Gaeilge
A special showcase event celebrating the strength and growth of community learning across Donegal took place in Letterkenny on Thursday, 13 November last.
Organised by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), the “Ag Dul ó Neart go Neart” event highlighted a wide range of projects supported by its Further Education and Training (FET) Service through the community education REACH Fund and the Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
Over a hundred attendees from community groups, Family Resource Centres, Men’s Sheds, and key county organisations, including Donegal County Library, Donegal Local Development Company, Inishowen Development Partnership, and the Citizens Information Service, enjoyed impressive displays from funded projects, including art, beekeeping, carpentry, crafts, and sewing.
The importance of community education and the impact it continues to have across the county was highlighted by Donegal ETB Community Education Facilitator Catherine Friel, “Community learning helps preserve culture, build strong, connected communities and reduce social isolation by bringing people together”, she said.
The REACH Fund, which began in 2020 as an emergency response during COVID-19, “has become an essential support, enabling community groups to expand their work and meet local needs,” Community Education Facilitator Orla Winters said. To date, this fund has contributed several million to the local community education sector.
Regional Literacy Coordinator Adele McElhinney challenged attendees to complete a form written in 13 different
languages, highlighting the everyday barriers faced by many adults. She noted how one in five adults in Ireland struggles to read and understand everyday text:
“The national Adult Literacy for Life strategy, launched in 2021, takes a whole-of-society approach to addressing literacy challenges. The Collaboration and Innovation Fund, which supports groups working together to respond to unmet adult literacy needs in their communities,” she said.
Donegal Regional Adult Literacy Coalition supports the implementation of the strategy in the county. Coalition Chair Joseph Kelly from Donegal County Library Service provided an overview of the Coalition and the work they have completed since its formation in 2023. This fund has contributed almost €108,000 in supporting local projects to date.
The event highlight was a participant panel, which provided personal insight into the impact of these initiatives. It featured Raymond McBride from Kilmacrennan Men’s Shed, Myra McAuliffe from Changemakers, Rose McDonagh from Donegal Travellers Project, Treasa Ní Ghal from Coiste Forbatha Chnoc Fola, and Alfiia, a participant on the “Manage My Home” course.
Rose shared the story of the ‘Trav Story Sacks’ project and described its powerful effect on Traveller women. She spoke about how the initiative sparked generational change, with mothers now bringing their children to local libraries and experiencing the pride of seeing their culture represented on the shelves.
The event encouraged networking, collaboration, and learning between groups, all of which are central to continuing the growth of community education across Donegal.
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Image credits: Gerard McHugh Photography for Donegal ETB
