of the ‘Farmers’ Haggart’ initiative with the objective of a better-connected network of farmers and those with an interest in farm life who can call on each other for some help and meet up occasionally. And, 2. talk on Farm Security & Property Branding delivered by a trained Crime Prevention Practitioner from Muintir na Tire (with decades of Community Alert experience) focusing on rural safety & security in the countryside and on farms. Learn more about property branding items from phones to trailors, the importance of registering your property online all with a view to assisting you in assessing and improving your on-farm security. An Garda Siochana’s Community Policing division will also be in attendance. Get your free FBD ‘property branded’ sign on the night. And chance your luck at entering a free draw for a hotel breakaway ! This event is open to all members of the Community. Refreshments served.
IRL Farm Safety Community Champions: Bernie Wade and Ned Kearney
September 26th: 11am
Tommy O’Loughlin’s Farm, Ballygarret, Gorey, Co Wexford, Y25 RC60
IRL Farm Safety Community Champion / Muintir South Eastern CADO Ned Kearney – [email protected]
Mark Riordan, is our Kerry Champion who along having an autumn beef suckler calving herd, has been actively working in various roles starting spanning from food industry, landscaping, bartending, construction, agricultural contracting, and as of most recent, as a Grain & Quality Operations Supervisor at Dairygold. Mark also completed a level 7 BsC Bachelors of Agricultural science in CIT in May 2020, and graduated with a level 8 in May 2022 in MTU Cork.
In 2024 Mark was crowned Macra Mr Personality and in 2025 he joined the IFA through their ‘Ready to Lead Programme’ to which he was co – opted on to the National Rural Development Committee. In July 2025, he was also successfully co – opted on to Agricultural Affairs sub committee with Macra with a keen focus on issues surrounding TB, Tillage and Beef.
When it comes to farm safety, this is something Mark has inherited strongly from his father who featured in papers back in 2004 for being one of the first farmers to have his open slurry storage secured with fence and was also expecting a visit from the EU Commisioner at the time Jose Manuel Barosso due to the farm being an example of the REPS scheme in place at the time along with safety measures on farm, the Riordans’ leave no stone unturned.
With no sign of slowing down anytime soon Mark is also looking forward to the months ahead working with Farmers4Safety, in an effort increase farm safety, and connect local communities to reduce rural isolation.
Geraldine Delaney is an educator based in the Kiltrogue area near Claregalway, Co. Galway. She works with Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), specialising in Adult Education, particularly in Digital Skills, Literacy, and providing homework support in local schools. Geraldine is also actively involved with Irish Rural Link, contributing to various community-focused projects. In 2025, she joined their newly launched Farm Safety Programme, a vital initiative she is passionate about expanding. Her goal is to see this programme introduced in all schools, helping to educate young people early about the importance of safety and the need to always heed warning signs—ensuring safer futures for all.
Claremorris native and beef farmer, Robert Lally is no stranger to holding roles with purpose, so it’s of no surprise why he is our Mayo Champion. Robert has held many roles in community organisations. Most recently he was the vice president of Macra from 2023-2025 and also held a position on the agricultural affairs committee in Macra working with the committee to get a pre-budget submission annually and the lobbying that goes along with it. An advocate for farmers, farm safety, rural affairs and community development, we look forward to working and supporting Robert in this role.
I am a goal-oriented community advocate and rural development specialist with a strong academic foundation and over 30 years of lived experience farming a dairy-to-beef enterprise on the fragmented lands along the shores of Lough Sheelin in County Cavan. My work spans local, national, and voluntary sectors, underpinned by a passion for lifelong learning, environmental sustainability, and rural resilience.
With a BSc in Rural Development, I have contributed to key policy and academic research, including work commissioned by Comhar SDC on sustainable rural transport, Practice to Policy publications for the Rural Enabler Programme, and participatory education research with NUI Maynooth. As a founding member of the Rural Science Association, I actively support knowledge-sharing and discourse in the field.
Currently serving as Vice Chair of the Northern Regional Committee of Tirlán, and Chair of my local Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) branch, I am committed to cooperative governance and the empowerment of farmers through strong representation. I advocate for deeper engagement by farmers in decision-making, especially in understanding the business dynamics beyond the farm gate. This drive has led me to pursue a Certificate in Co-operative Governance and Professional Development to further strengthen my capacity to serve.
In addition to my agricultural and academic roles, I held several leadership and representative positions: Director of Cavan Public Participation Network, community representative on Cavan County Council’s Strategic Policy Committee for the Environment, and former board member of the Cavan Volunteer Centre.
Meet Kildare native Aisling Kelly, a primary school teacher in Co Monaghan who also works on her family’s beef, sheep and tillage farm in Co. Kildare. Aisling has a passion for both education and agriculture who has experienced first-hand the importance of farm safety and supporting the mental health of farmers in rural communities.
Aisling joined this project to help teach children how to stay safe on farms and to raise awareness of the vital need for mental health support for farmers around Ireland. It’s a cause close to her heart and she is proud to be part of something that brings these important messages to the next generation.
Donal is Project Manager of the BRIDE (Biodiversity Regeneration in a Dairying Environment) Project and is also a dairy farmer in East Cork.
Michael is the chief executive officer of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI). Michael is an Agricultural Science graduate from UCD after which he has worked in various editorial and management roles in the Irish Farmers Journal. He was previously chief executive officer of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association and has been a member of various farm machinery advisory groups in Ireland and Europe over a 40-year period.
Eoin is an assistant Agricultural Scientist at Wexford County Council and Project manager for the Duncannon Blue Flag Farming and Communities Scheme EIP. A part time pedigree suckler farmer in South east Wexford.
Catherine is a farmer from Tipperary and a past chair of the New Futures Farming Group in Tipperary.
Paddy is a Landscape Architect working as a Public Liaison Officer for The FarmPEAT Project. He also works as a Liaison Officer for Irish Rural Link (IRL) and in both roles is heavily engaged with Ireland’s rural landscape – both agriculture and biodiversity, the people that live within it, and education. He recently headed the ‘Love Your Wellies’ art’s competition which engaged with over 1000 schools across the country and had a reach of over half a million. Paddy is keenly focused on youth engagement and engaging with communities about the landscape conversation.
Louise is the Policy and Communications Officer with Irish Rural Link since June 2016. Louise’s work includes informing rural communities about changes to policy relevant to rural Ireland and effects people living in rural areas through print and digital media. Louise is also responsible for writing and making submissions to the relevant Government Departments and advocates for the needs of rural communities to Government and relevant agencies, while also writing press releases responding to issues that affect rural communities when they arise in the media or when new Government policies/strategies are launched.
Maura was born and reared on a suckler and sheep farm in east Galway
She has been promoting farm safety for years delivering campaigns around the country at shows, schools, and the National Ploughing and also have been working with AgriKids.
The importance of promoting farm safety to kids through a competition like this is to create awareness and for kids to be able to see the dangers around the farm yard and to keep safe at all times.
The objectives of the project include a change in culture in terms of farm work practices, embed farm safety, health and wellbeing in knowledge transfer in discussion groups, signpost farmers and farm families to the relevant supports/services that they may require, create a permanent farm safety, health and wellbeing network by using appropriate discourse for farmers and ensuring that nobody is left behind within the farming community, highlight the importance of creating a buddy system that will tackle the issue of social isolation within the agriculture sector and give farmers an opportunity to talk to co-farmers and support each other during busy working periods. This latter piece is further outlined in our ‘Farmers Haggart’ approach.
The majority of farm fatalities/injuries on farms are avoidable and this project will highlight the importance of farm safety, health and wellbeing on family farms. Extreme pressures within the agriculture sector has led to farmers experiencing stress, anxiety, fatigue and financial pressures and this in turn can lead to an incident/fatality occurring.
Similar to how Farmers4Safety Managing Risk Together offered a bottom up initiative the Farm Safety Community Champions will drive the project on the ground, highlight the different support mechanisms available to farmers and farm families, disseminate up-to date information about all farm safety, health and wellbeing matters, collaborate with farmers and farm families on the ground and tackle the issue of social isolation and collate all of their findings on the ground and discuss innovative ways that the project can address these issues/concerns that the farming communities face on the ground.
In her earlier career, following studying at Dublin City University, Bernie worked in Human Resources for 2 decades initially with manufacturing firm Fujitsu as Human Resources Officer and subsequently BNY Mellon as Human Resources Business Partner.
Bernie now lives on a dairy farm in south Wexford and as a child she grew up on a tillage farm near Rosslare growing barley, sugar beet and potatoes, giving her an insight into both farming specialties. Bernie returned to education from 2015-17 attaining the Green Cert at Kildalton Agricultural College. During her childhood, her family ran a successful retail and wholesale fruit and vegetable business and like her parents, her dairy farm today has diversified too into agri-tourism where her family are in their fifth season of running a popular camping aire.
Throughout her career, safety has been a large part of her brief whether it was fire marshaling in H.R., studying farm safety at Kildalton Agricultural College, health and safety Bord Bia audit compliance on the farm or her mentor work of late with Irish Rural Link’s Farmers4Safety EIP-AGRI project.
‘I look forward to continuing my work as a Farm Safety Community Champion this year and beyond’, remarks Bernie.
Niamh Monahan is from the village of Inniskeen in County Monaghan and is a primary school teacher and part time farmer. Along with her father, Eamonn, they have a small farm which means Niamh has been immersed in farming life from an early age, working hands-on with cattle and sheep. She thoroughly enjoys her job in the classroom and on the land. Growing up on a farm, Niamh has experienced both the great joys and real risks that come with life on the land. This background has shaped her deep commitment to farm safety. After completing my Certificate in Agriculture, she became an active advocate for safe farming and firmly believes that farm safety awareness should be instilled in everyone both young and old. This belief was reinforced for earlier this year when she organised a hugely successful farm safety day at her primary school. Seeing the positive impact it had on the children showed Niamh just how powerful education can be in shaping a safer future for our farming communities.
In January 2025, a devastating dog attack on their flock of pedigree sheep profoundly impacted Niamh and her family. They decided they wanted to deal with this traumatic event and try in some way to turn it into a positive. Along wither her father, they decided to advocate for sheep farmers all over Ireland by using their platform to raise awareness, campaign for stronger dog controls and support sheep farmers facing similar challenges. ‘I am extremely excited to be part of the Irish Rural Link Farm Safety Community Champion project, I really hope this project helps more people understand how important farm safety is for both animals and people. The goal is to make farms safer for everyone and hopefully every bit of awareness will help’, says Niamh.
John lived abroad for many years but came home in 2013 to take over the family dairy farm when his parents retired. He still runs a small Friesian dairy herd with his wife, Minna and 2 young children. They diversified the farm activities to generate more income. Now they run Kildinan Preschool on the farm, as well as hosting paid placements through Social Farming Ireland, and the farm is also involved in the Bride Project agri-environment scheme. He also partners with another local farmer to offer a bale silage contracting service in his local area.
John holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Rural Resource Management as well as a Green Cert. He worked as a farm diversification and grants advisor in the UK for 2 and a half years after graduating.
As a dairy farmer for 25 years in Castlelyons, Co Cork and now perating a small stud farm in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, Ned Kearney, has extensive knowledge on many aspects of farm and rural life. Currently employed with Muintir Na Tire working as a Community Alert Development Officer, covering the 5 counties of the South East of Ireland, Ned’s position requires his working with local rural communities in all aspects of their day to day running of their respective organisations.
Ned is no stranger to farm safety having previously worked for Irish Rural Link in the EIP-AGRI Farmers 4Safety Programme (F4S). ‘It proved to be a very successful project in which I gained lots of knowledge on the whole issue of farm safety’, recalls Ned.
Tommy is based in South Tipperary and has been farming the family farm for over twenty years in partnership with his parents. He is also a qualified plumber and works part time in the family plumbing business. Tommy specialises in Regenerative Farming and Arable Farming. He has a keen interest in moving away from pesticides towards a regenerative approach to farming.
Mary Oakley is a coach, mentor and community builder with a passion for supporting the people behind the business. She is the founder of I-BING, a business networking group that champions the humans at the heart of enterprise.
Raised on a farm and having personally experienced the highs and lows of farming life, Mary’s dedication to wellbeing is deeply rooted in caring for individuals behind both farming and non-farming ventures.
As a Farm Safety and Wellbeing Mentor with the Farmers4Safety – Managing Risk Together project from early 2022 to March 2023, she supported farm families through peer-to-peer mentoring, on-site visits and tailored safety guidance.
Mary also draws on her lived experience of neurodiversity within her family, along with her volunteer work with Parentline as a listener and a Nonviolent Resistance trainer. Her approach is grounded in empathy, practicality and empowerment.
Mary combines coaching insight with compassion and action to foster meaningful connection and build safer, healthier communities.
Hi I’m Bernie Wade, in my earlier career, following studying at Dublin City University, I worked in Human Resources for 2 decades initially with manufacturing firm Fujitsu as Human Resources Officer and subsequently BNY Mellon as Human Resources Business Partner.
I live on a dairy farm in south Wexford. As a child I grew up on a tilage farm near Rosslare growing barley, sugar beet and potatoes. So have an insight into both farming specialties. I returned to education from 2015-17 attaining the Green Cert at Kildalton Agricultural College. During my childhood, our family ran a successful retail and wholesale fruit and vegetable business. Like my parents, our dairy farm has diversified too into agri-tourism where our family are in our fifth season of running a popular camping aire.
Safety has been a large part of my brief all my career whether it be fire marshalling in H.R., studying farm safety at Kildalton Agricultural College, health and safety Bord Bia audit compliance on our farm or my mentor work of late with Rural Link’s Farmers4Safety project. I look forward to continuing my work as a Farm Safety Community Champion this year and beyond.
The New Futures Farming Group in Tipperary was founded in 2006. The group focuses on learning, growing, and socialising together to enhance their farming environment while mutually learning from each other. The group holds meetings, workshops, and events to highlight the opportunities and challenges faced by farmers and farm families in Tipperary. It helps identify the educational and social needs of the farming enterprises.
Our vision is of an innovative and sustainable agri-food sector operating to the highest standards. Our mission is to serve the government and people of Ireland by leading, developing and regulating the agri-food sector, protecting public health and optimising social, economic and environmental benefits.
The BRIDE Project (Biodiversity Regeneration In a Dairying Environment) is an innovative agri-environment project based in the River Bride catchment of north-east County Cork and west Waterford, Ireland. The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine through the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) funding initiative and the project will operate through the period 2018-2023. The Project aims to design and implement a results-based approach to conserve, enhance and restore habitats in lowland intensive farmland.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for occupational health and safety. Its role is to secure health and safety at work. It is an Irish statesponsored body, established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 and reports to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 33 The HSA is the national centre for information and advice to employers, employees and self-employed on all aspects of workplace health and safety. The Authority also promotes education, training, and research in the field. The appointment of the Board of the Authority is a function of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.
Irish Rural Link (IRL) is a national network of organisations and individuals campaigning for sustainable rural development in Ireland and Europe. The network provides a structure through which rural groups and individuals, representing disadvantaged rural communities, can articulate their common needs and priorities, share their experiences and present their case to policy-makers at local, national and European Level. Central to Irish Rural Link’s current activities is the facilitation of communication and the solution of problems through networking and the sharing and adoption of best practice.
A vast range of experience in networking, communications, facilitation and community engagement make Irish Rural Link an ideal candidate to lead the communication and public relations strategy components of this project. Throughout the duration of the pilot project, IRL 32 will use its contacts with local and national media to increase the awareness of the project and its outcomes, highlighting the role of farmers in safety on their farms. Over the three decades, IRL has proven itself as a trusted organization which specializes in stakeholder engagement and facilitation. Leading projects on behalf of Bord na Mona, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, EirGrid and the Sustainable Energy Agency of Ireland, IRL has built extensive networks to call upon when disseminating information and organizing events.
Since early 2016, Irish Rural Link has been the lead partner in the delivery of the National Rural Network project on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The National Rural Network is a key component of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020; the NRN is responsible for maximising the RDP 2014-2020 and disseminating the outcomes to stakeholders and the general public as well as representing Ireland on the European Network for Rural Development. As lead partners in the NRN, IRL have worked closely with the existing 23 Operational Groups giving them an in-depth knowledge how to form operational groups and the delivery on their objectives. The previous experience of Irish Rural Link and its partners will allow them to hit the ground running when establishing the operational group and use standing relationships to maximize the project objectives.
Located less than 40km from County Tipperary, the offices of Irish Rural Link in Moate, Co Westmeath will act as the project team headquarter. All contact details will refer to this as the contact point for all interested parties. Maria Pettit will lead the project on behalf of Irish Rural Link. Maria has an extensive knowledge this knowledge will allow the project team to avoid pitfalls when communicating with local farmers.