Rural entrepreneurs and rural development activists from all counties will be in attendance at the National Rural Development Conference in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore on Wednesday February 2. The conference was due to take place on December 2 but had to be called off due to the weather.
The conference, run by the National Rural Network, Teagasc, and LEADER, will discuss how the Rural Development Programme can create and sustain on-farm and off-farm jobs. It will also explore how smart and green practices outlined in the Food Harvest 2020 report can contribute to job creation, enhanced rural income, and economic growth.
The list of speakers includes John Malone, former secretary general of the Department of Agriculture; economic consultant Jim Power; Dr Cathal O’Donoghue, head of the Teagasc Rural Economy and Development Programme; Peter Quinn, former GAA president; and Carmel Fox, chief executive of Ballyhoura Development.
A series of discussions on key aspects of growth and rural job creation will be held in the afternoon with Teagasc director, Professor Gerry Boyle, giving the closing address on the actions needed to invigorate the rural economy.
The conference will run from 9.15am to 4pm. A limited number of places are available and can be booked online through the NRN website, www.nrn.ie, or by contacting Leah Perrott at (01 ) 6636556 or email [email protected].
