Rural Ireland needs jobs, investment and youth to be the fulcrum of any plan if it is to thrive in the future, according to Pat Spillane who was speaking at the recent Macra na Feirme Croke Park Challenge Cup.

He said: ‘‘My role is to go out and listen to people and act as a link between those (rural) people and the Government.’’

The Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in January and its aim is to increase opportunities for employment in rural Ireland and improve access to public services and social networks.

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Senator John O’Mahony said: ‘‘There are challenges facing the country and it’s the GAA and organisations like Macra na Feirme that can do something about that. Rolling out equal opportunities around the country is a challenge, but if we continue on the path we’re on, you’d have a situation where the capital city is choked with development and some parts of rural Ireland would be devoid of it.

‘‘I think it’s a challenge for everybody working together, including Macra, the Government and various stakeholders to create a situation where every area of the country is growing. I think farming, Macra and the IFA have a big role in that.’’

Spillane concluded: ‘‘Despite what many think, rural Ireland isn’t dead; it’s still full of vibrant communities, but they need guidance. There are about 2.5m people living outside the five major cities... and the future of rural Ireland must come from the bottom up. It must be community-led. The days of having a national school or post office every couple of miles are gone. We have to come together now to create the vision we want for rural Ireland.’’