FORUM was one of the Model Action Projects of the European Union Third Poverty Programme, 1989 – 1994, and then received core funding under the Community Development Programme and from a number of state agencies.  It is a rural development partnership based in Connemara, with the objective of putting in place long-term strategies and structures to tackle the problem of rural decline and peripherality.   FORUM works with the following target groups: older people, families, young people, community groups, businesses, people with a disability and under and unemployed. 

The main aim of FORUM is to promote, assist and engage in; a. Social Development, b. Enterprise development to facilitate rural regeneration and c. Community Development, designed to benefit and promote the welfare of local communities or to deal with the causes and consequences of social and economic disadvantage or poverty. 

The geographical area covered by FORUM Connemara Ltd. under the LEADER, LDSIP and other programmes will include North and West Connemara, Oughterard and surrounding areas. 

From January 2009, FORUM Connemara Limited is administering the following programmes:-