Sometimes a small community, against the odds, seizes a great notion and unites in a determined attempt to achieve it. It was entirely fitting that the President, Mrs McAleese, should acknowledge such an instance when she visited south Donegal a fortnight ago.
The President officiated at the launch of a purpose-built deepsea angling boat for the Creevy and District Community Development Co-operative. It was yet another milestone in the short history of this local group which has already provided an object lesson in effective community action.
Despite its scenic location on the coastline of Donegal Bay, between Ballyshannon and Rossnowlagh, the Creevy district has been much less well known than its neighbouring resorts. It has a substantial pier, a few fishing boats and a small hotel.
The community suffered a double blow in 1987-88 when, first, a winter storm destroyed the pier, and then three local men were drowned in an offshore boating accident. An action group formed to work for the restoration of the pier - a vital local infrastructural resource - led to the establishment of the community co-op in the mid-1990s.
The aims of the organisation broadened to address the question of controlled development of the district, how to protect its identity and ensure that local ownership was retained. It had been noted by then how outside interests and haphazard holiday home developments were drastically affecting Rossnowlagh.
A key decision taken at that stage was that the core development committee of 12 people should undertake a comprehensive 40-week course in business organisation and feasibility analysis.
Facilitated by FAS and the County Enterprise Board, the group drew up a concise business plan and successfully applied to the International Fund for Ireland for seed funding, which had to be matched locally.
With further support from Leader funds, the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme and the Operational Programme for Tourism, work commenced on a number of projects.
The co-op, after examining the area's tourism potential, had decided to focus on establishing a centre of excellence for sea angling.
"We wanted quality, not quantity. We didn't seek the day trippers," said the co-op manager, Mrs Molly Reynolds. The group devised an innovative approach to providing visitor accommodation.
The owners of several derelict cottages were contacted and offered an attractive deal. The coop would lease the properties for 25 years, reconstruct them completely, and at the end of that period the cottages would revert to the original owners.
Three self-catering cottages have now been completed in traditional style, with associated storage and drying facilities for anglers. One is specifically designed to accommodate disabled persons.
The co-op benefits from the rent achieved for the properties, revenue which goes towards other development objectives such as the provision of additional berthing facilities, a boathouse, sports field and, eventually, a headquarters for the coop.
The taxation implications of these leasing arrangements with property-owners were complex and had to be researched and resolved. "That held us back for two years," Mrs Reynolds said.
The co-op, with the help of a FAS scheme and the co-operation of local farmers, has also laid out a three-mile shore walk on either side of Creevy pier to open up the spectacular cliff scenery to locals and visitors alike.
The co-op was started with 30 shareholders investing £350 per share. That number has risen to 60.
The projects have created employment locally, in terms of maintenance of the cottages and crewing the boat. Local catering services are planned to meet the demand arising from the influx of keen anglers.
The impressive achievements of Creevy Co-op have earned it a number of significant accolades, including the 1998 FAS Regional Award for Innovation and Enterprise.
At the launch of the 33ft angling vessel, the Duanai Mara, Mrs McAleese said this initiative symbolised Creevy's collective ownership of its own future. "You have taken charge of your own lives, your own destiny, and you deserve great credit for doing so," she said..