Martin Murphy's Market Square refurbishment complete

Before and after photos.

With the completion of the refurbishment of his premises at Market Square, Martin Murphy wishes to thank the people of Kilcullen for all their good wishes, goodwill and encouragement during and after the project.

He says it was a very personal project not just for himself and his wife Noelle, but also for his mother and three sisters Martina, Irene and Teresa, as there are many great memories from the time they lived there, especially with his late father.

Martin wrote the following piece to mark the completion of the project and to encourage the securing and refurbishment of old buildings. Apart from them having great character and history, they also allow for life to be brought back to the main streets and towns of rural Ireland.

Every building has a history but this building has a more personal history. Originally owned by my mother and late father from 1968 to 1982, they ran two businesses (Sweet Shop & Plant Hire) from here and also lived with four young children.

When the opportunity arose to purchase this run down vacant building a number of years ago the heart said yes but the head said no! Thankfully I'm very happy the heart was right, we recently completed a full refurbishment of the entire building, part of which we are now using as our office along with some residential and commercial space.

Full project management was by ourselves with the help of many talented local craftspeople and community goodwill. Old buildings have so much character and appeal, we need to encourage people to save them before it's too late!

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Training programme for advocates for a better world

Image: Development Perspectives.

An opportunity for people to train as sustainable development advocates for Saolta, a programme for Adult and Community Education aimed at empowering people for a better world, is now open to applicants, writes Brian Byrne.

Saolta is organised by Development Perspectives,  an independent NGO involved in development education, headquartered in Drogheda, Co Louth. The organisation partners with groups both in Ireland and other parts of the world in pursuit of its objectives.

The Saolta initiative is in association with AONTAS, Concern Worldwide, Irish Rural Link and the Adult and Community Education Department of Maynooth University. Participants will explore a variety of global sustainable development goal (SDG) issues with stakeholders, along with encouraging action across Irish society. Poverty, inequality and climate change will feature strongly as areas of engagement.

The SDG Advocate Training 2021 programme will be limited to 21 participants, who will undertake a series of online, group, and residential training events through 2021, coronavirus restrictions permitting.

An information pack can be accessed here, while the application form is here. If you want to get a feel for the initiative, there's a short Youtube programme that can be viewed here. 

ED NOTE: Food for thought ... out of 18 Advocates in 2020, just four were men.

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