Section 1 Introduction

1 Introduction

The Corofin Community Development Association Ltd (CCDA, Est 2012) in North Galway aims to enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of a community of just under 3000 people. This comprehensive study attempts to provide them with a roadmap outlining what they can achieve and how best to make this happen over the coming decade.

The Group's achievements to date are illustrated by the development of Canon Oliver Hughes Park (Phases 1 and 2) with its children's play area, community field and walkway. More recently public funding was also secured for the physical enhancement of the streetscape. These outputs and the experience gained lay a solid foundation for future projects that will be explored in this study.

What follows, the first of its kind, was built upon the following brief: -

Ensure community engagement and buy-in; Examination of the current situation; Scoping several new sustainable projects and; an outline of how to best achieve a future work programme.

The process undertaken between Sept 2021 and March 2022 was as important as the end results with the CCDAhaving considerable involvement in the development of concepts, advising on political realities on the ground and the means of efficient project delivery. No small rural community like Corofin can sustain itself without working effectively with external partners whether they be neighbouring parishes, the local authority or development agencies like Galway Rural Development (GRD) who helped fund this Feasibility Study. The study should also be seen as a ‘snapshot in time’of Corofin. There is a considerable amount of data collected that paints a comprehensive and relatively objective picture of the community. It would be hoped that the CCDAwill be able to benchmark this establishing data in 2021 against a similar community exercise in five or ten year’s time to evaluate how the community is progressing.

As with all small rural communities in Ireland today, Corofin faces significant challenges going forward. In no order of significance, these include: -

Servicing the needs and expectations of upcoming generations; Remaining a welcoming and open community; Enhancing the health and wellness of all; Maintaining and growing the local economy with employment; Provision of adequate services and facilities especially for the youth and elderly and; recording, respecting, and celebrating Corofin’s ‘past’.

This study, by the CCDA, endeavours to pull all these loose strands together and provide a realistic guide for this and future generations to proceed with confidence. Corofin has significant potential to grow but it needs an agreed vision matched with suitable resources to make it happen. It is hoped the study below will assist in this important intergenerational challenge.