On 24 September, Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis hosted the public launch of County Clare’s European Volunteering Capital 2027 programme.
The evening brought together the people planning the year, the organisations already supporting volunteering across the county and the volunteers whose work gives the title its substance. More than 450 people attended, with over 40 voluntary and community organisations represented at the venue.
Across two panel discussions, a presentation of the 2027 programme and a public Have Your Say session, the event set out both the plans for Clare’s European Volunteering Capital year and the opportunities already opening in the months ahead.
By the end of the evening, clare2027.ie was live, applications for the Volunteer Ambassador Programme were open and the first outline of the 2027 calendar had been presented.
The programme behind the title
Hosted by Clare FM’s Alan Morrissey, the formal programme opened with a panel discussion featuring Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Joe Killeen, Clare County Council Chief Executive Gordon Daly, Clare Volunteer Centre Manager Sharon Meaney and Stuart Garland of Volunteer Ireland.
The discussion focused on Clare’s European Volunteering Capital title, the work behind it and the role of the organisations involved in delivering Clare 2027.
A second panel put volunteers at the centre of the conversation. James Organ, Shayla Hilpert, Éabha Ashmore and Terence Mangan spoke about their own experiences of volunteering, bringing a different perspective to a year that will ultimately depend on people giving their time across communities throughout the county.
Later in the evening, Sharon Meaney and Brendan Boyce, Integration Support Coordinator with Clare County Council, presented key elements of the 2027 programme and announced the Volunteer Ambassador Programme.
Jake Ryan, Principal Officer for Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, also spoke about Clare 2027 in the context of Ireland’s National Volunteering Strategy.
At stands around the room, organisations from across the county presented their work, giving visitors an opportunity to speak directly with groups working in community development, sport, youth services, social support, emergency response and other areas of volunteering.
Ennis Brass Band, Harmony Bros and Music Generation Clare provided some of the evening’s liveliest moments, bringing live music into the programme.
Have Your Say
The launch included a dedicated Have Your Say session, designed to gather views from the people attending rather than simply present the year ahead to them.
At facilitated tables, attendees considered questions around volunteer recognition and inclusion, what success should look like for Clare in 2027, and the types of activities people would like to see included during the year.
Speaking to Clare FM ahead of the event, Sharon Meaney explained that the intention was not to arrive on 24 September with every detail already decided and simply announce: “This is the programme.”
The approach builds on the consultation that helped shape Clare’s successful bid, including focus groups involving more than 100 people across the county. Feedback gathered at the launch will now form part of the continuing development of the 2027 programme.
What launched on 24 September
Several practical elements of Clare 2027 went live during the evening.
The new clare2027.ie website was formally launched as the central online home for the programme, bringing together events, projects, opportunities and updates relating to Clare’s European Volunteering Capital year.
The site also includes the Volunteer Map, which will build a picture of volunteering activity across County Clare as participating organisations and event organisers add information about the volunteers involved in their work.
Over the course of 2027, the map will provide a wider view of where volunteering is taking place and the range of activities it supports.
The Volunteer Ambassador Programme also opened on the night.
Four active volunteers from County Clare will be selected to travel to Gdańsk, Poland, in February 2027 for a European knowledge exchange. Gdańsk held the European Volunteering Capital title in 2022, and the visit will give the Clare volunteers an opportunity to learn from its experience of volunteering, community development and the longer-term legacy of the title.
Applications are open until 19 November and can be submitted in written, video, audio or visual form.
Before the formal opening
Clare will formally open its year as European Volunteering Capital at glór in Ennis on 31 January 2027, but activity is already under way.
Alongside the Volunteer Ambassador Programme and clare2027.ie, research has begun into the impact of volunteering across County Clare and the effect of holding the European Volunteering Capital title.
Training and support for organisations involving volunteers are also being developed, together with volunteer roles linked to events and activities throughout 2027.
A 2027 calendar already taking shape
The programme presented in Ennis included events at local, national and European level.
Volunteer Ireland’s National Volunteer Management Conference will take place at glór on 27 April, followed on 28 and 29 April by the Centre for European Volunteering Spring Volunteering Congress.
Together, the events will bring volunteer managers, sector organisations and European partners to Ennis for three consecutive days of discussion, learning and exchange.
Plans for the year also include a Volunteer Festival weekend, volunteer recognition initiatives, storytelling projects, research activity and events involving national organisations in County Clare.
From launch to delivery
The next major date is 31 January 2027, when County Clare formally begins its year as European Volunteering Capital at glór in Ennis.
Further information, current opportunities and upcoming events are available at clare2027.ie.
