Irish Rural Link

Irish Rural Link, formed in 1991, is a national network of organisations and individuals campaigning for sustainable rural development in Ireland and Europe. Registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Irish Rural Link brings together over 600 community groups with a combined membership of 25,000 people. 

The mission of the organisation is to influence, inform on local, national and European development policies and make them work for rural communities. In addition, the not-for-profit organisation also works to counteract the effects of marginalisation, rural poverty, exclusion and isolation and provide effective support to rural communities in implementing strategic programmes to foster development. Irish Rural Link aims to support viable communities in rural Ireland, by providing people with meaningful work, adequate income and social services, and putting in place the infrastructures needed for sustainable development.

Irish Rural Link is run by a small and dedicated core of professional staff members and is involved in the implementation and coordination of EU-funded projects on upskilling citizens with low digital skills, such as the DELSA Training Programme.