Conference aims to encourage teamwork among rural communities
r Eamonn Fitzgibbon, head of the Institute for Pastoral Studies at MIC, has brought together leaders in sports and business life to discuss ideas around how to regenerate rural Ireland.
Starting with the theme of ‘taking lessons from sport’, the conversation on the night will embrace broad issues affecting rural areas and seek to reimagine ways to revitalise them.
Fr Fitzgibbon said: “The challenges to rural Ireland are really serious and building a sense of community is key. We need to think smarter and be more innovative going forward if we are to revitalize badly hit areas of rural Ireland. To that end, there are many lessons to be learned from sport and we have a cast of rural champions assembled for the event.
“We certainly won’t want for inspiration on the night. The speakers have all walked the walk and, no doubt, will bring many great learnings to the table,” he added.
Speakers at the event will include former Kerry GAA star Pat Spillane, Ploughing Championships driving force Anna May McHugh, Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning manager Michael Ryan, and rugby legend and farmer John Hayes.
Each of these speakers has a keen understanding of the issues facing rural communities.
Those attending the event will also hear from entrepreneur Padraig Giblin, who gave up a steady job with the ESB in the late 1990s to establish Sports World Netting, Ireland’s first retractable nets business for sports pitches.
Mr Giblin has since spread his enterprise into new sectors; today his netting systems are installed in the USA to cover tobacco plantations.
The conference starts at 7pm and concludes at 9:30pm on Wednesday, March 29. Tickets cost €10 and can be booked at www.buildingruralcommunities.com or by calling MIC, St Patrick’s Campus, Thurles, at 0504-21201.
