NEWKD’s Listowel Centre Official Opening

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NEWKD, in partnership with Kerry Group, is delighted to announce the official
opening of our new Centre in Listowel and the launch of the Community Vibrancy Recognition Programme.
The opening of the new Centre in the former Post Office is a significant milestone in the development of NEWKD. Since the formation of local development partnerships by volunteers in the 1990’s, NEWKD and its predecessors have continued to deliver essential community-led initiatives to people throughout the area. The purchase and refurbishment of the premises has been completed with significant financial assistance from Kerry Group and loan support from Community Finance Ireland.

The development of this Centre into a dedicated, purpose built location will greatly support the work of NEWKD and helps to bring together the provision of advice and services into a single location. In doing so, it offers a one-stop-shop to individuals and local communities seeking assistance across a vital range of areas, such as social and employment supports, enterprise and rural development. The co-location of these services in the heart of Listowel will play a key role in maintaining a strong and inclusive local community in the region.
As a result of working together on this project, NEWKD and Kerry Group have also agreed to jointly recognise and celebrate the significant role that volunteers and staff make in contributing to their local communities. The programme is designed to
promote the work that has taken place to date and encourage involvement with
initiatives that play a crucial role in creating strong and vibrant communities.
The first recipients of the Community Vibrancy Recognition Programme are the Ballymac / Glanageenty Ramblers who have developed and maintain the beautiful Glanageenty Walkways in Ballymacelligott. It is truly an historic, mythical, magical and varied range of walks that possess some of the most scenic views of the Kingdom!

John Stack, Chairperson of NEWKD, stated “NEWKD is delighted with both initiatives and are most appreciative of the support from Kerry Group to enable these to
happen. As well as Kerry Group being a provider of employment and a significant driver of economic activity in the region, the Group has also been hugely supportive of community-based projects over the years. This is a great opportunity for both
partners to work together over the next 3 years to recognise and celebrate how much society needs and values volunteers and the third sector”.
Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs Kerry Group said that “As Kerry is rooted in the local community, with particular ties to the town of Listowel, we are delighted to assist NEWKD with their work in the region. By supporting the redevelopment of this new Centre and launching the Community Vibrancy Recognition Programme, we aim to help strengthen community ties both in the Listowel region and across North, East and West Kerry. We wish the NEWKD team based in Listowel continued
success in their new Centre and look forward to working with them across the lifetime of this exciting new partnership.

Éamonn O’Reilly, CEO of NEWKD, thanked everyone who was in any way involved in the development of both the new Listowel Centre and the Vibrancy Recognition Programme. Éamonn especially wished to acknowledge the board of NEWKD for their foresight, local NEWKD staff in Listowel for their forbearance, and both Kerry Group and Community Finance Ireland for their belief in the project by making the necessary funding available to NEWKD.

Pictured: Frank Hayes, Kerry Group, Rural Development Officer Pat Spillane, John Stack, Chairman, NEWKD and Jimmy Deenihan pictured at the official opening of the North East and West Kerry Development (NEWKD) new office on WIlliam Street, Listowel on Tuesday. Photo: Don MacMonagle