Our Partners
The Market Development Association (MDA), a community development group, was established in 1995 to promote the well-being of all residents living in the Market area of South Belfast and it aims to develop the community into one where people want to live, work and socialise. The MDA seeks to advocate on behalf of the Market community on socio-economic issues which impact on the residents, by adopting a community development approach. The MDA engages with statutory agencies, government departments, political representatives, the private sector and other stakeholders in order to advance the development of the Market area into a vibrant and sustainable inner city working class community.
The MDA aims to empower the local community through the promotion of active citizenship within the community and in the city of Belfast. MDA strives for equality, and for promoting a rights based approach when dealing with the many socio-economic issues that impact on the Market community. The organisation works on the following core objectives:
Market Development Association team
FionntÁn Hargey
DIRECTOR
Fionntán Hargey is the Director of Market Development Association and has been involved in a number of current and past strategic regeneration initiatives and campaigns in the area, including “Market Tunnels Project”, “We Must Dissent: A Framework for Community Renewal”, “Sunshine not Skyscrapers” and “Rebuilding the Local Economy”.
He is a Director of Cromac Regeneration Initiative since 2018 and is co-author of Creativity and Resistance in a Hostile World (Manchester University Press, 2020), on the subject of “Creatively connecting civil rights: co-creation, theatre and collaboration for social transformation in Belfast”. Fionntán was instrumental in the inception and development of the Community Engagement Charter at Queen’s University.
CiarÁn Hargey
EDUCATION AND WORK LEAD
Ciarán Hargey is Education and Work Lead in Market Development Association. He had been a volunteering member on the MDA committee for 10 years before joining the staff team in December 2019. He spent the first 5 years setting up & Coordinating the health working group which created a health strategy now being rolled out with great success. Ciarán was also involved with organising community festivals like the South & East Féile, Féile na haBhann (festival of the River), helped with the Market Education Action Group and was staff member for the Inner South Neighbourhood Partnership Board. He has now moved from that position to take on the a role as Education & Work Lead within the MDA. He will be working closely with QCAP over the next 4 years too help create both an Education strategy and a Work strategy for the district. Ciarán assisted with the set up of the MDA QCAP partnership during its first, hugely successful, 4 year phase and will be working to see it thrive and deliver even better outcomes over the next 4 years.
He was a founding member of a local football club and is now assisting with rebuilding of the local GAA club's youth structures.
PATRICK MCNALLY
HEALTH COORDINATOR
Patrick McNally is the Health Coordinator at the Market Development Association, dedicated to making health and wellbeing support accessible to all community members.
With 15 years' experience as a professional footballer, Patrick brings firsthand understanding of the vital connection between physical and mental health. Patrick developed his community health expertise during years at Queens Communities and Place, where he helped develop the Market health strategy as an active member of the Health Action Group - work he now proudly continues to implement in his current role.
A familiar face in the Market community, Patrick has volunteered with MDA for several years before taking on his coordinator position. This grassroots experience informs his approach: listening to local needs, developing practical solutions, and creating measurable improvements in community health.
Patrick's goal is to build a healthier Market by identifying health gaps, listening to locals, and along with the Health Action Group team delivering initiatives that make a real change in our people’s lives.
Lorraine McGinn
FINANCE OFFICER
Lorraine McGinn is the Finance Officer in Market Development Association.
Siobhán McDonnell
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Siobhán McDonnell is the Community Development Officer in the MDA focusing on the education strand of the MDA’s action plan as well as overseeing community festivals, engaging with residents and working with staff and committee to tackle community issues.
Siobhán was previously an MDA committee member, holding the position of treasurer, and recently went on to graduate from Queen’s University with a degree in Accountancy, aiming to focus it on the upcoming capital projects in the area.