Glenties Municipal District receives €80,000 PEACEPLUS Programme

Glenties is proud to announce the launch of its new PEACEPLUS programme, Belonging Across Boundaries, Stories to Connect.

Under Theme 3: Building Respect for All Cultural Identities, the programme aims to foster a greater sense of belonging by recognising cultural and religious differences as strengths, embracing diversity, and promoting a positive intercultural future for all communities.

The programme will feature a dynamic mix of storytelling workshops, interactive experiences, panel discussions, exchanges, study visits, and community-led events. These activities are designed to spark empathy, encourage dialogue, and help build a shared narrative across diverse communities.

A key element of the programme will involve 80 young people from the Glenties Municipal District in a series of storytelling workshops. Participants will learn to share their stories both digitally and verbally, with a focus on podcasting as a medium for expression. Special emphasis will be placed on elevating the voices of young immigrants and marginalised groups.

Another distinctive strand of the programme, Open Water, Open Minds, will explore eco-therapy through open water swimming. Thirty swimmers from Na Gleannta will collaborate with a group from Dunmurry, Belfast, known for their year-round swimming community. Together, they will share personal stories and take part in exchange visits, using the healing power of water to foster connection and cross-border understanding.

Supported by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and funded through Donegal County Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan and Customer Service Excellence Ireland (CSEI), based in the West Donegal Gaeltacht,  the €80,000 initiative will run from October 2025 to September 2026.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the wider Glenties Municipal District and Customer Service Excellence Ireland. We are proud to be part of this initiative,” Sally Rodgers, Project Co-Ordinator, CSEI, said. 

Cllr Donal 'Mandy' Kelly, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, added, “This cross-community and cross-border programme positions storytelling not only as a bridge across cultural divides, but as a driver of peacebuilding and community renewal. This innovative programme is rooted in the belief that telling and listening to stories lies at the heart of lasting peace and reconciliation.”

In total, the programme will engage over 115 participants from both sides of the border, promoting mutual understanding, healing, and community-building through creative expression, cultural exchange, and shared experiences.

This initiative not only strengthens cross-community and cross-border relationships — it also lays the foundation for a shared, inclusive future for Donegal, one where every voice is valued, and every story has the power to connect.