Building Traveller leadership and a stronger Traveller voice in County Clare
Clare Traveller Community Development Project
The Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP) is a collaborative project, led by Clare Local Development Company, Clare Public Participation Network, Clare Women’s Network and HSE Mid-West Traveller Health Unit, and supported by a wide range of additional organisations locally and nationally.
The Traveller CDP aims to improve living conditions, opportunities and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare, and this will be pursued through establishing and strengthening local alliances and, most importantly, through building effective Traveller leadership and a strong Traveller voice.
CLDC is the host organisation for the CDP. The ambition is for the CDP to evolve into an independent community development project.
Our approach
A 2019 Traveller Health Needs Assessment for Clare, carried out by Pavee Point on behalf of the HSE Mid-West Traveller Health Unit, found high levels of poor mental health, discrimination and difficult living conditions among Travellers locally, and identified a clear lack of dedicated Traveller infrastructure in the county. Almost all Travellers surveyed reported experiencing poor mental health in the previous 30 days, and nearly one in three had been diagnosed with depression, yet fewer than 5% had accessed mental health services.
This finding directly led to the Department of Rural and Community Development funding Clare Traveller CDP as one of seven pilot projects under the Community Development Pilot Programme, launched in 2021.
Traveller Self-Determination
Building and supporting self-determination within the Traveller community
Solutions That Benefit Everyone
Bringing forward solutions that benefit everyone
Building Community Alliances
Building alliances and understanding between the Travelling and settled cmmunities
Awareness & Everyday Support
Working continuously to raise awareness of the causes of social problems, while also responding to day-to-day needs
Strategic Plan 2023-2026
Clare Traveller CDP operates under a Strategic Plan for 2023-2026, officially launched by then-Minister for Community Development & Charities Joe O’Brien, who praised the strength of the collaboration between organisations & the effectiveness of the Community Development Project model in building Traveller leadership.
"True community development is trusting communities to develop their own solutions and pathways. The evidence is here — you are making a real difference to the lives of the Travelling communities you have supported." — Minister Joe O'Brien, at the Strategic Plan launch Memory
Recent highlights
Delegation meets the President
Members of Clare Traveller CDP were honoured to attend a special afternoon tea reception hosted by President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin, ahead of Traveller Pride. Link to News Article.
Traveller Pride 2026
Music, storytelling and laughter filled glór in Ennis as Clare Traveller Community Development Project brought Traveller Pride 2026 to life with an evening of culture, connection and community. Link to Video Article
National Context
A 2026 Oireachtas report from the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community set out 69 recommendations on health, discrimination, accommodation, education and employment, and gave strong backing to the kind of permanent, community-led work already underway in Clare through the Traveller CDP and the Traveller Primary Healthcare Project.
Meet the Team
Bridgie Casey – Project Coordinator – bcasey@cldc.ie
Martin McDonagh – Community Outreach Worker – mmcdonagh@cldc.ie
Claire Canny – Project Administrator – ccanny@cldc.ie
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