Clare Local Development Company exists to support people, communities & local enterprises in Clare to tackle disadvantage, build inclusion & create sustainable local development. Through partnership, targeted programmes & on‑the‑ground support, we help local people improve their lives & communities.
This is Who We Are
Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) is a not-for-profit community organization.
Clare Local Development Company
Working hand-in-hand for
positive change
CLDC
Mission
CLDC is a local, community-led organisation committed to the support and empowerment of communities and individuals in County Clare. We work collaboratively to deliver innovative programmes that support inclusion, equality, diversity, sustainable economic development and positive environmental impact.
We help people make their lives better, and build a better future for themselves and their communities.
We do this by:
- Connecting with people face to face
- Building trust
- Removing barriers
- Offering pathways and solutions
- Using local knowledge
- Collaborating with local groups and agencies
- Supporting marginalised and disadvantaged people, and
- Making sure no one gets left behind
CLDC
Ethos
We aim to improve the quality of life of the people we work with, by connecting them with opportunities, support, and resources that enable them to improve their lives, and the environment they live in. We are community-led, which means our leadership is made up of people from the community, that we look first to the community on the ground to understand what needs to change, and that we give the people living there a voice and a role in their own development, as we work with them to address the most pressing challenges.
The way we work is informed by our core values of inclusion, equality, and diversity. We build relationships by practicing compassion, respect and tolerance, and we work to build trust with everyone we engage with.
Our approach to empowerment focuses on advocacy, support, personal growth, participation, and integration. We work collaboratively, supporting people to actively participate; to build their capacity to meet their own needs, and the needs of their communities. We provide integrated support through a range of programmes, schemes and services.
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CLDC
Organisation History
Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) was established in 2009, bringing together four long-standing community development initiatives—Éiri Corca Baiscinn, Ennis West Partners, Newmarket on Fergus North, and Rural Resource Development. These groups had delivered Ireland’s first LEADER programme in Clare since 1991, supporting local enterprise and rural innovation.
In the mid-2000s, national reform led to the integration of LEADER and social inclusion programmes into a single countywide structure. This created CLDC, with a clear mandate to deliver coordinated rural development and social inclusion services across County Clare.
Starting with four core programmes—LEADER, SICAP, the Rural Social Scheme, and the Rural Walks Scheme—CLDC has grown into a multi-programme organisation delivering a wide range of supports in social inclusion, employment, sustainability, and community development.
Early initiatives supported by CLDC continue to demonstrate long-term impact, while services such as Homework Clubs highlight its commitment to early intervention and lifelong opportunity.
CLDC has also played a key role in nurturing and sustaining community infrastructure. It supported the development of independent organisations such as Clare Volunteer Centre and Clare Public Participation Network, and has safeguarded important local services through the acquisition of social enterprises including Cairde Beag Crèche (2016), Glebe House (2024), Kilkee Hub and The Circular Charity Shop (2025).
Founded during a period of economic uncertainty, CLDC has continued to adapt to changing needs. Today, it remains focused on supporting communities across Clare through challenges such as social inclusion, climate transition, and population change—guided by a strong commitment to local development and community wellbeing.
CLDC
Vision
We are working towards a diverse, inclusive, economically vibrant county, where every person’s basic needs are met, and every person is treated with respect and compassion. We envision a county of resilient and economically sustainable communities, with high levels of cultural awareness and free from discrimination. We envision a county of people that are capable of adapting to a changing economy and a changing environment, through collaborative and innovative approaches to social and environmental justice.
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