The Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea made an official visit to the new offices of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership in the Mill, Castletownroche recently. He was greeted on arrival by the Chief Executive of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ms. Valerie Murphy and Chairman of the Board Mr. John Carroll. The Mayor got a guided tour of the new offices in the community developed facility that is The Mill in the picturesque North Cork village of Castletownroche. The Mayor met with members of the board of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership and also the staff who gave the Mayor a briefing on the ongoing work on the North Cork integrated local development company. Avondhu Blackwater Partnerships core responsibilities include the delivery of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Community Services Programme (Community Connect Programme), Rural Social Scheme and TÚS. Commenting on his visit to the offices of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Mayor O’ Shea said “It was a great privilege for me to visit the new offices in Castletownroche. I know first hand from dealing with the staff and the CEO here the work and dedication of all the staff and board members of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership. The range of services and supports that the company provides to communities and businesses throughout North & East Cork needs to be commended. There has always been a good working relationship between Cork County Council and Avondhu Blackwater Partnership and I have no doubt, this will continue into the future”. CEO of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ms. Valerie Murphy said “On behalf of the board and staff of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, I am delighted Mayor O’ Shea made time in his busy schedule to visit our new offices here in The Mill, Castletownroche. John Paul has always been an active participant in all what we do here; promoting our services and support services we have available to our communities. John Paul was also a valued member of our Project Evaluation Team during our last 2007-2014 Leader Programme which delivered over €5m of economic and community supports to businesses and communities across the Avondhu Blackwater Partnership catchment area. I want to wish the Mayor well in his tenure as Mayor of the County of Cork and assure him of the company’s continued support during his year as Mayor”. The main objectives of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership include community animation, project facilitation, project administration, training and community integration within the remit of various funding programmes implemented. A key function of the company is to establish or to support initiatives directed towards sustainable community development. The organisation has been responsible for drawing more than €40 million of programme aid into the Avondhu Blackwater area of operation since it was established.