Cross-border project aims to connect Inishowen women with peers in Co Antrim

A new cross-border project, which aims to connect women from different areas and cultural and religious backgrounds is being rolled out in Inishowen and Newtownabbey.

Women Crossing Borders is aimed at developing women peacebuilders, peer leaders and mentors in the community by creating cross-border and cross-community links, promoting dialogue, skills, knowledge transfer, and developing the capacity for community cohesion.  

The project is funded under the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) Communities in Partnership Programme and is a collaboration between Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) in Buncrana and the Breen Centre in Ballymoney.

IFI chair Paddy Harte said that while a lot of progress has been made, IFI is aware that there are still a lot of issues on the ground for the most vulnerable and marginalised communities across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

However,  the IFI’s CiPP Programme is designed to develop long-term collaborative relationships on a cross-border basis that communities can benefit from, he said.

“We hope that by providing this funding we can give communities the tools to help build stability and opportunity for future generations, which supports the IFI’s vision of creating a lasting peace and shared society for all,” added Mr. Harte.

Denise McCool, team lead with IDP and a member of the Women Crossing Borders (WCB) steering group said the programme will provide opportunities for sustained, meaningful and purposeful contact between individuals and groups of different backgrounds, on a cross- border basis.

Women Crossing Borders will bring together women from Inishowen with women from the predominantly Protestant community in and around Newtownabbey.

Áine McLaughlin, community development officer with IDP, said the organisation is delighted to have received the funding from the IFI to offer this opportunity to women to get involved in this exciting new project, along with the Breen Centre.

“Inishowen has a strong grounding in community engagement– however there are always opportunities to build on this especially for the women’s sector,” explained Áine.

“Our aim is that Women Crossing Borders will deliver opportunities for sustained development and meaningful connections between women from the Rathcoole estate and local women in Inishowen.”

Áine says they are looking forward to working closer with the Breen Centre and the women from Rathcoole who they have already met during a visit to Inishowen earlier this year.

“Most of these women had never been to the Republic of Ireland but we had a great time when we got together last May. This project is a real opportunity for women to come together, share life experiences and understand more about each other’s cultures, similarities and diversities,” added Áine.

As part of Women Crossing Borders there will be six day trips, two overnight trips and weekly meet-ups over the course of a six-month period with 15 Inishowen women and 15 women from Rathcoole. All trips will be fully funded by the IFI.

Similarly, Adree Wallace and the Board of the Breen Centre say they are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with IDP and the women of Inishowen and hope that the new shared experiences will result in sustainable development and community engagement for the women of Rathcoole and beyond.

Any local women interested in becoming involved in the project or would like to find out more can contact Áine by emailing aine@inishowen.ie or call 086-102- 8846. The first initial meet up will take place in Carndonagh on Thursday, September 19 from 10am to 12pm .