Skip to main content

Connected Communities, Global Relationships

Diaspora Engagement in the West and Northwest of Ireland

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has published  Connected Communities, Global Relationships a new report on research carried out by our Policy team on diaspora engagement in the West and Northwest of Ireland. Emigration has been one of the defining forces in the history of the West and Northwest of Ireland and that experience has shaped our society, our economy and our sense of identity.

Through its work as a regional development agency, the WDC  has aways had a strong sense of the scale and value of the enduring and mutually beneficial relationships that continue to link people and communities in the West and Northwest with people in other parts of Ireland and across Britain, North America, Australia and many other parts of the world.

The research gives us a much clearer picture of who is doing the connecting, about the nature and geography of these relationships and about the success stories and challenges.  It also gives us a much clearer idea of the kind of supports or initiatives which could enable that work to become more coordinated, effective and sustainable.

Connected Communities, Global Relationships

Download Full Report

Download Executive Summary

Case Studies

Central to the Report are nine case studies of diaspora engagement which, taken together, provide rich insights into how diaspora engagement is happening on the ground across a wide range of groups and organisations.

Download individual case studies below.

Public Webinar

This webinar explores the findings of Connected Communities, Global Relationships, a new Western Development Commission report on diaspora engagement across the West and North West of Ireland.

The webinar features a presentation by Dr Aisling Moroney, who led the research project, along with contributions from Caroilin Callery of the National & Global Irish Famine Way, Gavin Boyle of the Mary from Dungloe International Arts Festival, and Rónán Mac Con Iomaire of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The event was opened and concluded by Western Development Commission  CEO Allan Mulrooney and was hosted by Liam Horan from the WDC Connected Hubs team.