Donegal Social Economy Seminar

• A seminar on Social Economy Projects was held in Letterkenny, County Donegal ,on Monday 11 October, organised by the republican ex-prisoners' group, Abhaile Arís. Donal Ó Cobhthaigh, a social economy expert for Coiste na nIarchimí, the umbrella organisation for republican ex-prisoner groups, gave an passionate talk on the place of the social economy sector in the Ireland of the future for the republican community. He stressed the validity of the sector and emphasised the failure of the private sector in providing a living for the people of Donegal. Attendees discussed the importance of social economy projects, rooted in communitiues, providing a real alternative to the traditional public/private sectors. It is the new term for what traditionally would have been referred to as co-ops. It empowers the people.