Leitrim voices at home and abroad invited to shape the county’s future

Leitrim County Council is inviting people to have their say on Leitrim’s future as work begins on a new Diaspora Strategy for 2026 to 2030.

Earlier this year, the Council hosted the Leitrim Gathering, a weekend featuring more than 50 community-led events across the county. 

The celebration brought together returned emigrants, visitors who travelled from abroad to reconnect with Leitrim, and people who have traced their family roots back to the county. The weekend proved a great success, highlighting pride, connections and heritage in Leitrim.

The previous Leitrim Diaspora Strategy, covering the period 2019 to 2025, was built around four thematic pillars, each supporting the achievement of five key aims. 

The pillars focused on economic and job creation, arts, heritage and culture, tourism and genealogy, and sport. 

READ NEXT: Meeting planned between councillors and Uisce Éireann as water issues persist in Leitrim

The aims of the strategy were to tell Leitrim’s story in a way that fosters pride, strengthens identity and enhances quality of life for its people worldwide; to build strong, reciprocal connections with the Leitrim Diaspora, enabling mutual support between communities and those abroad; to recognise and meaningfully involve the Diaspora, ensuring they feel genuinely welcomed and valued when engaging with Leitrim; to promote effective collaboration and coordination among those working with the Diaspora; and to actively contribute to national Irish Diaspora initiatives, such as Global Irish and the Irish Abroad Unit, while proudly representing Leitrim’s unique role within them.

Leitrim residents, former residents now living elsewhere, and those with ancestral roots in the county are all encouraged to take part in a short Council survey to help shape the next Diaspora Strategy. 

This process aims to create a strategy that reflects the voices, needs and aspirations of Leitrim’s global community. 

A series of public consultation meetings have also taken place in Ballinamore, Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, as well as one held online.

READ NEXT: Poacher term as Leitrim boss extended for two years as search on for new U20 boss

The Council has emphasised that feedback will help build stronger ties, celebrate shared identity and ensure the new strategy supports meaningful engagement with the Diaspora in the years ahead.

The survey can be found here.