Section 3 SWOTAnalysis

3 SWOT Analysis

Aconsiderable amount of learning has come from the consultation process outlined above (expanded upon in Appendix 1 and 2). The study brief asked for a SWOTanalysis to provide background and context. Importantly, the following SWOTanalysis has come from talking with and listening to the community. They should not be seen in any order of priority. However everything summarised below has been referenced numerous times during the consultation process.

Strengths

• Young population • Strong sense of community pride • High levels of participation in sports clubs • Agood network of primary schools • Accessible road infrastructure • Recent village enhancement • The ambitious and capable Corofin Community Development

Association • Asafe and attractive place to live • Childcare services • Canon Oliver Hughes Park • Green spaces, river walks and country roads • Corofin Castle • Abroad range of active clubs • Strong parish unit: Post Office, Gardai, Church/Priest.

Weaknesses

• Lack of public services (water treatment, etc) restricts development • Poor recording of local history and heritage • Outdated Dr Duggan Hall • Overly dependent on local fundraising • Lack of youth facilities • Lack of services for the elderly • Lack of indoor exercise facilities • Dereliction in village • Lack of retail outlets • Poor public transport • No recognised ‘tourist or heritage attraction’ • Dangerous roads for walkers/cyclists • Weak networking with neighbouring villages • Broadband availability • Limited community volunteers.

Opportunities

• Potential to recruit volunteers with various skills and experience from the growing community • Refurbishment of The Barracks potentially as a community cafe and social meeting/learning space. • Using high profile role models from across the community to support future activities • Village bus shelter • Promote a Corofin heritage group • Harness farming voice and perspectives in community planning • Develop an integrated sustainable green village plan • The potential to grow a men's and women’s shed-type spaces • Job opportunities through expanded retail services • Funding opportunities through various government agencies • Completing Canon Oliver Hughes Park • Upgrading Dr Duggan Hall • Build upon the positive working relationship between the GAAand the CCDA • Involve the private sector in the ongoing development conversations • Develop the river area attractively and sustainably for the community and visitors.

Threats

• Lack of GP, pharmacy, cultural space, or cafe culture • The village pub closure harms social interaction • Proximity to Galway City and Tuam could reduce viability for local retail services • Isolation of the elderly community • Local impacts of climate change e.g., flooding • Competition for public funding • The marginalisation of sections of the community e.g non-sporty youth • Dereliction of the Castle and its immediate surrounds • Lack of cultural or heritage opportunities means local history is at risk of being lost • Community volunteer burn-out -too few being expected to do too much.

An analysis of the above can be summarised as follows: from a positive perspective, Corofin has a young and committed population with a strong sense of place, a favourable location, a growing community recreational infrastructure, and positive name recognition with few obvious social disadvantages. However, as the CCDAhas been striving to address, the community has poor social and cultural infrastructure (excluding GAAinputs), no retail heart, an absence of mainstream supporting services and inadequate facilities for young and old. These are all addressed further within the study.

11 11