SHANNON COMMUNITY network is aiming to become a voice linking the community and main stakeholders in the town.
Hope Café hosted Shannon Community Network’s first meeting of 2025. The board of Shannon Community Partnership facilitated the meeting, namely Siobhán Boyd (Chairperson), Denise O’Brien, Joanne Begley, Sam Stephens, Sue Corcoran, Derek Clune, Don O’Sullivan, and Geraldine Lambert.
The Shannon Community Network was established to move away from groups working in isolation and instead foster collaboration, information sharing, and collective action. The purpose of the Network is to provide a forum for groups and individuals to connect, share ideas, and work side by side on the issues and opportunities that matter most to Shannon.
Speaking to The Clare Echo about the motivation behind the organisation Siobhán said, “We felt there was no voice for Shannon to link between the community and the main stake holders in the town. Decisions were being made and the community was getting input because there was no voice for them at the time”.
“This network meeting is about linking in with the community and getting ideas from the community,” she said.
The evening featured opening remarks from the Chairperson followed by PRO O’Brien outlining the aims and objectives of the meeting.
Guest speaker Helena McElmeel, architect and community advocate then shared her experience of community-led regeneration and the power of a shared mandate, drawing on her work with the Ennistymon Town Team. Her presentation reinforced the importance of collaboration, inclusive engagement, and a clear vision for the future.
After hearing from the speakers the attendees were organised into groups which focused on one aspect of community development; Culture, Health, Wellbeing, Sports & Recreation; Environment & Sustainability; Learning & Education; Local Economy & Enterprise; and Community, Housing & Neighbourhoods. Supported by a board member the groups worked together to identify priorities, discuss challenges, and agree practical next steps, including nominating a lead contact and committing to meet again before the end of May to continue their progress.
Task groups will meet again before the end of May, and people are still welcome to join if they have a particular interest.
Boyd encourages those within Shannon to attend future events and to get involved in projects. “There are things lacking but there is no point sitting at home and giving out about it and doing nothing about it in turn so what we are saying to everyone is even if you think you have no ideas, come to an event like this and you will be surprised what will come when you sit with a group of like-minded people who want to better the town”.
