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Good Practice in Cross Border Co-operation

village link

Fostering and developing active and meaningful collaboration formed part of a joint Village Link Project initiative, funded under the Rural Development Programmes for Ireland and Northern Ireland 2007-2013.

This initiative involved Waterford LEADER Partnership and North East Region LAG and was entitled The Village Links Project. The project focused on the identification of up to six villages in each region, and development and administration of a programme of exchange and support which would foster linkages and develop co-operation between the participating villages.

This Village Links project was submitted under Measure 3.5: Village Renewal. However, this initiative also impacted on general business development, tourism, and heritage (and in particular basic services in these villages).

The overall aim was to consider approaches to making villages, and groups within these villages, sustainable.

In conducting the project within these villages, there were a number of positive outcomes achieved including:

  • knowledge sharing
  • idea generation
  • capacity development
  • economic spin-offs (e.g. tourism).

The project highlighted elements of best practice and the benefits of using a cooperative approach in knowledge generation and sharing.

Further information can be found by reviewing the joint report as prepared by Waterford Leader Partnership and the North East Region LAG, available at the following link: https://ruralnetworkni.org.uk/sharing-practice/case-studies/Village-Links

 

Village Link Projects

  • Broughshane: New entrance feature for the village
  • Ballycarry: Refurbishment of environmental feature in village
  • Loughgiel: Improvements to community centre to allow expansion of commercial activities
  • Kilrea: Development of walking festival and purchase of defibrillator
  • Bushmills: Organisation of Salmon and Whiskey Festival
  • Ballymacarbry: Development of tourist accommodation facility
  • Passage East: Development of Community Garden in village
  • Dunhill: Provision of “hot desks” at Enterprise Centre
  • Lismore: Development of river walk
  • Cappoquinn: Development of new technology to reduce energy costs
  • Tallow: Production of development plan.