Community-21 – a series of conversations reflecting on community work over Covid-19, funded by the Community Relations Council‘s Media Grant Scheme.
The Carnlough Community Association (CCA) seeks to represent the Carnlough community and support its development in an equitable and sustainable way, providing an open forum for all residents, community groups and promoting interests of the young and old alike. And they are in good hands with their Secretary, Mary Watson at the helm.
Mary, who grew up in Carnlough and has spent time further afar, returned to the majestic village of her childhood to help build a united and strong community. In her own words, Carnlough is ‘one community’ that only thrives when people are together.
In normal times, the CCA is responsible for running and managing a range of social, youth, gardening and sports clubs that bring people together. The CCA are also host to the social enterprise Harbour Lights Cafe, in which their proceeds are used to fund further projects and aid the community in whatever way is needed. Additionally, they manage the Carnlough Heritage Hub, bringing to life the rich culture and history of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast.
During the pandemic, like many others in this series, the CCA received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to provide bundles to members of the community in need. What set them apart is that they did this in their very own Carnlough way, providing residents a range of items and services to boost their mental and physical well-being, including plants, games, food hampers, local cafe and shop vouchers, teenage goodie bags and, most importantly, a lovely St Patrick’s Day dinner. In total, they made 855 deliveries – not too shabby in a village of 1500 people.
All who reside in NI know full-well how blessed we are to be home to the Causeway Coast, which boasts one of the scenic drives and natural landscapes the world has to offer. Mary and her colleagues have done an excellent job realising that Carnlough and its tourist trade is only as strong as the locals’ sense of togetherness takes them. Not that she is in any way happy about Covid, but the absence of visitors to the north coast has given her and her colleagues time to enjoy the village in a more natural state and prepare its community for the eventual return to ‘normal’.
No doubt, with the watchful and thoughtful eye of Mary and the Carnlough Community Association, the village will be stronger, more together and better prepared for the ‘new normal’ no matter what it has in store.
