Newsletter – May 2025
Kinvara Community Council: Our May monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday 21st May at 8pm and we encourage all members of the community to attend these meetings where discussion and debates on any items put forward on the agenda are always welcome. All sub groups who are affiliated to Kinvara Community Council must send a representative to every KCC meeting in order to maintain their benefits. Any items for inclusion on the agenda must be emailed in by Tuesday 20th May and you must be there to present your item.
Merriman Hotel: A contract has been signed between the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and MLC Hotels, the operators of the Merriman Hotel, to provide accommodation for 98 IPAS applicants for a two-year period. This agreement, finalized in early March, was made without consultation outside the Department and is now in effect.
The DCEDIY Community Engagement Team has confirmed that no evaluation was carried out to assess the capacity of local services, such as schools and medical facilities, to support the additional needs of IPAS applicants in the village.
The Community Council has once again written to the Taoiseach, seeking an explanation for the breach of Government policy in awarding this contract to the village’s only hotel. We have also challenged the Department’s claim that the hotel was “not in operation,” describing this reasoning as both incorrect and misleading. We await a formal response.
In addition, the Community Council has contacted our seven Oireachtas representatives (4 TDs and 3 Senators), urging a unified and collaborative stance in advocating for the residents of Kinvara. Minister Seán Canney has committed to convening a meeting of this group once the Dáil resumes this week. We have also followed up with TDs Albert Dolan, Louis O’Hara, and Senator Anne Rabbitte, seeking an update on their stated intention—made during a previous Community Council meeting—to request a pause to the contract. While they continue to advocate for our community, no progress has been made thus far.
The Department has further stated that there are currently no plans to relocate the Ukrainian community presently residing in the hotel. Residents have begun the process of applying for a Judicial Review of the Government’s decision to proceed with the contract without local consultation. Petitions in support of this application are now available to sign in local shops and pubs.
The next Community Council meeting will take place on 21st May at the Community Centre. All Kinvara residents are encouraged to attend. The Community Council will issue updates on its website and Facebook page as more information becomes available.
Burren in Bloom (3rd May to 25th May): Burrenbeo Trust is organising events throughout the month of May to welcome and celebrate biodiversity in the Burren. There are guided walks to appreciate birds, butterflies, woodlands, meadows, ponds and inspiring bio-diverse farms. Insects, our much-undervalued creatures are given special attention in the programme with two talks; ‘The Curious World of Insects’ with naturalist and photographer Lisa Clancy on Saturday 3rd of May in Kinvara Community Centre and ‘Ants of Ireland and the Burren’ – an online webinar with John Breen. There is an art workshop for children with wildlife artist Gordon D’Arcy on Sunday 4th of May in Kinvara Community Centre. Also look out also for the rare opportunity to meet renowned environmental philosopher and Burren lover Matthijs Schouten on 22nd May in Doolin. Booking in advance is advised for all events. All info and tickets through burreninbloom.com and as a special seasonal offer – if you add a Burrenbeo Membership when booking tickets you get a FREE set of Burren Field Guides (worth €15) in the post.
Kinvara Community Orchestra: will present ‘The Dance of Life’ at Kinvara Community Centre on Saturday, 31stMay at 8pm and Sunday, 1st June at 4pm. Featuring guest dancers Louise O’Connor, Sadhbh Murphy, poet Mallika McCarthy, the Burren Baroque Ensemble and a selection of tunes and songs from the Orchestra, we hope you can join us to celebrate life in all its twists and turns! Tickets in advance at kinvaramusic.com or Healing Harvest soon! Hup!
Kinvara Tidy Towns; – We urgently need help to get Kinvara ready for adjudication – Getting involved in Tidy towns connects you with our community! We only need help for the next 6 to 8 weeks…Even one hour would be a great help! We are out Wednesday mornings at 10.30am, 7.30pm and Saturday mornings at 10am. We meet at the Kinvara Community centre. No gardening skills required. You can join our group or work on your own in your own time. We match volunteers to painting/ light weeding/sweeping/interests. Email kinvaratidytowns01@gmail.com if this is for you, message us on FB/Insta or speak to one of our volunteers. Just looking for one hour for your village? Be a part of it❤️
KAVA News:
- 1st – 5th. Cuckoo Fleadh Exhibition
- Saturday 3rd Concert With Sharon Murphy, starts at 8pm
- 16th – 25th. Exhibition Alicja Natalicz & Lidia de Lange
- 30th – 10th June Plein Air Exhibition and Workshop
Yoga Classes
- Tuesday Mornings 9.30 – 10.30 with Kate
- Tuesday Evenings 18.30 – 19.30 with Sibéal
- Wednesday Mornings 9.30 – 10.30 with Fionnuala
KINVARA ALIVE: – On the 11th of May 2025, we Kinvara Alive had planned to run a picnic in the park in Kinvara. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen issues, we cannot do this as planned and will have to reschedule and reorganize. Nevertheless our whole team at Kinvara Alive wishes you all a fantastic Fleadh na gCuach 2025 and lots of fun at all the activities on that weekend. You find us every Friday in the Farmers Market with lots of information for you.
Kinvara Plein Air Paint-Out: to celebrate the Cuckoo: Saturday 3 May at 11am on Kinvara Quay. Artists of all levels working in any medium most welcome. Free. Will be rescheduled to Sunday 11am if rained off.
Kinvara Community Childrens Centre: acknowledges that there has been a huge amount of disappointment and distress among the community following the allocation of spaces for September 2025. With 96 children looking to secure spaces and only 48 full afterschool care spaces available across two afterschool services, disappointment was inevitable. KCCC is working in conjunction with various community representatives to find a solution. We ask for your patience while we continue to work on this and updates will be provided as we continue through this process. If you have a potentially viable solution to the afterschool care issue, we would like to hear from you at info@kinvaraccc.ie . Many thanks, KCCC Management
Kinvara Parent and Toddler Group: welcomes parents and guardians to our weekly playgroup; Wednesdays 10am-12pm in the meeting room of Kinvara Community Centre. Children under 6 are welcome to socialise in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. We have plenty of toys and play tents for little ones and we offer tea/coffee and biscuits for grown-ups. We ask for a donation of €3-€4 per family to cover running costs and special events. Follow us on Facebook, search for Kinvara Playgroup or message 087-766 2294 to be added to our WhatsApp group which is a fantastic hive of information, and the odd hand-me-down, for local parents.
Cruinniú Na mBád 2025 is Fri 08th – Sun 10th Aug. Full details will be posted on the Cruinniú Na mBád website www.cruinniu.ie
Email items for May inclusion to communitycentre@kinvara.ie before
Wednesday 28th May.
Due to space constricts some articles may have been edited, full details on www.kinvara.ie.
‘Items in this Newsletter do not reflect the opinions of the Community Council unless specifically stated’.