Martin
O Donoghue
Ad-Hoc Expert
Generic Skills
B.1. Understanding of integrated and sustainable urban development:
I am strongly committed to the principles of sustainable and inclusive development and have witnessed the benefits these yield to the lives of European citizens, when applied effectively. My core skills involve the art of connecting people and ideas, finding creative ways to introduce new methodologies, removing barriers of understanding through storytelling, stimulating curiosity and participation.
I am an excellent communicator and use my facilitation techniques to create inclusive open spaces where people from different cultures and perspectives can find common ground and build relationships.
In 2012 I set up a sustainability forum in Cork, called ECCOWELL Cork. It is composed of senior management members from the following sectors: Education, Environment, Health, Culture, Community and Commerce. This diverse group was set up to explore new forms of collaborative partnerships and approaches to solve complex challenges in Cork City. In the last eight years, we have helped to influence City Development Policy, champion new partnerships and increase the Health and Wellness index of our city.
Education is recognised as one of the key drivers of a successful sustainable city. I am a steering group member of Cork Lifelong Learning City. Over the past 5 years, I have worked with city council, educational organisations and community training personnel to create new frameworks for lifelong learning called Neighbourhoods of learning.
B.2. Understanding of exchange and learning processes at transnational level:
I have participated on several European level with intercity exchanges with Bordeaux, (Fr), Santander (Es), Espoo (FL), Edinburgh (UK).
I have participated in transnational exchanges in Viana do Castello (Pt) and Klaipeda (Lh) and Udine (It).
I have witnessed the power of shared learning and benefits from the exchange of good practices.
My background in the creative industry and training on collaboration enables me to communicate effectively and bridge gaps in language that non native English speakers might have.
Through my experience with the URBACT Playful Paradigm project, I was able to assimilate the key learnings from the good practice developed in Udine and work to develop customised solutions for use in Cork City.
Similarly, during my involvement in the Leonardo EU BOATS, the power of diverse thinking and multiple perspectives was brought to bear in generating new solutions to common problems faced by the four parties in different countries.
Site visits, formal presentations and informal networking all help create new learnings and deeper understanding of how European cities can help each other face the challenges of this century.
B.3. Proficiency in English:
English is my primary language, I hold both a BSc and MSc from a third level institution, all delivered through English.
I am an excellent communicator in speaking, listening and writing. I regularly deliver training, workshops and presentations in English, and have written and produced a wide range of reports,
In my professional career, I write fundraising proposals and have raised over €2,000,000 in various national awards including from the Arts Council in Ireland and Healthy Ireland.
I have a high degree of proficiency in effective communication with international audiences where English is not their first language.
I have been involved in cultural and experiential learning projects in Mozambique, Shanghai, Spain, Portugal and France.
I use storytelling, data visualisations and play-acting to convey complex topics, in easy to understand formats. I am a skilled listener and posses a high degree of emotional intelligence which enables me to pick up on cultural cues and tailor communication to the audience.
Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:
Summary Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:
My experience of participating, planning and delivering programmatic elements of transnational exchanges enables me to by sympathetic to the learning journey of the participant while also being able to assist in the transmission of key concepts.
With a diverse range of communication and media skills, I have produced a range of engaging media and educational videos to assist knowledge transfer where language comprehension might otherwise be a barrier. I have a range of artistic facilitation techniques to bridge cultural differences and create supportive learning environments, where complex topics can be discussed in a safe an open way, acknowledging and respecting cultural differences.
My work in developing the capacity and engagement of the public in Lifelong learning, through the lens of culture, ensures a participative and inclusive approach.
Thematic expertise:
Theme / Policy:
Arts and Culture
Summary Thematic expertise:
Using strong facilitation skills and developing a diverse network of inter agency partners, I have successfully promoted the Arts and Culture sector as a key driver of social and cultural change in Cork and Europe. In tendering for ULG coordinator of the Playful Paradigm in Cork, these diverse skill sets were valued and under my tenure a proactive and successful committee was created and empowered.
The value of Cork's contribution to the programme was highlighted in the most recent URBACT Transfer Network report.
Creative collaboration is central to my work mode. I have successfully bridged the chasm between industry and culture, arts and education.
I am a passionate supporter of the Arts as a medium to engage the public on societal issues, to create emotional connections and stimulate a desire for action on key sustainability issues. I have collaborated with local, national and International Artists, at all levels of their careers, commission and curating transformational experiences. I co produce Sounds From a Safe Harbour Festival, which was recognised for its influence in challenging audiences and developing new awareness for issues such as Migration (Heartship 2019) and urban sustainability (A City and A Garden 2020).
I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and in the sharing of good practices. I co founded Eccowell Cork in 2012, over the last 9 years I have facilitated interagency seminars on all aspects of sustainability.
Expertise support to local authorities and other stakeholders in designing & delivering integrated and participatory policies
E.1. Knowledge on participatory methods and tools for co-production and implementation of local polices :
In February 2019, as past of the Playful Paradigm programme, I coordinated a play seminar in Cork. Members of community groups, higher education, health, environmental groups, cultural organisations and city council staff were invited to explore an understand Play and how it could benefit Cork.
Using Open Space technology, several concepts were presented and examined. 120 people attended the event and from this a Play Forum was created with 50 organisations signing up.
Following each Playful Paradigm transnational visit, I circulated a newsletter outlining the new learning and ideas gained to keep the forum informed and connected to the project. Bi annual meeting of the Forum were scheduled.
During the first meeting of the PLayforum, the concept of the Playbag was introduced. I facilitated a discussion on the Ludobus concept and the desire to try and develop a similar set of play resources for Cork. Following an ideation workshop a subset of equipment was selected and members of the Platform volunteered to source this from existing sports equipment available. The Library service agreed to consider a trial lending of the pilot bag. An expert in early childhood play suggested developing a module in the benefits of play for early infant learning. This was delivered to the library staff to help enlist their support.
The Library service now operate a play bag loan scheme to communities all around Cork City.
E.2. Knowledge on integrated approach for the design, delivering, monitoring and evaluation of urban strategies/policies:
As part of the Playful Paradigm Transfer plan, Cork selected popup play as a theme to explore and pilot in a public space.
In 2019, I was involved in the creation of a novel pilot entitled Open for Play. Rather than closing streets to cars, the communications were about opening the streets for playful opportunities.
With the assistance of Cork City Council and local elected representatives, we succeeded in temporarily closing a stretch of road adjacent to the river for four successive Sunday afternoons. Local community groups were invited to participate and bring bikes, footballs and outdoor toys.
I helped to programm a series of playful activities, a street chalking facilitator, sports facilitators to offer tug of war ropes, giant jenga etc.
I coordinated a social media campaign to increase awareness of the event and professional photographs from the first event were used to promote the subsequent events. As the road can be accessed from only two points it was easy to record the number of people attending using click counters. Over the four Sundays attended grew by 300%. Countless photos were shared on social media and local councillors were vocally supportive on their platforms.
The success of the pilot demonstrated to Cork City Council that there was stron support for the pilot. In 2020, during the pandemic lockdowns, the decision to pedestrianise the street for six months was taken.
E.3. Awareness of the main policy and funding schemes for sustainable urban development at EU and national level:
I am a committee member of a Sustainability network called Eccowell Cork. This is an open forum where issues related to the sustainable growth of Cork City are debated and devised.
I also work on an interagency group called SDG Cork with Cork University College and Cork Learning City, where best practices and new learnings in this space are presented at local forums.
In February 2020, the first seminar I facilitated and moderated was on SDG19, Partnerships.
During my tenure at Cork Opera House I participated in several seminars exploring how to create Art and Culture events more sustainably.
I am on the mailing lists for several Sustainability forums and during the Pandemic participated in many online webinars.
I am a facilitator with Cork Environmental Forum, an NGO involved in delivering community sustainability training and translating global policy into local actions.
E.4. Ability to understand specific local situations and adapt tools and content to different local realities:
From Local to Transnational.
In April 2020, when the Pandemic was causing lockdowns across Europe, our ULG in Cork decided to explore how Play could be used to alleviate the harsh realities of families confined indoors.
As coordinator, I challenged committee to think creatively, I motivated them when moral was collectively low and nurtured the concept to allow it develop as people transitioned to a virtual workspace.
Playpacks were born, from the start I wanted to ensure they would add value both during the pandemic but also afterwards in situations where people find themselves confined, such as Direct Provision centres in Ireland, or migrant centres.
To enable sharing of the resources with our partner cities, I suggested we create a series of play tutorial videos to explain how the play resources could be used. Using simple narration and step by step visual instructions, it meant non English speakers could also use the resources.
In addition to the physical packs, a PDF with all the play resources was created and shared on the website. letsplaycork.ie. The PDF has ben downloaded more than 8,500 times. Seven videos were commissioned and they have been viewed over 12,000 times.
This work was recognised by URBACT as having had a major beneficial societal impact during the crisis and this projected was presented on during European Week of Regions and Cities Festival in November 2020.
Summary Expertise:
I have engaged in a lifelong pursuit of learning, I have served for 6 years on the committee for Lifelong Learning in Cork. Cork is now a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning and I was part of the submission team that was presented with that award. In 2017 I was awarded the Bertram Windle Award for Lifelong Learning by University College Cork.
I am a passionate supporter of the Arts as a medium to engage the public on societal issues, to create emotional connections and stimulate a desire for action on key sustainability issues. I have collaborated with local, national and International Artists, at all levels of their careers, commission and curating transformational experiences. Since 2015, I have co produced Sounds From a Safe Harbour Festival, which was recognised for its influence in challenging audiences and developing new awareness for issues such as Migration (Heartship 2019) and urban sustainability (A City and A Garden 2020).
I firmly believe in the power of collaboration and in the sharing of good practices. I co founded Eccowell Cork in 2012, over the last 9 years I have facilitated interagency seminars on all aspects of sustainability. I have a broad national and international network of practitioners of sustainable development across the spectrum of learning, arts and culture.
I am Chair of Lets Play Cork, which has been at the forefront of developing transformational methodologies such as Playful Placemaking and defining the charter for Playful Cities.