On the evening of Thursday, 22 May, members of Dublin City Public Participation Network (PPN) gathered in the elegant Oak Room of the Mansion House for our Spring Plenary – an evening filled with connection, collaboration and community spirit.
From the moment the doors opened, the energy was high. Members greeted one another warmly, took their seats, and reached for the paper bags on the tables—goody bags containing a PPN notebook, pen, and a box of chocolates. It was a small gesture of appreciation for our members’ continued dedication to civic engagement.
The PPN Coordinator, Ruth Powell, officially opened the evening with a warm welcome and a note of thanks to everyone for giving up their time to be part of the evening’s discussions. She outlined the programme and encouraged attendees to share highlights from the evening on social media using hashtags like #publicparticipationnetworks, #dublincityinclusion25, and #dubppn25. A quick reminder to visit Gráinne at the back of the room from BHP Insurance added a practical touch, ensuring members could ask questions about community group insurance cover—a topic that often crops up at PPN gatherings.
A Brief Update from the Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) mentor, Gerard Meany (Dublin City and Fingal)
The evening’s first speaker, Gerard Meaney, who is a Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) mentor for Dublin City and Fingal, gave a short update and encouraged PPN member groups to sign up to the growing SEC community. Gerard’s message was clear: collaboration between networks strengthens the wider social economy in Dublin. His call was received with interest, and several members made a note to follow up. PPN member groups can read more and register for this here.
Kelley Bermingham’s Secretariat Address: Strengthening Our Structures
Kelley Bermingham, a longstanding member of the Secretariat and of the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), then delivered an engaging and heartfelt update on the work of the PPN since the last plenary in November 2024.
“It’s always a pleasure to be here, especially in such a historic venue,” she began. “The Mansion House has seen many important decisions in its time, and tonight, it sees a room full of citizens committed to shaping Dublin’s future.”
Kelley reminded attendees of the three core goals of the PPN:
- To share information
- To build capacity through training
- To support member groups in engaging with local authority decision making.
She highlighted that all 20 seats allocated to PPN members across Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) and the LCDC are currently filled. Kelley gave a special welcome to Susan Whelan, the newest representative on the Finance SPC, who joins Siobhán Guyatt. Susan was welcomed with a round of applause for her experience and enthusiasm for community development.
One of the major structural changes since November has been the shift from Linkage Groups to newly established Pillar Working Groups, designed to simplify engagement and strengthen connections within each of the PPN’s three pillars:
- Community & Voluntary
- Social Inclusion
- Environment
Kelley explained that each PPN member group belongs to one of these pillars, and each Pillar Working Group is now the key place where representatives can meet their constituents, listen to their concerns, and report back from SPCs and the LCDC. “These are places of mutual support,” Kelley said, “where we can share insights, work collaboratively, and ensure no group feels isolated in their efforts.”
Building Capacity – One Season at a Time
Kelley reflected on the recent success of the Spring Season of Training Workshops, which included sessions on advocacy, communication skills, and understanding how local government works. She thanked attendees for their participation and emphasised the importance of bringing those learnings back to their member groups.
Looking ahead, she encouraged everyone to attend Summer School 2025, which features sessions on social media strategy, artificial intelligence, public policy, and tackling disinformation. These will be available both in person and online, ensuring maximum accessibility.
Strengthening Communications
The Secretariat, Kelley said, has also been hard at work refining membership processes and boosting communication efforts. She invited all members to follow Dublin City PPN on Facebook and LinkedIn and, importantly, to read and share the weekly PPN Bulletin. “It’s one of the most effective ways to stay informed and involved,” she added.
Kelley closed with a message of gratitude:
“Your energy, passion and dedication are what makes this network truly special. We are stronger together, and every voice here matters.”
She offered thanks to her colleagues on the PPN Secretariat, who meet monthly and volunteer their time behind the scenes, as well as to the staff team and the members of the Disability and Migrant/Minority Thematic Groups who have been instrumental in outreach and events.
Pillar Working Group Discussions
With Kelley’s inspiring update complete, attendees were invited to join their pillar members at the Community & Voluntary, Social Inclusion, or Environment tables for facilitated group discussions.
Each group explored the following key questions:
- What brought your organisation to the PPN, and how long have you been involved?
- Which of the PPN committees (housing, planning, traffic, economic development, culture, climate or finance) best aligns with your work?
- What feedback, comment, or question would you like to share with your pillar’s representative?
- Do you read the PPN Bulletin? Do you share it with others in your group?
- Are you planning to attend Summer School next week?
- What would you like to see achieved by the next Plenary in November 2025?
Each table appointed a note-taker, and feedback was handed to Ruth or Siobhán at the end of the session. The room buzzed with ideas, from calls for more inclusive language training to suggestions on how to better amplify the voices of grassroots environmental groups. The conversations sparked enthusiasm—and a few new collaborations were born on the spot or revisited, for example, the Environmental Pillars’ work on a sustainable refreshment policy for PPN events and meetings.
The Close of a Connected Evening
As the evening ended, music played in the background and members lingered to chat, exchange contact details, and admire the surroundings. There was a sense of shared purpose, a reminder that the PPN is not just a structure—it’s a community.
Whether you’re brand new to the network or have been involved for years, the Plenary reaffirmed one thing: Public participation is alive and well in Dublin, and the PPN is here to make sure every community group has a seat at the table.
You can view, download and share the gallery of photos from the evening here.
