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Nestled in the most northern point of Donegal, the Malin Head Community Centre is known as hub of learning and friendship for all.
The centre hosts a wide range of courses throughout the year, inviting local residents to meet in a friendly place and pick up new skills along the way.
Malin Head may be remote, but community education, supported by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), through their Further Education and Training (FET) Service, gives people the opportunity to get together regularly.
“People who live in rural areas like Malin Head have very few places apart from pubs to meet other people and our classes offer the opportunity to them to meet in a friendly environment, enjoy a cuppa and learn a skill,” says Ali Farren, manager of the Malin Head Community Association.
Ali Farren, manager of the Malin Head Community Association.
Courses have ranged from Upholstery and Furniture Restoration to Pottery, from Yoga to IT training, and from English classes for Ukrainian people to Genealogy Family Tree Research.
“Donegal ETB has been of great assistance to us over the years. As a small rural community centre, the biggest job we have is keeping the door open,” Ali said.
“Donegal ETB helps us to hire tutors, buy materials and keep the light and heat on. They give us the flexibility to highlight a niche that needs to be filled and find a tutor. The best part is that we can depend on the funding regularly to plan our calendar.”
Basket making workshop at Malin Head Community Centre.
Watercolour classes at the Malin Head Community Centre
Ali said he has seen shy people grow in confidence as they find a skill they enjoy, while others revel in the opportunity to support each other.
“Isolation is certainly an issue in a rural area, we have a small population, but we have a busy centre that people want to attend because of what we offer,” he said.
“While it’s educationally based and everybody here learns something, our courses have benefits for mental health support and fitness. It has a knock-on effect on the whole community. For instance, a man came into the needlecraft group with three coats to be mended, and they fixed them for him. He was happy and the group was delighted to help.”
Heritage Events at Malin Community Centre
Young and old have benefitted from courses, which usually last 8-10 weeks.
Ali proudly shares the stories of people who have flourished from the classes. The impact of the centre’s work extends beyond the classroom.
Ali said: “With Malin Head being a holiday destination, we see people with holiday homes who may be retired and move here for a few months in the year. They come to the courses as a way to get to know their neighbours.
“Some of our participants have gone on to start businesses from the training they have received, like Aoife Gillen from Greencastle. Aoife did a beekeeping course, and from that she started Notions & Lotions which makes sustainable soaps from beeswax. Other people who did stitching and embroidery have also used their training to create products that they sell at local craft fairs.”
Support from Donegal ETB has empowered the people of Malin Head to make friends, gain confidence and help contribute to their own community.
Basket making workshop
If you would like to find out about running community education courses in your area through the Community Education Support Programme, details on how to apply for funding are available here: https://www.donegaletb.ie/feature/programmes/community-education-2/.
For more information, contact Donegal ETB’s Community Education Support Programme Administrator Dawn Sweeney on 074 9725520 or email communityeducation@donegaletb.ie or contact the Community Education Facilitators for the relevant area:
Orla Winters (An Ghaeltacht, West and South Donegal)
Tel: 074 972 5520 / Email: orlawinters@donegaletb.ie
Catherine Friel (Inishowen, South and East Donegal)
Tel: 087 1853050 / Email: catherinefriel@donegaletb.ie
