Local Lens

Meath County Council
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Government
  • Updated Weekly

Local Lens is brought to you by Meath County Council. Delivering over 1,000 services to more than 220,000 people, it is one of the busiest local authorities in the country. On Local Lens we meet the people involved in delivering those services, find out what drives them and ask what plans there are for the future. There are also contributions from residents of Meath who have accessed services. Presented by Elaine Keogh, the executive producer/editor is Ailish Shaw. Contact: locallens@meathcoco.ie

  1. 2h ago

    Community Safety in Action: Working Together to Address Domestic Abuse in Meath

    The work of Meath’s Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) is explored with a particular focus on domestic violence.    Based in the headquarters of Meath County Council, Meath LCSP co-ordinator Gemma Ryan explains what it does, its priorities and why it is involved in an inter-agency conference on domestic violence being held in Navan this month. Joining the discussion is Frances Haworth, CEO Willow Domestic Abuse Services and Claudia Hegarty, Project Leader, Zero Tolerance Meath, a project by Willow.   The theme of collaboration continues including how everyone in the community can play a role in combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT - Replacing joint policing committees with local community safety partnerships.- Defining the key goals of the local safety plan.- Examining the wide scope of Willow domestic abuse services.- Understanding the economic and social costs of gender violence.- Mobilising local residents through the zero tolerance project. QUOTES - No single agency can address complex social issues. - Gemma Ryan - The language we use matters because it reflects and reinforces our own values or beliefs and social norms. - Claudia Hegarty - We have to recognise it as a whole of community, whole of society problem, and then work together to ensure victims feel safe in coming forward for help and are met with that coordinated response. - Frances Haworth MORE INFORMATION Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now. Visit our website;  meath.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io KEYWORDS #CommunitySafetyDomesticAbuse #LocalCommunitySafetyPartnership #ZeroToleranceMeath #WillowDomesticAbuseServices

    Community Safety in Action: Working Together to Address Domestic Abuse in Meath

  2. Sep 8

    Stepping Forward: Participation, Representation and Local Democracy

    Meath County Council’s longest serving councillor, Brian Fitzgerald, and it’s first black female councillor, Yemi Adenuga, join gender and politics researcher Claire McGing to look at participation and representation in local government. Claire wrote, ‘Women Beyond the Dail: Access, Representation & Retention in Irish Local Government’ with Pauline Cullen,  Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University. The episode discusses how Meath County Council has changed since the 1980s, the obstacles to increasing participation by women in local politics, the different experiences women can face as candidates and after election, and what the contributors think would encourage more women to get involved in local democracy. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Forty years of local political evolution in Meath.The role of women in challenging political status quo.Why gender quotas are controversial yet potentially effective tools.Intersectional barriers for migrant and diverse candidates.Strategies to encourage participation through community level action. QUOTES I think they are probably, from a family perspective, I think women are bringing forward issues that maybe men would not do, and I think that is very important. - Brian FitzgeraldIt is an attempt to silence women. It is a form of backlash to their participation in public life, and it is a real threat to democracy. - Claire McGingRepresentation is powerful by every standard. When people see that somebody who looks like them is there, issues that ordinarily would not have been raised will be raised for people. - Yemi Adenuga KEYWORDS  #DiversityInLocalGovernment#WomenInIrishPolitics#LocalDemocracyParticipation#MigrantPoliticalRepresentation

    Stepping Forward: Participation, Representation and Local Democracy

  3. Jul 7

    The EU Presidency and what it means for County Meath

    July sees the start of Ireland’s six month term holding the Presidency of the European Union.  In advance of a particularly busy time for her Department, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meath TD Helen McEntee, recorded a special interview about the EU Presidency with Local Lens. It touches on a wide range of topics including her priorities, the forthcoming EU Budget, Ukraine, tariffs and trade deals, and how she would like the people of Meath to remember the term. As part of the Presidency County Meath has been paired with Italy so this episode also welcomed the Italian Ambassador to Ireland Nicola Faganello and, outlining what Meath County Council is doing and how the EU Presidency will not impact on budgets or services, is  Elaine Daly, Senior Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs and Governance at Meath County Council. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Ireland's leadership role within the EU CouncilStrategic focus on European competitivenessManaging agri-food and trade relationshipsStrengthening ties between Meath and ItalyUpcoming community events and school initiatives QUOTES Every six months one of the 27 member states essentially takes over as the chair of the council. - Helen McEntee The EU presidency offers huge opportunities for Ireland but also for County Meath. - Elaine Daly The presidency of the EU Council is an important opportunity to help shape the European agenda. - Nicola Faganello KEYWORDS #IrelandEUPresidency#MeathCountyCouncil#Twinning #Diplomacy#EUAffairs#LocalLens

    The EU Presidency and what it means for County Meath

  4. Jun 2

    Celebrating the Boyne Valley

    Celebrating the Boyne Valley in the context of tourism, heritage and the related drivers of economic growth and jobs in county Meath, are discussed in this month’s episode. With topics ranging from Newgrange to Farmaphobia, from Púca to post-pandemic outdoor activities, this episode is full of information and conversation about the rich heritage and tourism offerings in the county. Joining the discussion are Emma Gill, Tourism officer for Meath County Council,  Majella Farrell, Head of Economic & Business Development, Causey Farm owner Deirdre Murtagh and there is a collection of voices of visitors from many countries who had gathered in Trim to enjoy the Púca procession. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Experiential destination goal for Boyne Valley.Encouraging visitors to stay longer in Meath.Causey Farm offers interactive visitor experiences.Púca Festival roots in Halloween's birthplace.Future focus: business, coastal, equine tourism QUOTES Our number one aim is for the Boyne Valley to be one of the top experiential destinations in the world. - Emma Gill  They say, it's the welcome we got here that has really stood out to us. - Deirdre Murtagh I suppose tourism is a huge economic driver for me. That's one of our most important business sectors, really, in Meath. So it's a huge focus for us - Majella Farrell KEYWORDS #BoyneAdventure #MeathTourism #ExperientialTravel #HalloweenBirthplace #LocalEconomyGrowth

    Celebrating the Boyne Valley

  5. May 5

    The Youth Who Help Share Meath: Voices of the Future

    The future of Meath’s civil society hinges on the participation and democratic investment of its younger citizens. The engine of our society—Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012—has often struggled to make the crucial connection between voting and the decisions that directly impact their lives.  With almost 70% of unregistered voters under the age of 34, there is a significant push to ensure every eligible young voice is heard. This episode dives into the national perspective on engaging with this vital demographic, detailing efforts to modernize the electoral register and combat misinformation.  We explore how digital platforms like TikTok are being used to reach future voters and highlight the local work happening to nurture young democratic interest.Joining host Elaine Keogh are Art O’Leary, the Chief Executive at the Electoral Commission, and the Meath County Council register of electors team members Sheila Sheridan and Sharon McElroy, who detail how young people are actively shaping their county. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Engaging Gen Z and the voting challengeDigital engagement and pre-registration pushCombating electoral misinformation globallyMeath register team's role and data cleansingComhairle na nÓg's right to switch off QUOTES We want everybody who's eligible to vote to be on the electoral register. - Art O'Leary People need to inform the registration authority about these changes... each person is responsible to ensure that they're registered to vote and that their information is up to date. - Sheila Sheridan If we write to you inviting you to verify your registration details, please don't ignore this request, as you risk being removed from the register… - Sharon McElroy KEYWORDS #YouthEngagement #VotingRights #ElectoralIntegrity #MeathDemocracy #RegisterCheck MORE INFORMATION Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made.  We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives.  Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now. Visit our website;  meath.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

    The Youth Who Help Share Meath: Voices of the Future

  6. Apr 7

    Living Your Best and Longest Life. Age Friendly Ireland and the role of Meath County Council.

    How can we live our best and longest life?  It is a question that we all ponder as we age. This episode looks at what is happening in county Meath, and nationally, to help us to ‘age in place’ and as recommended by the World Health Organisation. Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer, Age Friendly Ireland which is a shared service across the 31 local authorities in Ireland and hosted nationally by Meath County Council, talks about her work and why the voices of older people are so important. We also hear how Meath County Council is providing for older residents and what the council is doing to contribute to, and enable, a decent quality of life for our older people.  Also in studio are Valerie McHugh Age Friendly Meath Programme Manager and Brian Hora, Senior Executive Officer, in the Community Dept with Meath County Council. And we hear from Darren Kelly, Branch Manager, Tirlán, Athboy about what it has done to be age friendly, and an older person visits the store and shares her thoughts on it. The Meath County Council Community Department can be contacted by emailing community@meathcoco.ie.

    Living Your Best and Longest Life. Age Friendly Ireland and the role of Meath County Council.

  7. Mar 3

    Inside Thrive: Enterprise, Food & MeathMade – Attracting New Investment and Supporting Local Business in the Royal County

    As Local Enterprise Week approaches, this episode of Local Lens takes you inside Thrive – Meath County Council’s new Centre of Business Excellence and the county’s most ambitious step yet in delivering seamless, strategic support to businesses of all sizes. Located beside Buvinda House, Thrive brings every major business support team under one roof. From Economic Development and the Local Enterprise Office to Climate Action, Broadband, Tourism Development and the Centre for Food Culture, it is designed to be — in the words of Director of Economic Development Dara McGowan — “not just a one‑stop shop, but a first and only stop shop for business supports in Meath.” In this episode, host Elaine Keogh explores how Thrive is already strengthening Meath’s enterprise landscape, attracting new investment, and providing practical, responsive support to established businesses. In This Episode A tour through Thrive and what it means for enterprise in MeathHow Boyne Valley Flavours elevates Meath’s food producers and culinary heritageWhy peer networks matter — and how collaboration makes businesses stronger The story behind the MeathMade creative cluster and its growing impactHow Thrive supports everything from FDI to micro‑enterprises through centralised expertise and sector‑specific networks Featuring Dara McGowan, Director of Economic Development, Meath County CouncilRebecca Meade, Food Development Officer, Boyne Valley FlavoursÁine Farrelly, Urbo MilkCaoimhe Delany, Local Enterprise Office MeathAnita Reynolds, Designer and Chairperson of MeathMade Voices From the Opening of Thrive This episode also includes highlights from the official opening of Thrive, featuring remarks from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment and reactions from Meath‑based businesses benefiting from this new centre. Why Listen If you’re a business owner, creative, food producer, investor or simply curious about how Meath is shaping its economic future, this episode offers practical insights, real stories, and a behind‑the‑scenes look at the county’s newest engine for growth. Thrive is where services meet strategy — and where enterprise in Meath is being future‑proofed.

  8. Feb 3

    Emergency Ready: Meath Response

    Being emergency-ready is a priority for Meath County Council. In this episode, listeners are encouraged to sign up to MapAlerter.ie to receive free text alerts from the local authority so they too can prepare for adverse weather, possible power outages and other unusual events. Joining the discussion on being emergency-ready are the Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, the Chief Fire Officer, Sheila Broderick, and the Civil Defence Officer, Shane Quinn.  We hear about their respective roles, their responsibilities, and how they work together, and they share important advice so listeners can be as prepared as possible for emergencies. Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire & Emergency Management, outlines the national perspective, including how they work with local authorities during emergencies. The role of members in the community is also emphasised and a Civil Defence volunteer talks about how he changed career, and met his future wife, as a result of joining the organisation. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT National emergency preparedness framework defined.Climate adaptation for local authority response.Council's speedy, local-knowledge crisis management.Community response centres support vulnerable people.Civil Defence's role and volunteer career change. QUOTES "The action happens through the local authorities. They lead at a local level." - Keith Leonard "We are the principal response agency for severe weather across the country." - Kieran Kehoe "If you do have a monitored alarm to make sure that you provide a number that you could be contacted on..." - Sheila Broderick "One of the things that that happens in an event, is that we set up what we call a severe weather assessment team initially, but then when we get into that major emergency mode or there's a severe event, we have a crisis management team." - Kieran Kehoe "We would advise people to keep some ascent to keep some essentials in the home, really about two to three days supply, just drinking water." - Sheila Broderick MORE INFORMATION Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now. Visit our website; meath.ie This podcast was produced by dustpod.io KEYWORDS #EmergencyPreparedness #MeathCountyCouncil #CivilDefence #FireSafety #ClimateAdaptation

    Emergency Ready: Meath Response
See All (16)

Trailer

About

Local Lens is brought to you by Meath County Council. Delivering over 1,000 services to more than 220,000 people, it is one of the busiest local authorities in the country. On Local Lens we meet the people involved in delivering those services, find out what drives them and ask what plans there are for the future. There are also contributions from residents of Meath who have accessed services. Presented by Elaine Keogh, the executive producer/editor is Ailish Shaw. Contact: locallens@meathcoco.ie

Information

  • Creator
    Meath County Council
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Meath County Council
  • Show Website
    Local Lens

You Might Also Like