More than 450 people gathered in Ennis tonight as County Clare formally launched its programme as European Volunteering Capital 2027.
The event at Treacys West County Hotel brought together volunteers, community groups, voluntary organisations and public representatives from across the county ahead of a year-long programme of events and initiatives.
Clare was awarded the European Volunteering Capital 2027 title by the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV), following a joint bid by Clare County Council and Clare Volunteer Centre.
The programme will include festivals, recognition events, storytelling projects and initiatives aimed at encouraging more people to become involved in volunteering.
The launch was hosted by Clare FM presenter Alan Morrissey and included discussions on the plans for 2027, partnerships between voluntary organisations and public bodies, and the experiences of volunteers.
Among those taking part were Clare County Council Chief Executive Gordon Daly, Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Killeen, Clare Volunteer Centre manager Sharon Meaney, representatives of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and Volunteer Ireland, as well as volunteers from organisations across the county.
More than 40 voluntary and community organisations also took part in a showcase at the event. Entertainment was provided by Harmony Bro, Ennis Brass Band and Music Generation Clare.
The official Clare 2027 website, clare2027.ie, was also launched.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Joe Killeen said the European title recognised the contribution of volunteers throughout the county.
“This is a proud moment for Clare. This prestigious title recognises the contribution made by volunteers in communities in County Clare every day. I encourage the people of Clare to get involved in the events and make 2027 a year that celebrates both volunteering and our volunteers.”
Clare County Council Chief Executive Gordon Daly added, “Working with the Clare Volunteer Centre, we also aim to ensure that the legacy of European Volunteering Capital extends well beyond 2027, delivering lasting benefits for communities across the county.”
A Volunteer Ambassador Programme was also announced at the event, with four Clare volunteers to be selected to travel to Gdańsk in Poland in February 2027.
Gdańsk was European Volunteering Capital in 2022, and the Clare ambassadors will take part in a knowledge exchange focused on volunteering, community development and the longer-term legacy of the European title.
The Gdańsk study visit is being delivered as part of an Erasmus+ funded project supporting European learning and knowledge exchange for County Clare as European Volunteering Capital 2027.
The competition is open to volunteers aged 18 and over who are active in Clare. Applicants are being asked to answer two questions about their volunteering experience and what they hope to learn from the visit to Gdańsk.
Applications can be made in written, video, audio or visual formats and are open until November 19th. The four ambassadors will be announced on December 4th.
Sharon Meaney, manager of Clare Volunteer Centre, said the competition would give volunteers an opportunity to represent Clare and bring back ideas from another European volunteering community.
“This is a great opportunity for volunteers in Clare to have their voices heard and to be part of the European Volunteering Capital journey,” she said.
“We are looking forward to hearing from volunteers about their experiences, what volunteering means to them and what they would like to learn from Gdańsk. We would encourage people to put themselves forward and take part in what will be a very valuable experience.”
The Volunteer Ambassador Programme competition is now open, with full details on eligibility, the application process and submission formats available at clare2027.ie.
Clare joins a list of previous European Volunteering Capitals that includes Barcelona, Berlin, Gdańsk and Sligo, which became the first Irish county to hold the title in 2017.
