​TRUAGH DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION LTD

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TDA Logo
​Our logo shows Ravella Bridge and the River Blackwater.

The logo symbolises the building of “People Bridges” a theme identified by the six schools and communities from Truagh and Aughnacloy in the European Award winning A.T.E.S.S.P. Project 1997-2000 (Aughnacloy TruaghEuropean Studies Schools Project)

​​Background

Truagh Development Association Ltd. (TDA) is a voluntary community organisation based in north county Monaghan that has worked to develop the community of Truagh since the mid 1970s.   It became a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee incorporated in 1991.  

On the southern side of the border, Truagh is the most northerly area of Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland, jutting into South Tyrone where it straddles an international border with its nearest neighbours in Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone in Northern Ireland. 
The Truagh area suffered greatly as a result of the many years of conflict in this border area with many households suffering severe economic disadvantage and rural deprivation during the conflict in Northern Ireland.  Eight out of nine border crossing were closed, roads cratered, communities lived back to back, bridges were blown up with resulting daily distress and weekly conflicts on these flash points.  Many people on both sides of the border from the Nationalist and Unionist communities were murdered and terrible atrocities committed. 
 
AIMS:
            Truagh Development Association Community Services Programme aims are:
  • To support local community activity
  • To reduce disadvantage for those most excluded or at risk of exclusion within our community
  • Improve the physical, mental and emotional health of people within our community and beyond
  • Improve the skills base of our community
  • Promote social and economic development within the community
  • Provide employment for those most distant from the labour market
  • Promote Peace, Reconciliation and progress in this border micro region and beyond
  • Promote Sales and Marketing
 
ACTIVITIES:
The main activities of the organisation are to identify and develop programme and opportunities for the benefit of the Truagh area and its environs.
 
From 2008 to present, Truagh Development Association has managed a Community Services Programme funded by the Department of Social Protection by Pobal.  The Community Services Programme aims to support local community activity to address disadvantage. 
The Community Services Programme being managed by Truagh Development Association involves:
  • Opportunities for people within our community to meet each other locally and with our neighbouring community for example, through organizing social events such as, seniors trips, weekly meals and entertainment
  • Identifying and providing a wide range of services for the community e.g. good morning calls, home visits, meals on wheels, hot school lunches, artisan bakery
  • Provision of personal and community development training and learning opportunities
  • Coordinating a variety of courses for example, photoshop, woodcraft, childrens cookery camp, computer training, art classes, cultural and recreational activities as a means of gaining maximum engagement of local participants and the fostering of relationships for the benefit of all within the North Monaghan and the South Tyrone areas
  • Provision of a broad range of accessible community services and facilities
  • A cross-border, cross-community approach
  • Co-operation with key stakeholders in the programme development
  • A willingness to innovate and break new ground in support of reconciliation using ongoing needs analysis to respond to changing circumstances and opportunities
 
Truagh Development Association Ltd. have a successful track record in managing, delivering and implementing a wide range of cross border and cross community projects at a local and regional level.  Please refer to attached leaflet on the services provided by the CSP for the over 55s and the whole community.
 
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Truagh Development Association CLG has an excellent community relations and cross-border track record in the successful delivery of a wide variety of projects and activities.  It has successfully managed and delivered the following projects:

  • Cross Border Schools Project European Award
  • Stepping Stones Project – cross border, cross community
  • WEA (workers Educational Association) Border Corridor Peace Building Project
  • Blackwater Wireless Broadband
  • Sliabh Beagh Environmental Management Plan
  • Water Quality Project in association with Michigan University
  • Travelnet – rural transport initiative
  • Festivals Project “Taste O’ Truagh”
  • Foroige
  • Men’s Shed
  • Community Centres in Carrickroe and Clara
  • Community Services Programme
  • Cross Border Heritage Project
  • Equal Ireland Degree in Business Enterprise and Community Development
  • Outreach adult education courses in conjunction with Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board, Lir Business Management and MJM Training
  • CAWT - cross border older peoples’ health initiative (NHS/HSE)
  • HSE – meals on wheels, supports to older people
  • Community Foundation Ireland Older Persons Fund
  • Women On The Edge (Peace III RAM 2014)
  • Tru Irish Project, 2015 ongoing