COMMUNITY groups and agencies working for rural areas met the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Michelle Gildernew, at the recent AGM and conference of the Rural Community Network (RCN).

This year the event took place in Omagh and was hosted by Omagh Forum for Rural Associations. Over 140 guests were in attendance throughout the day and enjoyed the speakers at the conference and the challenges posed during the site visits around rural Omagh.

After the business of the AGM delegates were addressed by the chair of the Assembly committee for Agriculture & Rural Development, Dr William McCrea, who acknowledged the positive contribution played by community groups to rural life in the North. Participants from all parts of the North were welcomed to the Conference by Mary T Conway, Co-ordinator of Omagh Forum, who pointed out the specific challenges facing rural communities West of the Bann no less than lower incomes, loss of health services and threats to other vital services.

Delegates were bussed to community venues where they saw good practice in action.

Thanks to Mid Ulster Community and Arts Trust, Eskra Community Association, Drumquin Development Association and Gillygooley Youth and Community Development Association for facilitating this.

Guest speaker in the evening was the Minister who spoke warmly of the farming and rural community, being born and bred there herself. She urged groups to participate in the LAGs to be developed by clusters of three councils for the Rural Development Programme and in similar structures for Peace III.

Speaking on behalf of Rural Community Network, the conference organisers, Michael Hughes, Chief Executive Officer said, "Our task in the rural community sector is to demonstrate to elected representatives and statutory agencies how we can assist them in ensuring rural is taken seriously and what they require from us to allow this to happen. It is clear from the conference that rural communities are ready and able to help".

Omagh Forum for Rural Associations is the rural support network (RSN) for Omagh, part of the Rural Community Development Networking Infrastructure comprised of Rural Community Network and twelve RSN's across N Ireland. This infrastructure is funded by DARD from the E U Building Sustainability Programme. Rural groups and individuals are welcome to contact the Forum in Omagh Community House, 82 251559