Northern & Western Regional Assembly

25/05/2026

NWRA EU Projects Officer, Fiona Timoney, was pleased to represent the NWRA at the Community Workshop recently held for the EUI Waterway project. It was great to see the local community so interested and engaged in the opportunities the project may provide, in relation to hydro-electricity along Galway’s canals.

The NWRA is particularly focused in the re-purposing of old infrastructure, replacing old water pumping equipment with new hydro-electric technology and examining the opportunities of reinvesting surplus electricity into further climate action initiatives. The Waterway project is an European Urban Initiative project, led by Galway City Council and co-funded by the European Union.

22/05/2026

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐨-𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 ’𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

In Rybnik, a former coal mining city in southern Poland, the exchange helped rethink post-industrial revitalisation.

𝘽𝒚 𝒄𝙤𝒏𝙣𝒆𝙘𝒕𝙞𝒏𝙜 𝙬𝒊𝙩𝒉 𝑳𝙞𝒆́𝙫𝒊𝙣 𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙎𝒂𝙞𝒏𝙩-𝙑𝒂𝙡𝒍𝙞𝒆𝙧, 𝒕𝙝𝒆 𝒄𝙞𝒕𝙮 𝙚𝒙𝙥𝒍𝙤𝒓𝙚𝒅 𝒏𝙚𝒘 𝒂𝙥𝒑𝙧𝒐𝙖𝒄𝙝𝒆𝙨 𝙩𝒐:
🔹 𝙋𝒐𝙨𝒕-𝒎𝙞𝒏𝙞𝒏𝙜 𝙡𝒂𝙣𝒅 𝒕𝙧𝒂𝙣𝒔𝙛𝒐𝙧𝒎𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣
🔹 𝙄𝒏𝙩𝒆𝙜𝒓𝙖𝒕𝙚𝒅 𝒖𝙧𝒃𝙖𝒏 𝒑𝙡𝒂𝙣𝒏𝙞𝒏𝙜
🔹 𝙎𝒖𝙥𝒑𝙤𝒓𝙩𝒊𝙣𝒈 𝒍𝙤𝒄𝙖𝒍 𝑺𝙈𝑬𝙨

💬 “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠. 𝐼𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑑 𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑦𝑏𝑛𝑖𝑘.”

The result? Stronger collaboration, new partnerships, and concrete follow-up actions.

📺 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿? The replay is now available.
https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/xx0yw5zcc4

⏰ 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 – 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝟐𝟓 𝐌𝐚𝐲

Apply now and get free support to:
🔹 Find the right partner city
🔹 Clarify your priorities
🔹 Build a strong application

👉 Don’t miss your chance
👉 https://urban-initiative.pulse.ly/s06dkajdya

22/05/2026

📍 Today is the day.

The pre-draft consultation for the new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Region closes today at 6pm.

📣Don’t miss this opportunity, to share your opinions and have your voice heard, follow the link to add your contribution https://consult.nwra.ie/

📅 Submission close today at 6pm.

19/05/2026

The NWRA were delighted to host the GREENHEALTH-Interreg Europe regional closing event in Buncranna, Co Donegal on the 25th of February 2026

The event highlighted good practices in the form of Ireland’s Slow Adventure model and collaborative approaches to support wellbeing, tourism, and environmental care.

A key challenge noted was the balance between the benefits of greater access to nature and the need to preserve biodiversity for future generations.

Takeaway: Cooperation and inclusive planning are vital to keep natural spaces protected and accessible for all. 🌿💚

18/05/2026

📣 Call-out to all interested stakeholders - Final Call for Submissions

The pre-draft consultation for the new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Northern and Western Region closes this Friday.

Don’t miss the opportunity to have your say and help shape the region’s future, follow the link to add your contribution https://consult.nwra.ie/

📅 Closing date: Friday 22nd May

18/05/2026

📍 Northern and Western Regional Assembly May Meeting

NWRA Members and staff attended Ireland West Airport Knock for the May Assembly meeting. A sincere thank you to Managing Director, Joe Gilmore for welcoming members and staff and providing an overview of the airport’s development journey, future planning, and its continued role in supporting regional connectivity and economic growth.

The Assembly also received an informative presentation from David L'Estrange of CAAS Environmental Consultants, on the preparation work for the new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The presentation outlined the key stages involved in the environmental assessment work being undertaken through SEA, AA and RFRA.

🎉 As Ireland West Airport Knock celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the NWRA would like to acknowledge the airport’s significant contribution to regional development over the past four decades. We look forward to seeing its continued growth and success in the years ahead. 🛫

Ireland West Airport

18/05/2026

📸 Calling all photographers.

'Our Ireland, Our EU' is a national photography competition celebrating EU‑funded projects across Ireland.

📣 Photographers of all levels are invited to help tell the story of how EU co‑funded projects are making a difference across Ireland, in our communities, our public spaces, and in people’s everyday lives.

You can take part in two ways:
📌 Photograph an EU co‑funded project at an eligible location
📌Capture the human impact of EU funding: learning, skills, inclusion, community, research and innovation

Open to adults (18+) resident in Ireland

Public voting will decide the winners

All entries must relate to EU‑funded projects or activities
Get inspired, get creative, and show us Our Ireland, Our EU.

Find full details here https://www.eufunds.ie/national-photography-competition-our-ireland-our-eu-launched-to-showcase-eu%e2%80%91funded-projects-across-ireland/

EU Funds Ireland

15/05/2026

Minister for Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, today officially launched the THRIVE project - Revival of the Courthouse Letterkenny, a landmark €7 million regeneration initiative that will transform the former courthouse into a vibrant regional community and tourism destination.

Read more about the launch on our website: https://www.nwra.ie/minister-james-browne-officially-launches-thrive-project-revival-of-the-courthouse-letterkenny/

THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027.

Donegal County Council

14/05/2026

Minister Burke has announced the launch of a new call under the Innovators’ Initiative II – STEP, providing €10.5 million in funding to support the development of innovative, needs-led training programmes across Ireland.
Delivered through publicly funded Research Performing Organisations, these programmes will focus on key strategic sectors, helping to build a strong pipeline of talent and drive innovation within the regions.
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the initiative will strengthen collaboration between research and enterprise, support the development of high-value skills, and contribute to the growth of new enterprises and technologies.
📅 Call open: 13 May 2026
🗓️ Closing date: 8 July 2026
This represents an important investment in strengthening regional innovation capacity and ensuring Ireland remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Peter Burke T.D., Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, together with the Regional Assemblies and Enterprise Ireland, today announced the launch of a new call under the Innovators’…

12/05/2026

Here is a collection of memories from the third year of the project ✨

This past year has been full of shared experiences, inspiring discussions, meetings, workshops, and special moments with all our partners. Looking back at these memories reminds us how much can be achieved through collaboration, dedication, and teamwork.

Thank you to everyone involved for your continuous support, commitment, and for all the ideas and perspectives you bring to the project. We are happy to share this journey together and excited for what is still to come 🌿

🔗Check out our website to discover our new photo album: https://www.interregeurope.eu/greenhealth/page/audio-visual-content

Interreg Europe Espacios Naturales Protegidos de la Región de Murcia Podkarpackie - serwis samorządu województwa Northern & Western Regional Assembly Prešovský samosprávny kraj The EUROPARC Federation

09/05/2026

In the lead-up to Europe Day, we were delighted to visit schools across the Northern & Western Region to engage with students on Europe, the European Union, and regional development.
These visits provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from students about what they have learned — including the role of Regional Assemblies in supporting balanced regional growth and EU-funded initiatives.
Europe Day marks peace and unity in Europe, commemorating the origins of what is now the European Union. It is an important reminder of the value of cooperation and shared progress across our regions.
Thank you to all the schools and students who participated and contributed so positively to these visits.
🇮🇪 🇪🇺�Wishing everyone a very happy Europe Day.