BNS’s Last LEADER Launch

BNS LEADER, the company that operate the LEADER programmes in Kilkenny since the 1992 had its ‘last hurrah’ as a ‘LEADER company’ on last Wednesday the 15 th of October in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle. Over 90 invited guests were present at the launch where Minister John McGuinness made the keynote address. Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development Ltd, known to many as BNS LEADER, was formed in the early 1990’s to bid for the right to administer the then brand new concept in grant aid programmes. The company’s area of operations has changed over the years but currently covers the rural Kilkenny and southeast Tipperary region. From the end of October the LEADER functions of BNS will pass to the new Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Company, in the Kilkenny part and the South Tipperary Local Development Company where its region crosses into that county.

The foundation of BNS was led in an altruistic action by the then Avonmore Cooperative Creamery – now Glanbia. The original BNS region was very large and broadly covered Avonmore’s ‘milk area’. The Co-op invited other statutory and community interests to form a ‘local action group’ to bid for the right to decide what rural development projects within their own region should be awarded grant aid and support. The 1991 LEADER application was successful for one of the sixteen approved groups in Ireland. Over the period from then BNS administered three successive LEADER programmes finalising with LEADER+ and National Rural Development Programme which was completed earlier this year. Those latest programmes involved a spend of approximately €5.6 million, with 346 individual projects between €100,000 and €200 in scale, to rural enterprises and community groups throughout the BNS region from 2001-2008. This was one of the highest per-capita allocations in the state.

Minister McGuinness presented FETAC certificates to 25 community graduates of BNS’s IT courses delivered by its mobile training unit. He congratulated the awardees and praised their work in their communities, noting the support given by the Rural Social Scheme participants to these communities. Minister McGuinness spoke eloquently on the importance of the LEADER programme to rural Ireland’s progress. He complimented the BNS Board and staff on their excellent work over the years and commended the range and scale of the projects supported. The Minister also indicated he was happy to observe that there would be a good deal of continuity in the transference of Board and staff between LEADER+ and the arrangements for the new programmes. The BNS Chairman, Tommy Cooke made a small presentation to the Minister of local crafts and food products supported by BNS during the LEADER+ period.

The Chairman thanked the staff, RSS workers and previous as well as current and past directors for their dedication and commitment to BNS and the LEADER way of operations. He informed the guests that while BNS was concluding its grant aid role, it is not finished its work in promoting innovation and strategic thinking in rural development. He stated that BNS saw a different role for itself, in the support of those principles that underlay the LEADER methodology. The Chairman joined Minister McGuinness in unveiling the BNS Innovation Award, an annual award to the most innovative rural development project in South Tipperary and Kilkenny. The handsome perpetual trophy designed and created by Aileen Ann Brannigan of Johnswell, will be backed by a prize and operational fund of €15,000. Tommy Cooke also spoke of BNS’s intention to work with Tipperary Institute and other groups to form a National Rural Research and Innovation Centre. The national ‘think-tank’ will seek to provide a policy support to those working in the sector.

The decision by the government to nationally reorganise the deliver of rural development and social inclusion programmes largely through county-area structures, means that trans-boundary companies such as BNS will not be eligible to be the delivers of the new rural development programme. In Kilkenny BNS’s LEADER functions will be merged with those of Castlecomer District Community Development (CDCD) and Kilkenny Action Network (KCAN), who respectively, deliver the ‘Local Development Social Inclusion Programme’ (LDSIP) in the northeast county and city areas. The LDSIP is to be offered on an all-county basis from next year. In a similar manner in South Tipperary, BNS’s functions will be merged in the new company with those of the Clonmel Community Partnership and the part of the Tipperary LEADER Group which operates in South Tipperary.

The BNS Manager, Declan Rice stated that, while sad to be concluding this phase of its role in the rural development sector, BNS has participated positively in the formation of the two new companies in Kilkenny and South Tipperary. He noted that most of the current BNS Board had been nominated to one or the other of the two new company Boards and stated that the BNS staff will also transfer to the new companies in the coming weeks.

South East Enterprise Week – Monday 13 th to 17 th of October 2008. As part of South East Enterprise Week BNS Rural Development will host an information session on Rural Development Funding Opportunities for local businesses particularly in the food, tourism and renewable energy sectors.

Monday 13 th of October from 8.30pm to 9.30pm a workshop will be held in the Newpark Hotel, Castlecomer Rd, Kilkenny. This session is aimed at any person with a business or a business idea in the above sectors. Admittance is free and all are welcome.

Savour Kilkenny Food Festival Friday 24 th of October to Monday 27 th of October . BNS in association with local food producers will co-hot the following two events:

Food Producers Fete; Rediscover your local food, the people who love making it and the many dishes they make with their products. Enjoy talks by food producers, herb growing workshops, exhibits of local crafts and a fantastic children’s playground. Relax in the Jarrow Café Featuring a special festival menu of local products. This takes place on Saturday 25 th of October in Castlecomer Discovery Park, from 12.00pm to 4.30pm. Call 056 4440707 for further information.

A taste of the City Street Market : Back by popular demand, the best market stalls take over Kieran Street in a riot of delicious food and colour. Come and eat, drink and shop. It takes place on Sunday 26 th of October in Kieran St. Kilkenny from 12.00pm to 4.00pm. Contact Gabrielle Carroll 056 7752111 for further information.

LEADER FOOD Village at the National Ploughing in Cuffesgrange Co. Kilkenny.

Below are some of the photos of producers who participated in the LEADER FOOD Village September 2008.

Cramers Grove Ice Cream

Goats Bridge Trout Farm

Oldtown Hill Bakehouse

The Blackberry Cafe

Walks Scheme: BNS are managing the Walks scheme in County Kilkenny. If you have a walk that qualifies for the scheme (details on Pobails website: www.pobal.ie), and are interested please contact Eoin Hogan in BNS at 056 7752111.

Suggested websites:

www.bnsrd.com BNS’s website is updated regularly, and includes contact details and information on the organisations activities throughout the area.

www.kceb.ie/ts.shtml Kilkenny County Enterprise Board provides training for business and enterprises. They are currently enrolling for their autumn classes.

www.kilkennyvec.ie/content/read/title/introduction-to-adult-education The VEC offers a variety of adult education and training programmes for individuals and community groups throughout Kilkenny. Many courses are currently enrolling.

www.kkccc.ie Kilkenny County Childcare Committee offers training programmes for childcare providers, childminders and individuals, interested in childcare training programmes.

www.kilkenny.ie

www.wheel.ie

www.activelink.ie

To receive this newsletter in electronic format.

BNS is currently developing a data base of people who would like to receive this information in electronic format. If you would like to subscribe to the electronic version please complete the lower part of this page and return it to Bernie Byrne, BNS Rural Development, 42 Parliament St., Kilkenny. Please note should you wish to unsubscribe at any time you just have to request it.

Please Note: This sheet has been compiled based on information available at the time of completion. Those interested in any information provided will need to make direct contact with the relevant body.

Click here to receive this newsletter in electronic format.