SIX rural areas of Co Tyrone have joined forces to lobby for greater public investment in their communities.
The Munterloney campaign is a joint funding call for six community projects in Carrickmore, Gortin, Greencastle, Kildress, Loughmacrory and Pomeroy.
It is largely being driven by local GAA clubs and aims to "make a collaborative strategic case to entice government into action to support an unacceptably neglected area".
Those behind the campaign will take their case directly to Stormont with a launch event to be held in the Long Gallery in Parliament Buildings on Tuesday.
Mark Conway, who is involved in the campaign, said their aim is "simply to get a 'government investment spotlight' on what's been largely a forgotten part of NI".
"We appreciate resources are always limited but Munterloney has always been near the bottom of the investment pecking order and that's not acceptable," he said.
"Government keeps telling us to work in partnership and to be strategic. So we've taken up that challenge of theirs."
The projects involved in the campaign include a new community 'hub for health' to replace the village hall in Gortin; a new sports facility for Carrickmore Éire Óg hurling club; and a sporting and community facility in Greencastle.
The group also want to invest in a community hub in the grounds of Kildress GAA club; an upgrade of the pitch and changing rooms at Loughmacrory GAA club; and a community hub at Pomeroy GAA club.
The Munterloney group says the projects are based on "substantive consultations and research" and the project promoters "have very significant track records in project development and delivery".
Mr Conway, who is from Kildress and is chair of Tyrone GAA's PR and marketing committee, said the initiative "represents a coming together of groups" and is also "avoiding duplication" of services.
"We're not naive enough to expect government to solve all our problems. Life isn't, and shouldn't be, like that. But we're entitled to more help from government than we've been getting," he said.
"We look at huge 100 per cent investment going into projects and initiatives in urban NI. Munterloney is not content to 'sit at the back of the bus' any longer."
