Cranmore Community Co-op
Photo credit: Eoin Madsen
Supporting Our Local Communities
Cranmore Community Co-operative Society Ltd known locally as ‘the Co-op’ is a charity that provides community development, youth services, and community support for Cranmore and all communities in the Sligo East City Area and beyond.
A Space for Community Events
We hold a variety of events, workshops, and community classes. Just take a look to see what’s on the calendar as well as our past Abbeyquarter Community Newsletters.
Our Story
Cranmore is one of the largest housing estates in the west of Ireland and has suffered from ‘associated issues of cumulative disadvantage; unemployment; educational disadvantage; stigma; housing and urban spaces in need of investment.
Responding to a need for change, Sligo Borough Council initiated the Cranmore Regeneration Project in 2004’, and Cranmore has been undergoing a Regeneration process since. You can find out more about the Regeneration Process here.
The Co-op was originally set up as the ‘Community Platform’, a forum for local people to have a voice in decisions that affect their lives, at the beginning of the Regeneration process. The organisation then developed to become a fully incorporated Co-operative Society in 2007. The Community Development Officer (employed by Sligo County Council under RAPID funding) who supported the Community Platform’s establishment in 2005, Marie Brennan, returned as Chairperson of ‘the Co-op’ in 2020, ensuring its initial mission was not forgotten…
“As the official voice of the Cranmore Community, we work together to empower the people to enhance their quality of life, while liaising with statutory agencies for the provision of facilities and services.”
Since 2007, the Co-op have developed from an advocacy group into a reputable community development and youth organisation who employ their own community development team and are leading the implementation of the Regeneration Master Plan Social Plan, particularly the Community Development and Youth strategies. Our area remit has also expanded to prioritise all the areas in Sligo East City, especially those highest in disadvantage and our target groups align with those of the SICAP programme. Our core funding is from Cranmore Regeneration Project, Sligo County Council, under the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage.
You can see more detail about our work in our past annual activity reports here:
You can also subscribe to our Abbeyquarter Community Newsletter below.
Our Community Water Project
Through our community garden and water projects we raise awareness of water quality issues, and promote sustainability such as collecting and using rainwater.
Meet the Team: Committee & Staff
We are governed by a voluntary management committee of 13 local people who have the necessary knowledge, skills and values to oversee our strategies:
- Clare Heslin
- Helen O Hara
- Marie Brennan, Chairperson
- Thomas Clarke
- Brian Conlon
- Marcella McGarry
- Jennifer Howley
- Mark Feeney
- Fiona McLoughlin
- Ruairí Breslin
- Anne Hickey, Treasurer
- Tuanny Guerra Pires, Secretary
- Hugh MacConville
We also have a staff team of 6:
