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ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF AISLING PROJECT, BALLYMUN

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF AISLING PROJECT, BALLYMUN ON MONDAY 27 APRIL, 1998

I am absolutely delighted with the warm welcome you have given to me - for the lovely flowers and the special greeting to your new place – the Aisling Project. I’d like to say a big “Thank You” to all of you for having me here to visit - to cut the tape – and to declare your new centre “open”.

You know, when I was growing up in Belfast – I was the oldest of nine children – and at one point I nearly gave up school because of difficulties at home – my mother was very sick – my baby brother had just been born – and everything at home seemed to be in an awful mess. Luckily for me – a teacher noticed I was having trouble – and quietly helped me get through that time – and in helping me – allowed me to stay at school. The thing about that time was that I didn’t tell anybody about it – not my friends – or my teachers. It was only by sheer change and good luck that that teacher noticed I was in trouble.

I often thought afterwards, that if there had been a place like the Aisling Project – I wouldn’t have had to keep all that worry inside me – and I could probably have been able to get that extra bit of help much sooner. So you are really very lucky – lucky to have the Aisling Project – lucky to have your friends with you – lucky to have parents who let you come here 4 days a week – and lucky to have people like Sr. Malen, Ann, Dolores, Rose and the others here at the Project to give you help with your work and let you do the things that you like to do – things like art, dance, music and sports.

Your friends here at the centre care a lot about you – and they know that your parents care a lot about you. They know too that they can help you with your own worries. People say that sharing a problem with somebody – especially somebody older and wiser – can almost make it disappear – can take a weight off your shoulders that can sometimes hold you back. As I said – I know – because I got a little help from a loving and caring teacher when I was very young. And sometimes all that you need is a little help at the right time to see you though to better and happier times – and to make sure that you don’t miss out on your education and development for the wrong reasons.

So I was especially delighted when Sr. Malen wrote to me and asked me to come here – partly because I’ve never been to Balcurris Road before – but mainly because I wanted to meet the “Aisling 16”. Sr. Malen said you were very good friends of hers – that if I came to see you – you would show me around your new place and maybe – just maybe, if I’m good – let me have a cup of tea and a chat. So here I am – I’ve cut the ribbon and declared the place open – and I’d really like to see what you’ve got inside – how you’ve done it up – and where you all sit.

But before I do, I’d just like to say a special thank you to Fr. McDonagh and the Committee – to all those who have given help with the project – like the Irish Youth Foundation and the Ballymun Partnership - who make sure you have funds to keep the Project. Without their help – and the help of everybody who knows this is a great idea – you wouldn’t have the Aisling Project looking as well as it is today.

And just before we go in, I’d like to congratulate you all again on having your own special place – and to congratulate your parents for letting you come to meet your new friends – friends who will be only too happy to help you with your schoolwork - to learn music, art or games – and to the show your brothers, sisters or your other friends what you can do yourselves.