23/10/2026
A community development worker addressing a human rights and democracy conference in Dublin this week expressed optimism despite many challenges.
Marie Louise Byrne from Wexford Local Development said community workers, knowledgeable as they are about local issues and working alongside communities have “the audacity to have a bit of hope”.
This was encouraging in a conference that heard of crises and storms on the horizon.
She gave an example from Wexford where newly released local authority housing data proves that lies are being told about supposed favouritism towards migrants. Marie Louise warned however that social media companies that profit from division push online algorithms that twist facts on housing and migrants. She highlighted the importance of community work in an era of rising poverty.
Marie Louise was speaking at the ‘Community Work: Protecting and Enhancing Democratic Rights for a Socially Inclusive Ireland and Europe’ conference, held in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin.
Calling for more collective action by community groups, Manus Maguire from Cliftonville Regeneration Forum in Belfast - told of how activism by community groups led the weak government at Stormont to better fund community groups. He gave a passionate speech.
Other speakers highlighted how Ireland – despite misgivings and concerns – is in a better place in terms of social inclusion than some other countries in Europe. They called for more multi-annual funding to strengthen the missions of community groups.
The opening address was given by Bairbre Nic Aongusa, Assistant Secretary General, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, who highlighted the government’s newly published five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector
