Rural Engagement Event: Championing Rural Communities – Vision, Voice and Action

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council welcomed more than 70 representatives from community organisations, rural practitioners and local residents to Newtownbutler Community Centre on Thursday 26 March 2026 for a major rural engagement event titled “Championing Rural Communities: Vision, Voice and Action.”

The evening encouraged discussion on issues including rural connectivity, access to services, community resilience, demographic change and long-term planning. Participants highlighted the need for better support for rural volunteers and practical action to address geographic isolation and infrastructure gaps.

Cllr Barry McElduff, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, said

“Our rural communities live with realities of inhabiting and working in places that are often dispersed and distant from key services. From housing to health, from farming to infrastructure, and from education to the economy, those rural voices need to be heard by government and wider society. This event brought rural advocates into the same room so that we can understand the challenges, celebrate the strengths and consider how we collectively support rural life into the future.”

Contributions were provided by:

• Mary T Conway – Creggan Community Association & Omagh Forum for Rural Associations
• Benny Hurl, Chairperson of GAA’s National Demographics Committee & Dr Peter Horgan, Chairperson of GAA’s Strategy Insights and Innovation Manager
• Alexander Kinnear – Ulster Farmers’ Union
• Francis McCarron – Monaghan Integrated Development
• Sinead McEvoy – Director of Regeneration and Planning, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Mary T Conway reflected on her decades of experience in rural development, describing the event as timely and energising. She noted that having worked in Creggan in Tyrone since the late 1980s, she has seen first-hand “the excellent social enterprise that Creggan Community Association now have in Whitehare Daycare,”. She also highlighted her work with Omagh Forum for Rural Associations, emphasising the importance of “social inclusion, tackling rural poverty and supporting rural regeneration in all its forms.”

Speaking from a cross border perspective, Francis McCarron of Monaghan Integrated Development said that improving quality of life in rural border areas remains a challenge across Europe. “Thursday night’s event gave all involved an opportunity to see how we might be able to work collaboratively for the benefit of all,” he added.

Insights from the GAA Demographics Report were shared by Benny Hurl, who stressed that the findings “reflect challenges that go far beyond the GAA and speak to the future of rural communities across Ireland.” He warned that shifts in population are affecting volunteer capacity and the sustainability of local services, and emphasised that collective action is essential to keep rural areas vibrant and connected.

Offering a strategic overview of the District’s population trends, Sinead McEvoy, Director of Regeneration and Planning, highlighted the significance of the region’s rural profile. “With a population density of just 40 residents per square kilometre compared to 140 across Northern Ireland, Fermanagh and Omagh is distinctly rural,” she said. “These figures highlight the unique realities our communities face and reinforce the important role of the Council in lobbying and advocating in relation to appropriate government funding for the district and the need for service delivery that truly reflects local circumstances.”

Representing the farming sector, Alexander Kinnear of the Ulster Farmers’ Union discussed both the pressures and opportunities facing rural agriculture. He said: “Farmers are at the frontline of both the opportunities and challenges facing rural areas today. Whether it’s adapting to changing markets, managing rising costs or navigating new policy requirements, the pressures on farm families are very real. Events like this are vital because they bring people together to share experiences and shape practical solutions. When government, communities and the agri-food sector work in partnership, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for rural Northern Ireland.”

Throughout the evening, panel discussions were facilitated by Agriculture and Environment Media Correspondent Louise Cullen.

The event was open to community groups, voluntary organisations, businesses, statutory agencies and residents with an interest in shaping the future of rural communities across Fermanagh and Omagh.

For further information or to contribute to ongoing engagement, please contact: ruralcommunitiesevent@fermanaghomagh.com