SAY HELLO TO HEALTH: Announcing details of 'The Big Hello' Healthy Kerry Community Weekend from l-r: Niamh O'Sullivan (Head of Community Department, Kerry County Council), Cllr Niall Kelleher (Chairperson of Kerry Local Community Development Committee), Deirdre Hegarty (Health and Well-being Officer, Kerry County Council), and Bill Morrell (Kerry Public Participation Network).

Funding of €10,000 has been allocated to community and voluntary groups around the county as part of ‘The Big Hello!’ Healthy Kerry Community Weekend 2019 which takes places on the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

The nationwide initiative, which is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, offers a chance for organisations and community groups to host an event which will help people to get know all members of their community, to reconnect with neighbours and have a community celebration that is open and inclusive. The purpose of the event is to strengthen community ties and tackle social isolation. Events are to be centred around food, environment, well-being or culture.

Funding of €10,000 was allocated to Kerry events by the department and the Kerry Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC) who recently invited applications for funding from community groups.

The LCDC agreed that the Healthy Kerry Committee along with representatives from Udarás na Gaeltachta and the Public Participation Network (PPN) would oversee the administration of the fund. This committee themed the 2019 Healthy Kerry Community Weekend as ‘Well-being Across the Ages.’

The LCDC has announced details of the successful applicants this week:

KASI CLG – Killarney Immigrant Support Centre €1,000

This event will centre around the launch of their food market to assist local producers and artisans set up stalls in the garden. It is intended that this event will create a space for social interaction between people of all ages and backgrounds. It will be a family event with face painting, music and food available.

Killarney Looking Good – Mountain Meitheal €400

The mountain meitheal volunteers currently operate in the Muckross part of the National Park.  A social event for the 50 volunteers will be held in Glena, the other side of the Muckross Peninsula.  It is intended that the group will clear long-overgrown trails in this location to improve access for all from both the Tomies and Dinis sides of Killarney National Park and that food will be provided afterwards.

Killarney Celtic Football Club €400

This event will be held in Ballydribbeen Estate promoted by Killarney Celtic Football Club. This event will include Ballydribbeen residents and club members coming together to clean, paint and brighten the area so that all of the community will work together and be proud of the area.

Kenmare Marketing and Events Group €1,000

This group will hold a 2k, 5k and 10k community walk to celebrate the reopening and community support for the direct provision centre in Kenmare. The local sports clubs will also offer two-hour open sessions for children e.g. soccer, GAA and swimming.  A ‘Grow Your Own Fruit/Veg’ workshop will be held in a marquee in Kenmare town. There will also be a summer foods BBQ demo held in the local soccer club field showcasing Kenmare Foodie Karen Coakley. A booklet of walking trails around Kenmare will also be launched during this event.

Kerry Public Participation Network €1,000

Street Feasts to be held by groups across Kerry on Sunday May 5. A Street Feast can be held anywhere; in a park, a front garden, a field or a cul-de-sac.  Street Feasts support groups to host their own celebrations in their neighbourhoods by providing them with the tools, guidance and support to do so. Groups are provided with free Street Feast packs (DIY guide, posters, flyers), local promotion (press releases, features on regional radio and newspapers), local support and admin (every event gets their own event webpage) and street chalk.