Cavan Community ENews 2.1.26
- Daniel Downey
- 3 days ago
- 12 min read
HAPPY NEW YEAR & Welcome to your weekly ENews. Our news is compiled weekly from our over 500 member groups, partner agencies and funders. The deadline for submitting to cavanppn@gmail.com is noon Wednesdays and we can only take community focused news. Please note that views/items contained within our ENews may not reflect the values/policies of CavanPPN.
Many Thanks, The CavanPPN Team (Aisling, Finian & Daniel). info@cavanppn.ie, CavanPPN, CCLD, Corlurgan, Cavan. H12 X9Y1
CONTENTS
FUNDING
1. FUNDING: Creative Ireland Grant
2. FUNDING: Peatlands/Natura Scheme
3. FUNDING: Sport Event Grant
4. FUNDING: Invasive Species Fund 5. FUNDING: Cavan County Council Arts Awards
6. FUNDING: Heritage Orgs Support Fund 7. FUNDING: Community Monuments Fund
8. FUNDING: Impact Fund
9. FUNDING: Waterways, Heritage & Biodiversity Fund
10. FUNDING: Young Eco Hero Awards
11. FUNDING: Circle K Cash For Clubs Scheme
TRAINING
12. TRAINING: FREE Community Training Courses for PPN Groups
SURVEYS/CONSULTS 13. SURVEYS/CONSULTS: The Sustainable Development Goals Irish Implementation Plan
14.SURVEYS/CONSULTS: Native Woodlands Strategy
EVENTS & OTHER NEWS 15. Top Tips On Winter Bird Care From Cavan Birdwatch
16. BorderTalk Storytelling Ends Its Yarns In County Cavan
17. Mental Health Supports Over the Holidays
FUNDING
Creative Ireland Grant
Creative Ireland Grants - 27th Feb
Applications are invited from creative practitioners, groups, organisations, and communities, for funding to support the development of innovative creative and cultural projects.
Funding is now available through the following grant calls:
Creative Health & Wellbeing in the Community – Local Authority Partnerships with Creative and Community Organisations
Creative Communities on a Shared Island – Local Authority Partnerships with Creative and Community Organisations
Creative Youth Nurture Fund
Two in-person Grant information sessions will take place in January (booking required) see more at link below.
Deadline: 1pm 27th February 2026
2. Peatlands/Natura Scheme Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2026 - 9th Jan 2026
The Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme aims to encourage local communities, organisations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to actively contribute to the conservation and restoration of Natura 2000 sites and peatland areas. Natura 2000 sites are protected sites, including Special Protection Areas (SPA) for birds and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for habitats and species.
Applications are invited across a diverse range of initiatives with community benefit including:
events, education programmes, promotions, publications, exhibitions,
development of conservation management plans,
public amenity and recreational measures,
maintenance measures that support conservation measures,
monitoring or surveying work to inform of restoration/conservation projects,
invasive species and fire control measures,
anti-littering initiatives
local environmental improvements in the area of the designated sites and other peatland areas.
Deadline: 9th January 2026
More info: https://grantsandfunding.ie/expanded-peatlands-and-natura-community-engagement-scheme-2026-launched/
3. Sport Event Grant
Not-for-profit European Sport Events - 22nd Jan 5th Mar
This Action aims to support the organisation of sport events with a European dimension in the following fields:
volunteering in sport
social inclusion through sport, in particular fostering the inclusion of people with disabilities
Fight against discrimination in sport, including gender equality
Encouraging healthy lifestyles for all: projects under this priority will mainly focus on:
the implementation of the three pillars of the HealthyLifestyle4All initiative
the implementation of the Council Recommendation on health-enhancing physical activity and the EU Physical Activity Guidelines
the support to the implementation of the European Week of Sport
the promotion of sport and physical activity as a tool for health
the promotion of all activities encouraging the practice of sport and physical activity
promotion of traditional sport and games
Deadlines: European Local events and European-wide events: 5th March
Large-Scale European events: 22nd January
4. Invasive Species Fund
EU Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund - Feb 2027
This project will establish the European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund, a three year initiative which aims to prevent the establishment and therefore future impacts of biological invasions in the EU.
The specific objectives are to:
• facilitate rapid and cost-effective responses to introductions of alien species that could severely and negatively impact biodiversity and the related ecosystem services, as well as human wellbeing in the EU.
• build capacity with actions to increase the capacity of stakeholders on rapid eradication.
The project must directly address an early-stage invasion of an alien species (i.e. non-native, either breeding or non-breeding) that has a high risk of spread in the near future resulting in negative impacts to biodiversity and related ecosystem services (i.e. become an invasive alien species).
Min. grant: €10,000 Max. grant: €50,000
In order to be eligible for a grant, the Lead Partner must be either a research institution, a Civil Society Organization (CSO1), a Non governmental Organisation (NGO) or government or government-affiliated entity active on the management of IAS in the EU. Partnerships involving governments or government affiliated entities will be strongly encouraged
Deadline: Rolling call to 10th Feb 2027
More info: https://speciesgrants.iucn.org/
5. Cavan County Council Arts Awards
Applications for the Cavan County Council Arts Awards are open!
The Arts Awards are Cavan County Council’s annual funding scheme to support the ongoing development of artists and audiences in County Cavan. See more at The Cavan County Council Arts Awards Are Opening - Cavan County Council
Forms will be available on www.cavanarts.ie and the closing date for completed applications is 8pm on Wednesday, 21st January 2026.
6. Heritage Orgs Support Fund
Heritage Organisations Support Fund - 26th Jan
This fund provides Core funding to non-profit organisations working in Ireland’s heritage sector. If your work has national or regional significance, this fund is here to help you grow stronger and make a lasting impact.
Through this fund, the Heritage Council aims to support organisations to:
Build long-term strength and stability
Plan for the future and grow strategically
Adopt environmentally friendly practices and contribute to climate action
This fund supports core operational work, not standalone projects. It helps heritage organisations to remain stable, plan for the future, invest in staff and governance, and contribute to climate action and public benefit. All funded work should align with the goals of The Heritage Council's Strategic Plan 2023-2028.
Please note Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2026- will open in February
A separate Community Heritage Grant Scheme will open for applications in February 2026 for community/voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to apply for funding for heritage projects. Further details will be available until February 2026. Such projects should NOT be applied for under the Heritage Organisations Support Fund.
Deadline: 5pm 26th January 2026
7. Community Monuments Fund
Community Monuments Fund 2026 - 13th Feb
The 2026 Community Monuments Fund will invest €7.5 million to help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future. It is estimated that the funding for 2026 will support approximately 120 projects nationwide.
The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites.
The scheme has three streams to support these aims:
Stream 1 will offer grants up to €100,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments
Stream 2 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
Stream 3 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments.
This scheme is administered by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the Local Authorities. Interested parties should contact the relevant Local Authority to enquire about applications.
Deadline: 13th February 2026
8- ACORN Fund For Communities
Impact Fund 2025
The Impact Fund 2025 is a two-year fund aimed at supporting innovative, community-led responses to some of the most significant and interrelated challenges affecting communities in Munster and Wexford. These challenges include persistent social exclusion, limited access to employment and wellbeing supports, and increasing vulnerability to environmental risks.
Deadline: 16 January
Find out more here
9- Waterways Heritage & Biodiversity Fund
Community Heritage and Biodiversity Grant Scheme 2026 - Waterways Ireland - 31st Jan
A fund of €20,000 has been allocated to assist community-based projects which complement or fulfil the delivery of the Waterways Ireland Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2030 along the Barrow Navigation, Erne System, Grand Canal, Lower Bann, Royal Canal, Shannon Navigation, Shannon-Erne Waterway, and the Ulster Canal (Upper Lough Erne to Clones).
Applications will be considered from communities seeking assistance for projects that help support the Objectives of the Heritage & Biodiversity Plan 2030:
Objective 1: Develop a solid foundation of high quality and openly accessible waterways heritage and biodiversity knowledge.
Objective 2: Ensure that Waterways Ireland’s management of heritage and biodiversity is integrated across the organisation’s activities and external partnerships, and aligned with the UN SDGs.
Objective 3: Strengthen and support inspiring heritage and biodiversity experiences across our shared waterways.
Deadline: 31st January 2026
10- Young Eco-Hero Awards
2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards - 28th Feb
Action For Nature are excited to announce that applications for the 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards are now open to environmental activists between the ages of 8 and 16.
Action For Nature (AFN), a non-profit organization, created the International Young Eco-Hero Awards to recognize and reward the successful individual environmental initiatives of young people ages 8 to 16. AFN encourages young people around the world to carry out individual environmental action projects. AFN believes that young people can have a positive impact on the environment and are vital in changing the way we live on our planet.
Deadline: 28th February 2026
11- CircleK Cash for Clubs
Circle K Cash for Clubs - 29th Mar 2026
As title sponsor of the FAI Club Mark—an award based on best practice in the governance, management, and administration of football clubs—Circle K is giving all Circle K Extra members a chance to win prizes of cash and kits for their local clubs between October 1st, 2025, and March 29th, 2026.
The campaign will culminate with the Grand Finale in March where all clubs will be considered for the top prizes. The prizes for the finale include:
One club will win a grand prize of €10,000.
Four additional clubs will win a €5,000 prize.
One club will win a VIP Training Experience with the Men’s national team.
5 clubs will win 3x sets of kit each for their teams clubs
Deadline: 29th March 2026
TRAINING
12- Free Community Training For CavanPPN members Cavan PPN currently has a number of training courses available to our member groups.
They are available FREE OF CHARGE for member groups.
All the courses are online and places are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Examples include:
The Role of the Chair
How to take meeting minutes
… and more!
(Please note: you must be part of a member group of Cavan PPN to avail of these training courses).
For more information, and to register, please click on the link below: Events | Cavan PPN | Public Participation Network
SURVEYS/CONSULTATIONS
13- Consult on SDG Implementation
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has launched the Public Consultation on the development of Ireland's third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) National Implementation Plan.
The aim of this consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the preparation of Ireland's Third SDGs National Implementation Plan, which sets out the overarching national governance, coordination and monitoring framework for the SDGs in Ireland.
The detailed policy approaches to progress individual SDGs and targets are addressed in relevant national policies set out in the SDG Policy Map.
Please see consultation on gov.ie at:
14- Native Woodland Strategy 2026-2030
Native Woodland Strategy 2026-2030 Public Consultation
Woodlands of Ireland is a partnership-based environmental charity founded in 1998, dedicated to native woodland conservation and expansion. Previously, Woodlands of Ireland, in conjunction with a range of public and private sector stakeholders, had developed a 5-year native woodland strategy for the period 2016 to 2020, which is now overdue for updating. You can view this document here: A Strategy for Native Woodlands in Ireland 2016-2020.
Since that time, grant-aided native woodland establishment has grown to form c.40% of afforestation activity, while the native woodland conservation scheme has struggled to gain significant ground. Here are several factors which need to be considered in an updated strategy for 2026-2030:
Native Woodland Conservation, Climate Resilient Reforestation, Native Forest Establishment, Emergent Woodland, Woodland Improvement Thinning, Continuous Cover Forestry and Neighbourwood grants are some existing funding mechanisms in the RoI Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which support the better management and expansion of woodlands largely composed of native species.
The challenging EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) legally bound woodland targets in the 2026-2030 period (10,000ha of recreated Oak woodland and c.4000 ha of alluvial (wet) woodland by 2030) require planning, implementation and workforce training and development for long-term maintenance in both the public and private sectors.
Opportunities for timber production from native woodland and close to nature silviculture systems applied to them require consideration in a range of sites.
A comprehensive tree cover education and training strategy is needed to achieve the DAFM Forestry Programme, EU Water Framework Directive and EU NRL targets.
Irish Environmental Network (IEN)/ Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) and Public Participation Network (PPN) member groups' input is welcome and essential.
Many new organisations have emerged to populate the fertile ground of native tree cover expansion in recent years and need to be included in this consultation.
To seek input from a diverse range of stakeholders in the creation of this new strategy for native woodlands, Woodlands of Ireland are conducting an online public consultation from now until Friday, 16th January 2026, followed by webinars in February and a March gathering.
To contribute, you can choose one or all of the following options:
(1) Make your views known to Woodlands of Ireland through info@woodlandsofireland.com
(2) Complete the questionnaire at this link by 16th January: https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/nws-consultation-form/
(3) Contribute to webinars in February 2026, dates to be confirmed.
(4) Attend an in-person discussion group in March 2026 focused on the bullet points above and additional points raised from the consultation, location and date to be confirmed.
Links to the Consultation:
EVENTS & OTHER NEWS
15- Top Tips For Your Winter Garden Birds From Cavan Birdwatch
Top Garden Feeding Tips:
(this is taken from Don't give your Garden Birds a frosty reception this week! - BirdWatch Ireland, and this link also includes information on types of food that can be left out for birds and its well worth a look)
1. Keep your feeders within a metre or so of trees and hedges where possible – this will help birds find them in the first place, and they’ll feel safer when feeding too because they know shelter is just a short hop away if a hunting Sparrowhawk makes an appearance!
2. As well as food, it’s good to provide water for your garden birds, particularly on cold mornings when natural sources of water are frozen over!
3. Variety is key! If you want a variety of birds, then put out a variety of food-types in a variety of locations. Try a few different things until you find what works best for your garden!
4. Don’t put out any food with mould on it as it will make the birds sick, and can prove fatal! It’s better to put out small amounts of food every few days, rather than filling your feeders to the brim and for some of the food to go mouldy.
5. Clean your feeders regularly to prevent the spread of illness among your garden birds. A dilute bleach solution (5%) is perfect, and dry everything before putting them out again. It can be a good idea to just half-fill your feeders so that you can take them in for a cleaning on a weekly basis. Give your bird bath a regular clean too! The spread of trichomonosis has devastated Greenfinch numbers in Ireland and Britain, and good feeder hygiene is the best way to prevent it.
6. Beware of cats! You’d be shocked at the amount of birds that are lost to cats, and your local cat is probably taking a lot more birds than you realise. Don’t have any bird food on the ground near hedging or flower pots that a cat can be hiding behind, and make sure your feeders are 5-6 feet off the ground as cats can be amazingly agile jumpers when they want to be! The reason you’re feeding your garden birds is to help them get through the winter, so don’t undo your good work by making it easy for cats to catch them!
7. If you have problems with Rooks and Jackdaws, hang your feeders on a length of elastic – the larger birds will be too heavy to land on it without bouncing up and down, and will leave the feeder alone! Also, some of the Squirrel-proof feeders can also be crow-proof!
Gardening for nature (written by branch members)
As winter is a time when people often plan their garden for the following year you could plan with wildlife in mind so that the birds aren't relying solely on the food being provided at feeders. Simple measures that can be taken include: use of climbers, use of native plants, native hedges with fruit like haws & rose-hips, reduce use of pesticides, leave seed heads on flowers, and allow ivy to grow on trees. A garden rich in insects spiders will have grubs and hibernating insects over winter for birds to feed on and can cater to a wider variety of birds than the feeders.
Garden Bird Survey (written by branch members)
Encourages people to record the birds that they see in their gardens. Only interested in birds that are actually feeding in the garden so birds that fly over are excluded – flock of starlings flying over. It’s a great way to become more familiar with the birds in your garden and appreciate changes that can occur from week to week and particularly during spells of really cold weather when more birds are likely to visit to avail of food.
You are required to record the highest number of a species at any one time – its not cumulative so it’s the peak count for a species at one time. If on Monday you see two great tits then it’s a count of two, but if on Thursday you see three then the count changes to three. You don’t have to participate every week, but the more you observe from looking out the window the more likely you are to participate and look for more information about bird behaviours or species you are having difficulty identifying. Feel free to contact the Cavan branch of BirdWatch Ireland with queries – cavanbirdwatching@gmail.com
And I'd attach garden bird survey form.
All the best,
Tom
"protecting birds and biodiversity"
16- BorderTalk Storytelling Ends Its Yarns In County Cavan
Big news!
The Border Talk Project Finale is happening on Saturday, 10th January 2026 at Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff from 1pm – 4:30pm
Expect an afternoon of celebration with:
Live performances from our Border Talk participants
Headline act: the incredible singer & storyteller Colum Sands
Hot food + refreshments And yes… tickets are FREE!
Don’t wait — grab yours now at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1968054821951
We can’t wait to see you there!
17- Mental Health Supports Over Christmas
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