Twenty years of leader to be celebrated this thursday

RTÉ reporter Ciaran Mullooly is the special guest and You’re a Star singer Simon Casey will entertain the crowd as the achievements of Leader are celebrated at an open event in Mullingar Park Hotel this Thursday night (May 21).

Dozens of people will also be present to show what they have done and the contribution Leader has made in their communities, ranging from the building of community centres to Tidy Towns projects.

Joe Potter, CEO Of Westmeath Community Development (WCD), says visitors will see and meet many of the people who have been instrumental in making Leader a success in the county, and more importantly, a success for themselves and their communities.

Some of those continue to produce niche products in a small way, as that is their choice; others have expanded and formed networks of their own – such as Made In Westmeath.

Also celebrating will be the members of Westmeath Food Network; and a number of tourism projects will be shown.

Bernie Leavy of WCD says that tourism and equestrian activities will be important in the next Leader programme as the industry recovers from the downturn.

The contribution of thousands of community activists throughout the county will also be celebrated with a generous helping of food, music and dancing.

WCD hopes that people who come to the event on Thursday will be entertained and satisfied by the food and the music and dancing, as well as encouraged and inspired by what they see around them.