Happy New Year From HADA

HADA would like to wish all of our followers a happy and healthy 2025. As we embark on another jam-packed year, our Chairperson, Aisling Keogh, reflects on the projects that HADA worked on in 2024.

“When I began thinking about what HADA has achieved in 2024, for some inexplicable reason, I thought it had been quieter than any time since we reformed in 2021. And then I checked the records and had to wonder what I was thinking!

The year began with a couple of fundraisers that are very necessary for the work we do, followed by public meetings, a spring clean with Headford Tidy Towns, an award for our Headford Online project developed through the recent Smart Villages initiative, and an event for Cruinniú na nÓg. And that just took us up to June!

Headford and District Association is a group of about fifteen volunteers who have come together with the aim of protecting and improving conditions and amenities for the benefit of the area. In addition, we also facilitate and fund the town’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Christmas Lights display, and maintain close contact with Galway County Council, Galway Rural Development, and other sources of potential funding to help us advance local projects. We also maintain close links with the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark Project and are very supportive of their efforts to have the region fully recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Our small voluntary group provides operational support to Headford Tidy Towns, Headford Community Theatre, and Headfest Community Festival, as well as planning and running the Something In The Water Community Arts Festival, which is now entering its third year.

In 2024, we published a report on our research findings, ‘Travel and Mobility in Headford and Environs,’ and are continuing to use this to advocate for improved infrastructure and better transport services for the town to help address traffic congestion on the N84. One other project involves seeking a suitable space for a youth café – so if you hear of anything, let us know!

I think it’s safe to say, there’s a lot done, with more to do! And we hope that in 2025, we can continue to work effectively to create a better Headford for everyone!

With thanks for your support.

Aisling Keogh,

Chairperson. ”