Kildare communities encouraged to celebrate Local Development Week 2026

Communities across County Kildare are being encouraged to take part in and celebrate Local Development Week 2026.

County Kildare LEADER Partnership (CKLP) is inviting local people, community groups, businesses and stakeholders to take part in what it described as ‘a national celebration of the work, achievements and impact of Local Development Companies across Ireland’.

Taking place from Monday, September 28, 2026 to Friday, October 2 2026, this year's theme, ‘Local Action, Lasting Impact’, aims to highlight the power of locally-led place based developments.

Karl Duffy, the CEO of CKLP explained: “The theme of this year's Local Development Week, 'Local Action, Lasting Impact', perfectly captures what we see every day across our communities. Local development is about empowering people, strengthening communities and creating opportunities that have a lasting positive effect.”

“We are proud to celebrate the achievements of individuals, community groups and partners who are making a difference throughout County Kildare,” Mr Duffy added. “We would encourage anyone who has engaged with our services or programmes to join our Local Development Week events and share their experiences on the digital noticeboard."

Throughout the week, Local Development Companies nationwide will host events and activities that aim to showcase how targeted local action can deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for Kildare communities.

NEW HUB

A notable highlight of CKLP’s Local Development Week programme will be the official opening of the new CKLP DARA Recovery Hub in Kildare Town on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, by Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD [Fianna Fáil], the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.

The Hub is a powerful example of this year’s theme, “Local Action, Lasting Impact,” providing a welcoming, community-based space where people can access recovery support, rebuild their sense of identity and move forward with their lives.

Recovery has a lasting impact and can transform every part of a person’s life.

It can restore health, confidence, relationships and a sense of purpose, while enabling people to reconnect with their families and communities.

According to CKLP, the new Hub will ‘reflect CKLP’s commitment to local place-based responses to the challenges that face communities all around Kildare’.

“The expanded facilities will allow the DARA Project to provide a wider range of services, including recovery programmes, family support, peer-led activities, education and training, and opportunities for ongoing community connection,” CKLP added.

SHOWCASING LOCAL ACTION

The week-long celebration will culminate on Thursday, October 1, 2026 and Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Local Development Companies Network National Conference, where community leaders, policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders from across the country will come together to discuss the future of local development in Ireland.

CKLP elaborated: “This conference will showcase innovative approaches, share learning and highlight the collective contribution of Local Development Companies in delivering inclusive, sustainable and community-led development nationwide.”

Lastly, CKLP has said that anyone who is interested in participating in Local Development Week 2026 events can follow CKLP on social media in order to ‘add their voice to the national conversation by sharing their experience on the digital noticeboard’.

They can also find further information on www.ldcn.ie/local-development-week.