REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RE-OPENING OF THE ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH YOUTH RESOURCE CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RE-OPENING OF THE ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH YOUTH RESOURCE CENTRE INCHICORE
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócaid specialta seo. Tá mé buíoch díbh as an chuireadh agus an fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
I would like to thank the St. Michael’s Parish Youth Project for giving me the opportunity to join you this evening to celebrate the re-opening of the Youth Resource Centre.
This Youth Project, which stemmed from the vision of a number of local community representatives in particular Sr. Jo Kennedy and the late Fr. Jimmy Nolan, has a long and proud tradition of providing an invaluable service to the young people of Inchicore and surrounding districts. But the past twelve years have taken their toll on the building, which like us all was beginning to show its age. So I am delighted to be here this evening to see the results of this particular makeover. I must say that I am very impressed with the excellent refurbishment of the building.
I know that this work is the culmination of the tremendous effort of a number of groups and individuals. I would like to thank, in particular, the Management Committee of St Michael’s Parish, the Department of Education and Science, Dublin Corporation and the Young People Facilities Services Fund for their support of this project. Your efforts have yielded incredible results and I am sure they are appreciated by all the young people who will make full use of this Resource Centre.
There is an Irish saying – Mol an óige agus tiochaidh sí- praise the youth and they will blossom. It is marvellous to see a young person grow strong and well, his or her gifts encouraged to blossom and to develop into a fulfilled adulthood. We all know that our children are the future, we all care desperately about them and we hope to give them the very best possible start in life.
Projects such as this Resource Centre turn the language of hope into a lived reality by creating a climate where the energy, vitality and enthusiasm of the young are positively encouraged.
Great thanks is due to the youth workers, past and present, and to all involved with the Centre who devote so much of their time and energy to the young people in the Inchicore area. Through the various activities provided in the Centre - computer training, drama and the wonderful artistic projects on view tonight, young people can begin to enjoy the learning process, to develop their special interests and skills and most importantly to develop their self-confidence and self-belief. In this Centre, you have helped create a haven, a safe and welcoming place where young people can visit and hopefully begin their personal voyage of self discovery, of tapping into the enormous potential that is within each and every one of them.
Those of you who work with the young know only too well that there are some whose potential remain unlocked, whose life chances are stillborn because of calamitous circumstances which can befall them. Sometimes it is hard for young people to believe how much they are loved, that they matter, that they truly count. That is why your work with them is so important. Without your support and encouragement, there would be a gap - a place for them to sink, for lives to be lost. With your work you can help young people to find their place in the community, to realise their potential and talents and enable them to live fulfilled adult lives.
There is no doubt the continued success of this Resource Centre would not be possible without the commitment and generosity of all of those who work at the centre and all those involved at community level. I congratulate all of you on your achievements thus far and I wish you well with your future plans to expand and improve facilities to meet the changing needs of the youth of the area.
Finally I would like to congratulate the young people who take part in the various projects at the Centre. Many of you are clearly very talented and have much to contribute to our community. I hope that you continue to enjoy activities at the centre, to make new friends and to develop your special interests which will serve you well in adult life.
Go raíbh míle maith agaibh go léir.