Cumann na Daoine – Community Development Resource Centre welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment, Community and Local Government to their building at Catherine Street Youghal Co Cork on Friday July 8th last and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) were also welcomed as new tenants to this fine Community Resource Centre.

It was with great enthusiasm that all involved in Cumann na Daoine welcomed Minister Phil Hogan Dept of Environment Community and Local Government on Friday last July 8th to Youghal and also to this fine 4 storey Community Resource Centre, formally known as The League of The Cross Hall.

Cumann na Daoine has 16yrs of history and were an extremely successful Community Development Project in their own right. Now with the CDP programme gone into the Local Partnerships Cumann na Daoine will now be known as a Community Resource Centre and South East Cork Area Development (SECAD) will now roll out the new Local Community Development Programme.

Biddy Phelan the longest standing member of Cumann na Daoine welcomed the Minister Phil Hogan, Mayor of Youghal Eoin Coyne, Deputy Sandra McLellan, Deputy David Stanton, Local Representatives and everyone else present to this wonderful evening and explained how she had seen many changes over the years and had seen Cumann na Daoine go “from strength to strength”.

Dolores Corcoran Chairperson gave an excellent presentation on the background and history of Cumann na Daoine and how it all came to be. Dolores took the audience on a journey from March 995 to the present day. From their humble beginnings in a small space in the community centre to the bigger premises at No 10 North Main street to their Community Development Resource Centre now in Catherine Street.

It was quite evident that Cumann na Daoine’s voluntary management committee over the years have put in tremendous hard work, dedication and commitment to get a Community Development Project for Youghal and to help develop groups and encourage services into Youghal for those in the community who needed them most. Dolores acknowledged both SECAD and Youghal Credit Union “were the only financial supports to the group” in those early stages of development.

There have been many highlights for Cumann na Daoine and 2006 saw the group successful in obtaining the 1.16million from the dormant accounts which saw them buy the building they are in now formally known as The League of the Cross Hall.

Numerous individuals, groups and organisations use the building for all kinds of services, courses, training, and meetings. Over the years many social groups have been set up and continue to meet, develop and plan activities. Too too many to mention but are all very very important to Cumann na Daoine. They look forward to continue to work with all groups and SECAD who are now new tenants within the building.

Cumann na Daoine look forward now to the future. The organisation is being restructured and they have strengthened their management committee and all related sub groups. They look forward to focusing on re-generating Youghal socially and economically by working with local people to develop local responses on issues with them. Also to be recognised as a key community partner in Youghal by all agencies and Government Departments.

After 16yrs Cumann na Daoine will no doubt continue to go from strength to strength and continue to work with key agencies such as the HSE, RAPID, SECAD, FAS, VEC, Department of Social Protection, Age Action Ireland and Community Radio Youghal etc.

All involved are to be commended on a truly wonderful event and they wish to thank everyone over the last 16yrs who were involved in any way and supported them as there would be far too many to mention.

THANK YOU ALL!