Local Development Week 2026 – Celebrating Local Action and Lasting Impact
28 September – 2 October 2026
IRD Duhallow is proud to join Local Development Companies across Ireland in celebrating Local Development Week 2026, taking place from Monday, 28 September to Friday, 2 October.
Local Development Week provides an opportunity to highlight the vital role that Local Development Companies play in supporting people, businesses and communities and in creating stronger, more inclusive and sustainable places to live, work and visit.
At IRD Duhallow, local development is about much more than delivering individual programmes or funding schemes. It is about working directly with communities to identify local needs, develop solutions and create opportunities that have a lasting impact.
The Impact of Local Development in Duhallow
Over the years, IRD Duhallow has worked alongside thousands of individuals, businesses, community organisations and partner agencies. The scale of this collective impact since 1989 is significant:
- 1,753 jobs created
- 2,816 businesses supported
- 287 community groups supported
- 677 community work placements supported
- 27,965 training places created
- 5,190 homes insulated
Behind every one of these figures is a person, family, business or community whose future has been strengthened through local development.
Supporting People, Enterprise and Communities
IRD Duhallow delivers a wide range of programmes and initiatives supporting enterprise development, employment, training and upskilling, social inclusion, community development, rural recreation, environmental sustainability, climate action and community-led regeneration.
Through programmes such as LEADER, SICAP, Tús, the Rural Social Scheme, employment and community work placement programmes, WorkAbility, Skillnet and other locally designed initiatives, we work to ensure that people and communities can access opportunities close to home.
Our approach is rooted in Community-Led Local Development (CLLD). This means listening to communities, understanding the particular challenges and opportunities within our region and working collaboratively to develop practical responses.
LDCN has created a padlet where you put up how the work have Local Development Companies has helped you in your life. Put up your own post today on the following link: https://padlet.com/Local_Development_Companies_Network/how-my-life-has-changed-qfyidd4rcag6kttr
Local Knowledge. Local Partnerships. Local Impact.
One of the greatest strengths of the Local Development Company model is partnership.
IRD Duhallow works closely with community and voluntary organisations, businesses, social enterprises, local authorities, statutory agencies, education and training providers and, most importantly, the people who live and work within our communities.
This local presence allows us to connect national and European programmes with the realities of rural communities and to ensure that resources are targeted where they can make a meaningful difference.
Local development works because it starts with local people.
From creating employment and supporting enterprise to strengthening communities, tackling disadvantage, improving homes, providing training opportunities and supporting the transition towards a more sustainable future, IRD Duhallow remains committed to ensuring that our region continues to be a vibrant, inclusive and resilient place to live and work.
Local Development Week 2026 | 28 September – 2 October
Local action. Stronger communities. Lasting impact.
