By Catherine Moore

DELL workers in Limerick will be in line for a €10m training fund when negotiations underway in Brussels this week are completed.

European Commission spokeswoman Chantal Hughes confi rmed to The Moy-ross Voice that Irish offi cials, including Labour Affairs Minister Billy Kelleher, are in Brussels this week negotiating the deal for the Dell workers with the Commission. The aim of the package is to help Dell workers from Moyross and Limerick to retrain or set up their own busi-nesses.

A spokeswoman for Tánaiste Mary Coughlan confi rmed that negotiations were taking place.

“It is a complex process that is still

being worked on,” Róisin McCann said.

An average of €5,000 per worker could be made available within “a matter of weeks” once a formal ap-plication is lodged and approved, Ms McCann added.

“The Commission would look very favourably on the application.”

Workers from Moyross who will lose their jobs later this year will be entitled to a proportion of that money.

“In previous projects up to €11,000 per worker has been approved, but it is up to the Commission to decide. The money is there to be used in an active way to fund training, reskilling, counselling and mobility, and to help the workers set up their own busi-nesses,” said Ms Hughes.

Some 1,900 Dell workers are due to

be made redundant by the end of the year. The €10m boost for Limerick is based on an average of €5,000 per worker.

Under EU rules the money must be matched by Government funding, meaning that the fi nancial boost to the city could be up to €20m.

Ms Hughes added the Government could start spending money immediate-ly and be reimbursed from Europe.

Minister O’Dea said he was hopeful that workers from Moyross and other areas of the city could be retrained and reskilled and fi nd new jobs as quickly as possible.

Up to 1,000 jobs would be created in the Mid-West region in the coming 12 to 18 months, he said.

“We are hoping to receive the funds in the next couple of weeks, then we

can work with FÁS, the Vocational Education Committee, Limerick Insti-tute of Technology and the University of Limerick in retraining those Dell workers affected.

“A big industrial fallout has occurred with Dell and for that reason it is a textbook case of what this fund is to be used for,” added the Minister.

Under the special European Globalisa-tion Adjustment Fund, the Government can claim money for each worker laid off by multi-national companies and other large employers who move to low-cost economies.

Dell announced earlier this month that it was moving its manufacturing base from Limerick to Poland.

Editorial: Page 6

By Kevin Cronin

THE Cabinet is set to decide on a major new tax incentive scheme for Limerick that could see millions in-vested in Moyross.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea has confi rmed to The Moyross Voice that he has submitted a detailed proposal to the Government to fast-track the regeneration of Moyross and other regeneration areas on the south side of the city.

The package would include major tax incentives to attract private de-velopers to invest in the city in the wake of Dell’s decision to make 1,900 workers redundant.

Minister O’Dea said he would push for a speedy decision on regen-eration. “It is absolutely vital that re-generation be fast-tracked especially for the construction side of job crea-tion,” he added.

Chairperson of the Moyross Resi-dents Forum, Chris Duhig, said that Moyross residents were frustrated with the pace at which regeneration was progressing. Building projects including a new Garda station, a new road to Coonagh and 100 new houses for residents should start this year, he said.

“We want the Government to fast-track the regeneration of Moyross to create much-needed jobs for local people and contracts for local con-struction companies,” he said.

Regeneration Chief Executive Brendan Kenny welcomed the fast-track proposals, but he warned con-struction work on these building projects would not start this year be-cause of planning issues.

Signifi cant planning, design and consultation work was required be-fore these projects would be ready, and construction would most likely begin in 2010, he said.

“With the best will in the world, even if the money was made avail-able in the morning, we can’t do things immediately.”

Analysis: Pages 6 & 7

the voice of the village

Moyross women fi nd their voice

Page 10 & 11

Alan jockeys for Curragh success

Page 15

the voice of the village

€10m for Dell workers

O’Dea plans tax windfall for Moyross

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Having a ball: Munster rugby star Keith Earls at his former school, St Nessan’s Community College, with pupils Garreth McNamara, Dylan O’Donnell, Ger Walsh and Je� ery PaynePicture: Kieran Clancy

Teen thriller to enter fi lm festival

Page 8

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 20092 news

Stray Moyross horses and ponies could be stabled in KnocklisheenBy Abi Creed

A NEW plan to build facilities for local horses could see an end to stray ponies roaming in Moyross.

The regeneration agency proposes moving the ponies to a greenfield State-owned site in response to local horse owners’ requests for a dedicated area.

If built, the new facility may also include stables, a vet room, grazing for local horses and education facilities for local children and adults.

Locally owned horses will be included

in the scheme unlike a previous one run in Cherry Orchard, Dublin.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea confirmed to The Moyross Voice that his office had received a proposal to build the facility on a Department of Defence site at Knocklisheen, Co Clare, about three quarters of a mile from Moyross.

“They [the regeneration agency] have submitted a proposal which is currently being reviewed by our of-ficials and they will report back to me in due course,” he said.

The Northside Regeneration Agency’s

Director Paul Foley confirmed discus-sions with the department about the site were ongoing.

“We want to try and accommodate both a horse project but also a grazing area for the locally owned horses.

“We have asked a negotiator on behalf of the agency to try and secure lands near Moyross that might be used on an interim basis for a horse project,” Mr Foley said.

Once regeneration is completed horses would be prevented from roaming, he added.

Local horse owner Michael Long

said he was hopeful the proposals would work.

“It sounds promising, we haven’t seen any blueprint. We’re taking them on their word,” he said.

Patrick Hughes, a Moyross Foals and Horses Club member who keeps nine horses in the surrounding fields, said many owners were responsible and worked with the local community.

They assisted the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and local schools on providing farrier classes for local children, he said.

There is a long tradition of horse

owenership in Moyross, though in recent years the number of horses in the area has increased dramatically.

There are around 300 horses in Moy-ross compared with around 60 horses in 1997, according to Juan Carlos Azzopardi of the Community Devel-opment Project in Moyross.

Local residents had expressed concern to the city council about the number of horses roaming the area. The council has the power to impound horses under 1997 by-laws. But owners claimed that their registered and tethered horses were also being impounded.

Council confirms ten house repossessionsBy John Rainsford

LIMERICK City Council has repos-sessed 10 houses in Moyross from tenants who were found guilty of anti-social behaviour or breached the ten-ancy laws over the past two years.

The council’s Director of Services Kieran Lehane confirmed that 10 court orders were issued for the repossession of houses in Moyross since 2006.

Mr Lehane said that anti-social behav-iour in Moyross has improved because of the action taken by the council.

“Two years ago we employed two full-time Tenancy Enforcement officials for the city and we are the most active local authority in the country in this area,” Mr Lehane said.

Limerick City Council received 582 complaints of anti-social behaviour for the entire city in the past two years. Almost a third of these cases – 198 - were in Moyross.

Mr Lehane said: “When we investi-gated these complaints we found that the majority of these cases could be resolved through reasonable dialogue

with the residents.”Mr Lehane believes that Limerick

City Council can play a vital role in moving Moyross forward. “We also work very closely with the community gardaí in this regard.”

A near fatal arson attack on local children, Gavin and Millie Murray, over two years ago prompted the cur-rent regeneration plans for the city and the promise of 100 extra gardaí.

Garda Inspector Luke Conlon of Mayorstone Garda Station said the growth in the number of gardaí on

the streets has contributed to the fall in unruly activity.

“The crime situation is much im-proved and cases of anti-social be-haviour in particular are down,” Insp Conlon said.

Twenty seven gardaí, including Insp Conlon and three sergeants are involved in the community policing of Moyross from their base in Mayorstone.

“Most community groups want to see gardaí on the beat in an area or on pedal cycle patrol. This benefits the community in terms of safety and

the perception of an effective job being done,” Insp Conlon added.

Moyross Residents Forum Com-munity Development Worker Tracy McElligott said that the increased visibility of gardaí on the beat has helped reduce petty crime.

“The gardaí have definitely increased their visibility in the area with more walking patrols. There has been a definite improvement in the feedback we are receiving from residents’ groups on anti-social behaviour as a result,” she added.

This newspaper was produced by students from the Graduate Diploma/MA in Journalism course at the University of Limerick.

Journalism Course Director:Mary Dundon

Editorial supervisors:Dr Michael MulqueenTom Felle

News Editor: Jessica Colleran

Chief Sub-editor: Pamela Duncan

Reporters: Kevin Cronin, Catherine Moore, Marie Dowd, John Rainsford, Abi Creed, John O’Regan, Ciara Peters, Alex Grogan, Vincent Ryan, Deirdre Connolly

Graphic design: Colin McGann Noel Barrett

Printing: Limerick Leader

Attending the presentation of FETAC awards at Céim ar Chéim were: (from left to right) William Woodland, Christopher Mallard, Mayor Councillor John Gilligan, James O’ Keefe, Roy Roche, Defence Minister Willie O’ Dea, Dean McKie, Dean Walsh, Dean Quinn, Patrick Roche, David Bourke, and Manager of Céim ar Chéim Elaine Slattery. Picture: Eoin Stephenson.

Céim ar Chéim’s horsemen earn their spurs

By John Rainsford

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea pre-sented six young people from Moyross with FETAC qualifications in horse care at a formal ceremony held on December 8 last.

The teenagers, all from the northside of the city, each gained a distinction

in stable and yard routine from the vocational agency.

Céim ar Chéim, a community or-ganisation dealing with youth at risk, organised the ceremony.

In total 26 students and eight parents received accreditation in a wide range of 75 subjects.

Some 20 graduates have now be-

gun the Leaving Certificate Applied programme.

Former teacher Andrew O’Byrne, coordinator of the Corpus Christi Youth Diversion Project, had the original idea of running the course.

“Kids here love their horses, they regard it as part of their culture and it is a great way to get them off the

streets and connected once again with the society around them,” he said.

In future he said he hoped to see an equine and education facility estab-lished in Moyross.

Moyross has a long tradition of pro-ducing winners with 10 Gaisce medals and 42 community awards going to the locality in recent years.

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 3news

By Kevin Cronin

MOYROSS families with a history of anti-social behaviour will be given a second chance to clean up their act before being refused a house under new proposals.

Regeneration Agency Chief Executive Brendan Kenny has confi rmed the new plans will allow families, excluded from the fi rst phase of regeneration, to get a house if they change their ways.

However, families must fi rst prove they can be trusted by getting Garda and local authority clearance and undergo a training support programme before getting a new house.

Up until now the agency had said that problem families who could not get Garda clearance would not be entitled to a new house, however legal experts had questioned the constitutionality of this.

Local politicians had also queried whether the families would be moved elsewhere in the city or to neighbour-ing counties.

Mr Kenny said the new rules would prevent families with a record of serious anti-social behaviour, such as harassing neighbours, from getting a house. But they could reapply at a later stage if their behaviour improves.

“They have an opportunity to get their act together and get themselves sorted out.

“But at the end of the day if there are still a small number of families that are not entitled or qualifi ed to be housed, well then the agency will consider re-possessing those houses, compulsorily acquiring them,” he said.

Local TD Michael Noonan queried if the plans will work. “I don’t believe they have fully worked out a system yet for dealing with these people. But it is one of the most diffi cult aspects

of regeneration and I wouldn’t be blaming them at all.

“They have yet to come up with a satisfactory solution. Any plans they have must be endorsed by Limerick City Council, who remain the housing authority.”

Mr Kenny said this agency was con-

sidering building transitional housing for problem families and they would be given an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves.

“Nobody would give us any kind of respect if we ran straight into this and rehoused a lot of the people who have been causing all these problems.

“The clear message we want to get across is there’s no policy of reloca-tion. But we have to take strong action against these people.

“Why should a small number of people damage the quality of life for others and do what they want? We can’t allow a small number of families to

bring us down,” he added.Crime and anti-social behaviour levels

have improved in the past 12 months, according to statistics compiled by the regeneration agency.

Anyone denied a new house on the programme will be entitled to ap-peal.

Director of Regeneration Northside, Paul Foley and Regeneration Agency Chief Executive, Brendan Kenny survey the master plans for regeneration in the centre of Moyross.Picture: Eoin Stephenson

Address in Moyross no barrier to � nding a job

Second chance for anti-social families

By Pamela Duncan and Ciara Peters

A MOYROSS address does not affect a person’s prospects of getting a job according to the results of a survey by The Moyross Voice.

In the past month this newspaper sent CVs to more than 40 businesses in Limerick and Clare. One of the CVs was sent using a Moyross address while the second used an address in Dooradoyle. The Moyross and Doo-radoyle applicants were the same age

and had the same work experience and background.

Yet despite the commonly held belief that a Moyross address is a disadvantage in fi nding work, both the Moyross and Dooradoyle applicants received the exact same amount of requests for job interviews.

Antoinette Yelverton, manager of the Moyross Enterprise Community Centre, said that there was no concrete evidence to show that having a Moyross address damaged job prospects.

“There’s no proof to say that it’s more diffi cult for a kid from Moyross to get work than it is anywhere else. All we have is anecdotal evidence.

“Despite the economic slowdown people are still managing to fi nd work. Kids coming out of school still have the same opportunities as anyone else,” she said.

Despite the fi ndings, manager of the Millennium Jobs Club Martina McIner-ney said that a stigma still exists when it comes to using a Moyross address

on a job application. The burning of Millie and Gavin Murray in a car in the estate in 2007 has again triggered this stigma in the minds of employ-ers, she said.

“I started working here in 2002 and there was no problem with having a Moyross address up until that inci-dent. If people had asked me in 2002 if they should use a different address (in order to apply for a job) I’d have said no way.

“But that stigma has defi nitely re-

turned,” Ms McInerney said.Recently, she said, a prospective

employer asked if applicants she was organising job placements for had criminal records. “This would not have happened if the applicants were from another part of the city.”

But Ms McInerney said she always encouraged applicants to use their own addresses when applying for work.

“There’s no way I’d tell people to use a different address – your address is part of your identity.”

Recession to double numbers at Moyross jobs centreBy Deirdre Connolly

THE number of people seeking help to fi nd work from a local jobs centre is expected to almost double this year due to the economic downturn, according to the centre’s manager.

Martina McInerney, manager of the Millennium Jobs Club in Moyross, said the club, which helps locally unemployed people to retrain and fi nd new employment, had its busiest January ever.

“This is the fi rst time where people have been ringing up asking when the next course is on, usually we’d be chasing them.”

In previous years the club has seen about 300 people come in looking for help, but this year that fi gure is expected to rise to at least 500. We have already had people ringing and coming through the door enquiring about courses,” she said.

The club works with State train-ing agencies including Fás to upskill

and train people, and to place them in jobs.

It runs three week courses on inter-view skills and CV preparation, and also sets up interviews for jobs.

But this year she said the club may not be able to fi nd work for people because of the slowdown and the closure of Dell.

Ms McInerney said she would be encouraging those who come seek-ing help to retrain if they are unable to fi nd work.

“The closure of Dell with the loss of 1,900 jobs is without doubt going to have an enormous effect on the people of Limerick. Moyross residents who were reliant on those incomes to pay mortgages and feed families are going to fi nd it even more diffi cult.

“We’ll be under pressure to retrain and to send them on training courses [but] we have an awful lot of qualifi ed carpenters, plasterers, brick layers, and there probably won’t be any jobs in that area,” she added.Millennium Jobs Club Manager Martina

McInerney. Picture: Eoin Stephenson

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 20094 newsnews in brief

By Ciara Peters

The Arts for Peace Foundation will celebrate the opening of its Limerick office at Watch House Cross, Moyross this February.

The foundation, which assists chil-dren subjected to trauma, has also announced that it will run a year long programme in Moyross comprising eight programmes of classes and work-shops lasting sixteen hours each.

Thirty children from Moyross are currently receiving assistance from the foundation. Twenty more local children will do so this year.

Among their activities, staff at the new office will strive to introduce children from Moyross to kids from Palestine and throughout the continent of Africa. The objective is to allow them to connect with youngsters of different nationalities, religions and races.

“The foundation was set up to identify areas of conflict whether it is social, economic, or war and to show children a different side to things for a thera-peutic recreation and to give them another chance at life,” Fundraising Manager Jeremy Perrin said.

Children from Ireland, Palestine and throughout Africa have benefitted from the foundation since its establishment by Elizabeth Garrahy in 2004. It relies for its funding on a mix of sponsorship and fundraising.

The children are selected for the programmes through the advice of school principals, community youth services and home-school officers.

“We work with the other people on the ground as well, especially in

the schools, and we have a selection process through that. We form a rela-tionship with the other agencies that work on the ground in Moyross.

Hopefully we will all work together in a very uniform way so there are no cross purposes going on with the indi-vidual children,” Mr Perrin said.

The programmes are devised to meet the individual needs of each child and

are goal orientated. They are designed for fourteen to 17-year-olds and last a minimum of two weeks. The daily activities the children embark on while on these programmes include painting, theatre and drama skills, dance and video production. Outdoor activities are also encouraged such as mountain orienteering, rock climbing, swimming, and soccer.

The follow-up programme for Moy-ross children already engaged with the foundation begins in February. The courses for newcomers will begin in the end of July and last for two weeks. A fundraising event will be held on January 30 at Thomond Park to maintain the programmes. The official opening date of the office in February.

Moyross man named Bawnmore’s best for 2008 By Catherine Moore

YeArs of hard work have paid off for Moyross man Tagdh Collopy, who has been named employee of the year at the Brothers of Charity centre in Bawnmore. Popular Tadgh, from Cliona Park, won the award after his co-workers in the centre’s maintenance department wrote a letter praising their close friend.

Tagdh, a dedicated member of staff, is delighted to have his efforts ac-knowledged. “It makes me feel very

valued as a member of staff and I am just thrilled to bits,” he said.

The maintenance department at Bawn-more became Tadgh’s place of work in 1977, one year after he moved to Moyross. He has declined offers to move departments for promotion.

The members of staff at the mainte-nance department are close knit and have a good laugh together at work.

“We are like a family. I must say we all get on great and my colleagues are fantastic. Two of my colleagues retired last year and they were sorely missed.

We all get on great,” Tagdh said.his colleagues wrote a two page letter

recommending him for the employee of the year award. This letter was sent to Bawnmore’s managers, who reviewed the recommendation and took vari-ous other factors into account before selecting Tagdh as the winner.

The Brothers of Charity have been running an employee of the year award scheme for the past seven years.

“I am very happy being in such a rewarding job, which has also finan-cially helped me raise my family,”

Tagdh added.Not only does Tagdh have the satis-

faction of winning this award, he also receives a financial reward, three extra holiday days and a plaque which he can keep as a constant reminder of his dedication to the centre.

This is not Tagdh’s first time winning an award with the Brothers of Charity. Last year, he won the organisation’s tennis tournament.

Tagdh hopes to continue on his win-ning streak in Bawnmore for many years to come.

Limerick Regeneration Agencies Chief Executive Brendan Kenny, Arts for Peace Ambassador Mick Galwey, Founder and Managing Director Elizabeth Garrahy, Minister for Defence Willie O’ Dea, Arts for Peace Youth Ambassador Keith Earls, Mayor of Limerick, John Gilligan. Picture: Brian Gavin/Press 22

McCarthy to runLOCAL Moyross resident Pat McCa-rthy has declared that he will run in the local elections to be held in June.

Mr McCarthy, who has been living in Moyross for 22 years, is running as an independent. He said that local residents asked him to put himself forward.

“I won’t be forgetting anybody. I’ll fight for the people who have no-one to talk for them.

“The people asked me to go for it and if it’s good for the people I’ll do it if it’s not I won’t,” he said.

Talking moneyA MONEY advice expert will ad-dress local residents in Watch House Cross Library on Wednesday next, January 28.

Yvonne Bogdanovic, co-ordinator of MABS will speak on social welfare and money advice as part of a weekly talk and advice session at the library.

The ‘Info Link’ will run on Wednes-days from 4-5pm from January until March. Northside RAPID Area Imple-mentation Team, in cooperation with Moyross and St Munchin’s Action Centres, are organising the sessions.

Issues covered include adult educa-tion, social welfare, and senior citizens services.

All are welcome including children, with story time sessions organised if necessary.

Prayers and peace

The Franciscan Friars of the renewal based in Delmege Park, Moyross are hosting a prayer, music and peace night in the Corpus Christi Church, Moyross at 7:30pm on February 1.

It will feature Canadian international musician Brother Gabriel and also the personal testimony of a guest speaker from Northern Ireland.

The Brothers hold a Padre Pio Mass on the third Wednesday of every month where congregants can be blessed by the glove of the Saint.

Blooming MoyrossThe Moyross is Blooming Great flower project will be accepting orders towards the end of April.

“We don’t start taking orders until the end of April. When the orders come in, we work out the cost and it is split between everyone,” Moyross Residents’ Forum member Tracey McElligott said.

In its first year 150 hanging baskets and flower boxes were hung in local homes, this year they hope to double that number. The course and training is funded by Paul Partnership.

Calling all studentsThe Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has launched the revision pro-gramme for students in Moyross.

The programme is a new initiative which links Junior and Leaving certifi-cate with students or tutors in the pupils’ prospective third level course.

The mentorship programme is part of an initiative organised by SVP.

Creating a brighter future

By John Rainsford

LOCAL businessman Raymond O’Halloran will give a second chance to over eighty local young job seekers in a €2.2m training complex which he plans to open in September.

Dozens more will come through the centre’s doors to learn skills ranging from bricklaying to computers in the years ahead.

Mr O’Halloran, the main employer in Moyross for over 30 years, expects construction on the two-storey train-ing complex to begin within the next six weeks.

The Speedline Director said that he

had decided to invest his own money because he knew what it was like to be unemployed.

“Before I started my own business I was out of work, now I have kids com-ing up to me looking for work all the time and I have nothing for them.

“It grieves me that they have noth-ing to go to. You save a life by giving employment to someone and you give them skills for life and a sense of identity,” Mr O’Halloran said.

The complex will house 14 units in which different types of training will take place. Each unit will take up to six trainees at a time. Seven of the units will be dedicated to teaching and

the remainder to hands-on work. Mr O’Halloran said that the Regeneration Agency would play an active part in the training.

“I borrowed the idea from a model of regeneration that I saw in a marginalised area of Glasgow. The upper floors will have classrooms for computer courses and the lower floors will be for trades like bricklaying and electrical work.

“A person might start out not liking one trade, but he can move to another and become a jack of all trades or as we say a ‘snagger’,” he added.

he obtained planning permission to build the complex, over 2,500 sq. of floor space, earlier this year.

Businessman’s boost to Moyross job seekers

Businessman Raymond O’Halloran

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 5news

Barbara HealyCliona Park

Joe JohnsonCosgrave Park

Gerald HayesLiving in Moyross for 44 years

Tanya Barrett Moyross

Aidan O’ConnorCoonagh

Gillian QuinnMoyross

Stacey KellyMoyross

Vincent EarlesCosgrave Park

Noreen O’SullivanMoyross

Tommy QuinnPineview

“No, they could use the money from the regeneration to pay

the people who are after getting sacked from Dell. The houses

are here already there’s no need to knock them down. You can

just do them up a bit and use the rest of the money then to give to the people who haven’t got a job

anymore because they’re after sacking them.”

“Absolutely, we need the employment. There’s going to be

1,900 people unemployed and we need to get this thing moving. The only thing is that I hope the

money is ring-fenced, that it won’t go to anybody else and the Government won’t say we don’t

have it anymore.”“Definitely yeah. Moyross badly

needs it [regeneration]. It’d make the place look better and hope-

fully it’ll give people a few jobs.”

“Yeah, I think a lot of people have lost their jobs and I think there aren’t enough jobs there for people. Regeneration will get the young people off the

roads and it’s the young people that need jobs. They need fa-

cilities too there aren’t enough facilities around here for young

people.”

“It should definitely be fast-tracked. It’s disgraceful what

they are doing. Look at people with no work - why are they

taking it off to Poland? Because they’re giving them €3.50 or €4

an hour. They’d want to get a move on with the regeneration.” “They need to make more jobs

in the area. I know one man who was there 18 years and he was let

go. They need to help them get back to work.”

“I don’t even think it’s going to happen. The country just doesn’t

have the money. It’ll happen in 10 or 15 years time. It won’t be in

time to help people who’ve lost their jobs.”

“Of course without a doubt. It’d create new jobs in the area and these jobs have to be recreated.

There are a lot of couples relying on Dell, husbands and wives. It’s

going to be crazy.”

“Yeah, a lot of people here are going to lose their jobs. It’s

terrible. I doubt there will be more jobs there are a lot of

people being let go.”

“The regeneration is doing nothing for no one. The place

is after getting worse since they came in here. I think first off we

need to get the horse project sorted out.”

How will the closure of Dell hit Moyross? Vincent Ryan visited the estate to find out if residents

want regeneration fast-tracked.

Moyross Voices

Moyross needs action not talkDEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea is making a genuine effort this week to get Cabinet sanction for a tax incentive package that will attract private sector builders into Moyross.

The aim of this plan is to kick-start the construction industry in Limerick and to fast-track the regeneration of Moyross.

While Regeneration Agency Chief Executive Brendan Kenny has outlined in The Moyross Voice a range of actions to revitalise the area in 2009, he also confi rms that no building can start until 2010 because of planning restrictions.

If Minister O’Dea succeeds in getting Government approval for this package, people can be hopeful that construction work may start this year bringing much needed jobs to Moyross.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has confi rmed this week that as much as €10m in training funding can be drawn down for local workers – giving a much needed boost for the Limerick economy. Irish offi cials are in Brussels this week negotiating the fi ner points of the deal.

Minister O’Dea has to deliver for Limerick and the Govern-ment must ensure that this European funding is drawn down and matched immediately.

If the tax incentive plan for Moyross is to work the Government must force the banks to open their credit lines to local developers. It is imperative that the momentum is maintained and bankers, who have been bailed out with billions of taxpayers’ money, step up to the plate.

Thousands of Dell workers all over Limerick are facing long-term dole queues in the next three months if Minister O’Dea and this Government fail to deliver this package.

The Government owes a huge debt to the people of Moyross after decades of neglect.

Each Dell worker is entitled to €11,000 in a training fund that will allow them to improve their skills or start their businesses. State training agencies must prioritise Limerick’s workers who cannot afford to lag behind as the country recovers from the cur-rent recession.

In short, Limerick and Moyross need action not promises. The time for talking is over.

Recovery is in our own handsDELL’S decision to cut 1,900 jobs should come as a major wake-up call. The country remains over-reliant on multi-national companies that, if they leave, will leave economic and community devasta-tion in their wake.

Moyross businessman, Raymond O’Halloran, is not taking the Dell decision lying down. His €2.2m investment in a training facility for Moyross does not depend on decisions made in a faraway boardroom. Those who learn skills in his new complex will know that the funding to help them build their new future is local money.

The investment is a brave and important move, especially in this time of economic uncertainty.

Mr O’Halloran, who has been the main employer in Moyross for over 30 years, hopes that by training young people in the area that they will have the skills to gain employment once the regeneration construction begins. What they learn will also serve them well in the wider jobs market.

It is the initiative and drive of local people which will make the difference in Moyross once the Dell lay-offs take effect. The people of Moyross have their part to play in securing the viability not only of their own area, but of the city as a whole.

For too long Moyross people have suffered the stigma which surrounds the area. But with regeneration pending, local people need to put the bias of outsiders behind them.

Now is the time for them to put their best foot forward and to put their ideas, talents and energy to good use.

Those who provide jobs and training deserve special credit. As Raymond O’Halloran said: “You save a life by giving employ-ment to someone…you give them skills for life and a sense of identity.”

It is important that other people look to the example that Mr O’Halloran and other business people who have invested in Moy-ross have set. It is this sort of local initiative which will become an integral part of the future viability not just of Moyross but of Limerick in general.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese came to Moyross a year ago this week amid huge fanfare to launch the country’s largest regeneration plan. This promised a new life and hope for our community and children.

After 30 years of neglect by countless State agencies, the people of Moyross felt that fi nally someone was listening to our appeal for a better life and that at last it would be delivered.

President McAleese told us last Janu-ary that the regeneration of Moyross was very close to her heart and she would be back to see how the plan was progressing.

This time last year, we were told that 1,000 houses in Moyross would be knocked and rebuilt as part of the Regeneration Plan and that construc-tion would start in early 2009.

Since then, the Regeneration Agency has launched its master plan for Moy-ross that identifi es six major projects that will transform the area. These include:

* A new town centre* A new Garda station* A new link road * Building of 1,000 new homes * Sheltered housing for the elderly * A €25 million Céim ar Chéim

centre.But Regeneration Agency Chief Ex-

ecutive Brendan Kenny has said that no major capital would be required for these projects until 2010.

While the Moyross residents are still very supportive of the regeneration project, we are frustrated with the pace

at which the project is progressing.Limerick has been dealt a major blow

with the closure of manufacturing at Dell and the loss of 1,900 jobs, many of them in Moyross.

The Moyross Residents Forum now wants the Government to fast-track the regeneration of Moyross to create much-needed jobs for local people and contracts for local construction companies.

The three Moyross projects from the master plan that we want started in 2009 are: the construction of the new Garda station, the new road and 100 new houses.

We are calling on our local Minister, Willie O’Dea, to push the fast-tracking of these specifi c regeneration projects with the Government now because they can deliver real jobs for local people in 2009.

The people of Moyross have found their voice – the time for promises is over. We now need action on the regeneration of Moyross.

And we want to show President McAleese that the vision she launched for the regeneration of Moyross last January will be delivered this year.

- Chris Duhig is chairperson of the Moyross Residents Forum

� e Moyross Voice � ursday, January 22, 2009

Moyross Residents Forum Chairperson Chris Duhig

Regeneration of Moyross on track despite recession

Residents say ‘time for promises’ is over

THE Limerick regeneration programme was presented to Limerick City Council at the end of October.

This programme of objectives for the regeneration of Moyross, St Mary’s Park, and Southill/Ballinacurra Weston came after months of consultation with the communities involved and other stakeholders.

It sets out a comprehensive social, economic and physical plan that will be implemented over the 10 year period between 2009 and 2018

As the plans were being fi nalised we all saw how the economy of the country was taking a serious nosedive and this reality has caused some peo-ple to raise concerns about how and if the regeneration proposals would proceed.

I wish to confi rm that despite the diffi cult current economic climate that the regeneration process will continue and all necessary planning for imple-mention will proceed in 2009.

The regeneration agencies, northside and southside, will be setting out a schedule of priority actions for 2009 to the local regeneration committees over the coming weeks.

These actions will include elements from the three pillars of the regenera-tion programme, i.e. social, economic, and physical.

For Moyross, the agencies will pri-oritise the following in 2009:

* New sheltered housing for older people in the area

* New Garda station for Moyross* New community centre as part of

the proposed town centre* New employment training centre* New Coonagh link road to Moy-

ross * New industry at Delmege, Moyross

All the other work that the agencies

have been involved in throughout 2008, e.g. striving for greater integration and co-ordination of state services and bet-ter accountability from state organisa-tions, will continue and intensify.

In addition we will work closely with the gardai and local authority to further combat anti-social activities in the estate.

We will also pursue all elements of the objectives set out in the social regeneration programme around educa-tion, family support, children, youth, sport and health / well-being.

We can say to residents that we will continue to be involved in “every-thing that moves” in Moyross during 2009, so that a better quality of life and environment can be achieved for residents in the short term, while at the same time planning for the very important and ambitious regenera-tion programme that will ultimately transform the area into one of the fi nest suburbs in the country.

So despite, all the current doom and gloom the regeneration of Moyross is on track and a lot can and will be done in 2009.

We very much look forward to work-ing with the community of Moyross over the coming months and years.

- Brendan Kenny is the CEO of the Limerick Regeneration Agency

Regeneration Agency Chief Executive Brendan Kenny

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 7news

Regeneration - the Boston experience

A DELEGATION from Limerick City Council travelled to Boston in 2007. They went, at the invitation of the local state government, to examine a regeneration project in the city. The area had been hailed worldwide as one of America’s most successful regeneration projects.

It was a long way away from what the area used to look like just 20 years earlier: back then, the Columbia Housing Projects as they were known were one of the city’s most notorious and dangerous ghettos.

The area suffered from high rates of unemployment, widespread drug abuse, rampant crime and anti-social behaviour. Buildings were falling apart, houses were left boarded up and families had moved out of the area.

When the Limerick officials visited they found a quiet, friendly neighbourhood with well-kept houses and apartments, litter free streets and virtually no crime or anti-social behaviour.

But they also found a community that was entirely enclosed behind security walls and high gates, with 24-hour armed security, ID checks going into and out of estates and regular police patrols.

Boston’s approach to regeneration

was two-fold: they handed over the physical rebuilding to a private development company and, perhaps more controversially, restructured the area into a highly policed, gated community.

In 1990 the Boston Housing

Authority, the local government agency responsible for housing, took the area back into its ownership and re-housed families with social housing needs.

They also renamed the area Harbour Point, and were successful in attracting families to buy properties in the new developments, a crucial ingredient in getting the right balance between private and social

housing in the neighbourhood.The area is now one of the

safest parts of the city largely due to the highly-visible nature of security and policing.

It operates as a fully gated community, residents are ID checked going in and out, and non-residents can only visit by appointment or invitation.

The management company operates its own community-based police force which carries out approximately 400 investigations per annum, with 32 police employed on a three-shift basis.

But while there is clear evidence that the regeneration has worked, the same approach could not be taken here, according to Limerick City Council Director of Housing Kieran Lehane.

“It was notable that access to the housing project was via a checkpoint. This was something that we had not experienced before,” he said.

“It was quite clear that there was very strict enforcement when we were met by a police car while we were driving around. So it seemed to be very heavily regulated. This made us wonder about the applicability of this model in Ireland,” he said.

Mr Lehane claims there are wider lessons to be learned from their Boston visit. He highlights the need to view the regeneration in the northside and the southside as part of a wider

focus on rebuilding the city. “The key message of the Boston

Housing Authority was the wider benefits that flow to the city from regeneration, providing an engine for the development of the surrounding areas.

“Regeneration cannot be viewed in isolation from Limerick city centre, which is also challenged and is heavily dependent on the non-national community for a residential presence.

“You cannot see Moyross on its own, regeneration extends to the whole city, it’s a city-wide issue, and the solutions for it are city-wide,” he argues.

Mr Lehane makes a valid argument. The model in operation in Boston depends on strong community support and widespread acceptance, but also on a heavy hand of law and order, something that may not be directly transferable here.

Despite this, Mr Lehane’s view that the city needs to be included in the regeneration effort, is crucial.

Boston’s regeneration, which was carried out by a private contractor, began in 1986 and took four years to complete.

Limerick’s two regeneration agencies are State run and are expected to take at least 10 years to complete their work. Limerick’s regeneration cannot and must not be allowed to drag on.

Most importantly, with the right mix of enthusiasm and investment regeneration can and will work. It worked in Boston, so it can and will work in Limerick.

All it needs is support, both from the community and just as importantly from the Government in the form of a large cheque.

“Regeneration extends to the

whole city. It’s a city wide issue, and the solutions for it

are city wide.”

“It was quite clear that there

was very strict enforcement when we were met by a

police car....”

Boston’s approach to regeneration revitalised a once dead neighbourhood into a dynamic, thriving city suburb, but it came at a price. Could the same approach work here? Kevin Cronin reports.

Illustration by Kevin Cronin

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 20098 news

By John O’Regan

CHILLED out warmth pervades the atmosphere of the Northside Youth Café. Couches provide a homely am-bience. Subtle shades of green and marine blue adorn the walls.

Teenagers who previously gathered in cold alleyways or shops fronts after school now have their own relaxation space.

The Northside Youth Café is a mainstream youth intervention proj-ect run by Limerick Youth Service.

Open since summer 2008 with co-ordinator Stacey Quarmby, it is funded through the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and accessed through the RAPID programme, a govern-ment initiative to tackle unem-ployment and social exclusion.

“The idea behind a youth café is that the teenagers manage and monitor themselves with the guidance of the staff and volun-

teers in the café,” said Aisling O’Brien, Northside Youth Cafe arts initiative coordinator.

“The objective is they grow to be responsible adults,” she said.

The café is aimed at young people aged 14 to 18 from the northside of the city. It acts as a meeting place, in many cases the only place these young people have to call their own.

Doors open on Wednesday evenings for closed art sessions, and on Thursday and Friday afternoons from 4pm to 8pm.

Sessions in art, sport, social development and sex education are provided in a relaxed atmosphere.

Activities in the café include an arts initiative, which has produced a movie called Woodcross - a thriller scripted, directed and produced by the teenagers in the café, which was filmed on location in Cratloe Woods.

Local filmmaker John Haugh mentored the production pro-cess, along with Ms O’Brien.

The film, which is still in produc-tion, is completely youth led from props, script, and costumes to sound and editing. It will premiere at the 2009 Fresh Film Festival at the Belltable Arts Centre in the Red Cross Hall in Cecil St in February.

The film was funded by North Side We’re OK- a Government funded drugs education programme based next door to the youth café.

That group also founded a new youth bank, where the teenag-ers run their own local bank to aid social, economic and sporting activities within their own area.

Limerick City Voluntary Initia-tive gave the North Side We’re OK group €5,000 to run the Youth Bank.

Nine teenagers from the Caher-davin, Moyross, Clareview, and Ballynanty areas were selected from interviews held locally.

Teenagers chosen to run the bank are Alison McInerney, Josephine Daly, Samantha Prior, Niamh

O’Connor, Jonathan Hickey, Adam O’Neill, Daragh Lyons, Eugene Johnson and David Moore.

The teenagers have begun a weekly training scheme which will run until May, where they will learn team skills, leadership skills, financial and social skills.

During a residential weekend they will name the bank, design a logo, advertise, and set up interviews. An interview night when local groups can come and apply for the fund-

ing will be held in May 2009. “This is great for the youth

café and North Side We’re OK because we are heading some-thing that hasn’t been done on the northside of the city before,” said Trish O’Dea, drugs educa-tion and prevention worker for the North Side We’re OK group.

“It’s giving the young people on this side a voice which is so impor-tant. We’re very proud that we are involved in it this year,” she added.

Youth Café teens launch ‘Woodcross’ thriller

Johnathan Hickey and Joey Nolan filming ‘Woodcross’ in Cratloe Woods. Picture: Brian Arthur/ Press 22 Lewis Quinlivan at the Northside Youth Café building. Picture: Eoin Stephenson

Learning Hub adds creative spark to youth projectsBy Catherine Moore

NORTHSIDE primary and second-ary school children have found new buddies who will help them get into college.

Learning Buddies is an exciting new mentoring scheme that links northside students with third level students in the University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology and Mary Im-maculate College.

Teams of six to eight pupils from primary and secondary schools in the area will team up with mentors from the third level institutions.

Under the supervision of the mentor, the students do a variety of projects including flash animation, engineering, radio shows and music.

Learning Buddies Project Manager Mike Boland said the programme aims to break down barriers that students may have about entering third level education and make education more accessible.

James “Jay Red” Reddan and MC Leroy performing at the LIT Millenium Theatre. Robyn Ryan Nolan and Jenny O’Leary perform their own play. Pictures: Eoin Stephenson

“It is a great way to show pupils what third level education is like, while having fun and making new friends. It shows them that third level education is accessible,” Mr Boland said.

This Learning Hub, a community project aimed at keeping children in education, is spearheading this Learning Buddies Project which will be launched next month.

This Kileely-based project is already well established. This was evident at the LIT Millennium Theatre at the weekend, when the young people performed their projects.

“I like doing the projects because it’s really enjoyable and loads of fun. It’s great to learn new things,” said Robyn Ryan Nolan, a Salesian Secondary School student.

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 9news features

Moyross has a reputation of being one of Limerick’s most infamous trouble spots. But is the tag fair? Deirdre Connolly reports.

Community gardaí have become part and parcel of life in moyross.

the community policing initiative, aimed at combating crime, anti-social behaviour and rebuilding trust with local residents, is paying dividends, according to Sergeant Bernadette Leech.

Sgt Leech has been working in Limerick for the past 16 years, and in moyross for almost a year and a half.

Along with 19 other gardaí, Sgt Leech is working to re-establish links with the local community in the area.

Community police in moyross constitute a return to a more traditional brand of policing where people know their local gardaí and can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they are on the beat.

“the community needs to feel a sense of security and obviously the uniformed garda on the beat lends itself to that,” she said.

So far the community gardaí have worked with local residents on projects including bingo, knitting and a gentlemen’s club for the elderly residents.

the gardaí have also worked with local schools organising soccer for children and teenagers.

“in order to get through to the adults and parents we go to schools. We have lots of projects with the children. it’s easier to get through to the children than it is to the adults sometimes,” said Sgt Leech.

Gardaí are on the beat in moyross throughout the day and during the night by foot,

by bike and in patrol cars.Security cameras have also

been installed in recent months and the footage is monitored by the community themselves in a bottom up approach to ensure safety and security on the streets in the community.

But it hasn’t all been easy. Gardaí have faced opposition and have been verbally abused and stoned on occasion. these incidents are rare and carried out by a small percentage of the

population in moyross. overall gardaí are well received and the initiative is working well.

Sgt Leech said: “Community policing is a fundamental part of the regeneration of moyross and a huge percentage of the people living here are hardworking, decent people.

“the purpose of regeneration is to try and improve the quality of life for the people living in the area.

“For a certain percentage that is going to be very difficult because of the particular

area they are living in.”But quality of life is important

to every person and to every community, and moyross is no exceptionto that rule.

the community police are working hard to re-establish a trust and community spirit within the neighbourhood.

the gardaí hope that will enable people to relate to one another without resorting to violence or underhanded tactics.

the results of the community

policing initiative in moyross are promising.

“Crime incidents are down dramatically due to the extra community gardaí in the area,” she added.

Community policing in moyross was one of the recommendations made by the 2007 Fitzgerald report.

if followed a number of incidents of criminality in the area, including an arson attack on a car in which two young children, millie and Gavin murray, were badly burned.

Moyross motorbike riders steer clear of troubleBy Vincent Ryan

youtH diversion projects don’t usu-ally have waiting lists full of enthusi-astic teenagers eager to get involved. But one Limerick programme has achieved just that by offering partici-pants the chance to ride cross-country motorcycles.

the Corpus Christi youth Development Project, based at the Bays in moyross, has been training teenagers to ride the motorcycles as part of a youth diversion programme, aimed at keeping them away from crime.

Some of the teenagers involved had previously been at risk, but they are now putting their energies into their new found passion instead.

the venture, which has been running for the past 12 months, has proved very successful ac-

cording to Karen Keehan, youth justice worker with the group.

“there was a problem with anti-social behaviour in the area which included motorbikes on the green and a lot of these young people were coming to the atten-tion of the gardaí,” she said.

“As the interest in bikes was already there, a decision was made to constructively harness it.”

Some of the participants on the scheme are young offenders, while others were at risk of offending, and range in age from 12 to 16.

At first parents were asked not to buy motorcycles for the young peo-ple. and the club began by training them in basic maintenance skills.

“the rule then was to be in the club you couldn’t be on your own bike on the greens

or the road ways,” she said.Since then the project sourced

three scrambler motorcycles and with the help of a local off-road club built a motocross track.

Garda Traffic Corps gardaí helped train the teenagers in driver theory and basic handling skills.

After passing the basic han-dling courses the participants began using the motocross track, though it has been unavailable due to bad weather recently.

“it’s been a success,” she said, “it’s always a success when you have kids doing something they love and gaining confidence.”

in future she said she hopes to start a junior club with quad bikes for 12 to 14-year-olds, and enlist the help of older teenagers to help train them.

Building bridges on the beat

Student journalist Deirdre Connolly talks to Garda John Noonan on the beat in Moyross. Picture: Eoin Stephenson

Garrett Keane after a muddy day on the track. Picture: Andrew O’Byrne

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 200910 news features

Providing the skills to get ahead

By Jessica Colleran

SITTING at a table with five or six Moyross women talking about regeneration it is hard to believe that they might have trouble being heard.

But that is just it. It is one thing to be articulate and confident enough to speak your mind; it is another thing to actually be heard.

“They are not hearing what we are saying,” said Susan Walsh as the other women nodded in agreement.

The women who agreed to talk about regeneration know that they do not represent all of the women of Moyross, but the issues they raise are echoed in conversations at bus stops and street corners across the estate.

Amid comparatively benign issues such as what the new houses will be like and whether they will have the same features as their current homes, there are

more serious social issues.Several of the women expressed

concerns about being uprooted from houses that they have lived in for almost 35 years. And some of the other women are afraid that they will not have their network of friends around them if they have to move.

“All we want is peace and quiet and to live our lives,” Eileen Loughlin said.

It is difficult for these women to see a peaceful life in their future when so much surrounding the regeneration process is currently in limbo.

“I don’t think they’ll listen to us, or do what they’ve said they’ll do,” Susan Walsh said.

“People in Moyross are getting fed up with listening to words and seeing no action,” she added.

The women are also afraid that the money allocated to the regeneration

programme will not be available because of the recession.

As the conversation drew to a close, Virginia Keane summed up everyone’s feelings.

“They promised us regeneration and all we got was conversation.”

Responding to the women’s concerns, Director of Regeneration Northside Paul Foley said every effort would be made to maintain communities where possible.

“We will do our very best to ensure that people who wish to do so will retain their original neighbours,” Mr Foley said, adding that nobody will be forced out of their homes.

Mr Foley confirmed that Limerick’s regeneration plans have the support of the Government and said that not all of the improvements are about money.

“Sometimes it just requires an increase in services or changes to

the delivery of services,” he added.Mr Foley said the regeneration

agency recognised the importance of community members in the decision making process.

“We could not have consulted with the community any more than we did,” Mr Foley said.

“We have a full time team out there on the ground. Any time people want to talk we are here in the community,” he said.

Mr Foley said that 40 actions from the Regeneration Master Plan will be fast-tracked for 2009.

These include the expansion of the Incredible Years Programme; a support programme for families at risk; identification of a retirement village site for 40 units in consultation with the local community and the roll out of an Early Warning and Common Assessment Needs Programme for children.

‘Regeneration - not conversation’

By Jessica Colleran

WHEN local woman Michelle O’Doherty finished her studies in Construction Economics over 15 years ago, she could not get any work in her profession in Limerick.

Within a year of returning home Michelle started work at the Moyross Community Centre crèche through a community employment scheme. She knew after the first day that she had found her vocation.

Her interest in childcare prompted Michelle to study the subject with the Moyross Adult Education Group (MAEG).

Most students complete the part-time Childcare Level 5 course within two years and the job prospects are very good.

Michelle completed the FETAC course within two years and now she is Crèche Manager at Our Lady of Lourdes childcare centre on Childers Road.

Michelle puts her success down to a mixture of doing the course, the experience she gained through the Moyross Community Centre crèche and her own determination.

“It was not only childcare. It was the computer skills, communications and practical skills,” she said.

When Michelle was given the opportunity to work at the crèche she seized it. She describes herself as very driven and committed to her work.

At least 50 per cent of all staff employed in crèches must have a qualification. Michelle is responsible for employing staff and she favours people who have the qualification.

She advises people considering training to ease themselves back into study.

“Some people might not have been working for 20 years so it can be a challenge to take up study again.

“Start slowly. Do a module at a time,” she said.

The Childcare Level 5 course that Michelle did is just one of a range of courses people can take with MAEG. The group organises a good range of courses, from fly fishing and digital photography through to computers, Junior and Leaving Certificate subjects and personal development subjects.

MAEG administrators Josephine and Helen Duffy are hoping that people affected by the Dell redundancies will use their services. While the MAEG does not have a budget to offer specific programmes to these people, there are a number of courses that people could benefit from.

Most of the courses offered by MAEG take up only a couple of hours one day a week. The cost of attending a course with MAEG is minimal and the fee is waived for medical card holders.

The courses are held at three locations in Moyross: the Corpus Christi School, the Community Enterprise Centre and the Moyross Adult Education Group offices in Sarsfield Business Estate.

Moyross

Child’s play: Manager of Our Lady of Lourdes Childworld crèche Michelle O’Doherty with Ellen Hogan, Kevin Dillon, Abbie Tully, Joey Duggan and Andrew Purcell. Picture: Kieran Clancy

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 11news features

Above left: A stitch in time - Marjorie O’Donnell at the Sewing & Craft Class at the Community Centre, Moyross.

Above: Northstar Family Support Project members Terry Byrne, Marie O Shea, Peggy Frahill, Annette O Carroll, Mary Timmons and Helen Sparling help families dealing with substance abuse.

Left: Therese Hurley, tutor (centre) with Eileen Sheehan (left) and Nuala O’Connor in the Communications class at the Family Resource House, Moyross, Limerick.

Below: Proud artist Deirdre Bond shows off her decoupage of Peter Stringer at the Community Centre.Pictures: Kieran Clancy; Eoin Stephenson; Brian Arthur/ Press 22

GivinG a voice to women in moyross

By Jessica Colleran

THE University of Limerick is organis-ing a major conference this summer to give local women a strong voice in the regeneration of their areas.

The conference entitled, Having a Voice in Regeneration, will empower women and community development groups from Moyross, Southill, Ballincurra Weston and St Mary’s Park to have a stronger say in the process.

Conference organiser Gabriella Hanrahan said: “Women are very well represented in community development, but not necessarily at the decision making level and that is why we are keen to promote women’s voices in regeneration.”

A number of issues relating to regeneration have already been identified for the June conference, according to Ms Hanrahan.

Some people may have to move

to a different area or to another part of the estate under the current regeneration proposals. These people are concerned about how their support networks will be affected, Ms Hanrahan said.

“Within your own community there is an acceptance of who you are. There is the whole idea of being accepted by your own community and then having to go to a new community,” she added.

Ms Hanrahan said that people are also concerned about how their children’s education support may be affected, particularly where their children attend a designated disadvantaged school.

Workshops in each regeneration area will be held each month in the lead up to the conference to address these concerns and identify further issues. The content of the workshops will be guided and directed by women from Limerick.

“We want to work with the women prior to the conference so that we can deal with specific issues at the conference and get a buy-in from the Regeneration Agency on

how women could connect with those issues through regeneration policies and practices,” she added.

The conference and workshops have already gained strong support from a number of key community groups working within the regeneration areas, according to Ms Hanrahan.

The University of Limerick will also provide facilitators and policy advisors for the conference and workshops.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, Professor Pat O’Connor said this conference is an indication of the University of Limerick’s commitment to regeneration through partnership and community empowerment.

“This kind of collaborative activity between universities and disadvantaged areas is very important,” Professor

O’Connor added.“Universities have resources and

sharing these with communities is a key element in a university discharging its responsibilities” Professor O’Connor said.

The proceeds of the UL President’s Gala Dinner in May will go towards the Having a Voice in Regeneration project. There are three elements to the project - the conference; the production of the Moyross Voice newspaper by the UL journalism students and media training for community groups.

70 people will attend the one day conference in June and they will be drawn from the workshops and community groups within the regeneration areas.

If you are interested in taking part in the conference contact Gabriella Hanrahan at 086 7708216 or Liz Price from the Limerick Women’s Network at 061 408 711.

UL conference to empower local women

Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science Professor Pat O’Connor

By Catherine Moore

AN innovative support group for fami-lies affected by drug and alcohol abuse will be launched next month in Watch House Cross.

The Northstar Family Support Project is based on a similar successful project in Clondalkin, Dublin.

A group of local women took the initiative to set up this project because they saw the devastating impact that drug and alcohol abuse was having on families.

The group’s spokeswoman Peggy Frahill believes the project is badly needed because there is no support for these families.

“Drug and alcohol abuse has a massive effect on families, such as marital breakdown, mental health issues and criminality, which in turn affects society. It is a ripple effect from the family to the whole community,” Peggy said.

The aim of the project is to offer a safe place where family members can go for an open and confidential chat with a project member.

“There is a big taboo surrounding drug abuse. Families stay quiet, not discussing it with anyone, even their own family members,” Peggy said.

The project also aims to offer counselling, holistic treatments and coffee mornings, where people can relax, get information or meet others in similar situations.

The women currently involved in the project are: Terry Byrne, Mary Timmons, Marie O’Shea, Helen Sparling, Peggy Frahill, Catherine Joyce, Annette O’Carroll and Dolores Moore.

The Moyross ladies hope their project will grow and expand from the Northside to the entire city.

Moyross project first in Limerick

moyross women

The hot meals and warm company make the cold days of winter a little brighter for Moyross senior citizen Rose Ryan.

She is a regular at the Moyross Luncheon Club, which provides a cooked main meal and a friendly atmosphere to all comers.

The College Avenue woman had a mouthful of praise for a club that gives her a nourishing diet of enjoyment.

“The luncheon club is brilliant and I look forward to it since it has been open. It should have been here years ago.

“The food is beautiful and delicious. We have our main meal, dessert and coffee or tea and can catch up on local news.

“I wish more people would come and join us here,” said Rose.

The luncheon club takes place at Moyross Community Centre on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30pm to 2pm. On Wednesdays and Fridays locals can go along to St Munchin’s Family Resource Centre.

“There are sittings for 36 people

and we provide eight to 10 takeaways collected by carers,” Chris Quaid, Project Development Office of the luncheon club said.

“People come from Moyross, St Munchin’s, St Melia’s and St Mary’s.

“They make their own way in to the club. A neighbour brings a wheelchair member.”

he described the ethos of the club and centre as “never personal, all community”.

“The Christmas lunch brought everyone together and we had the Regeneration Agency staff, the community centre staff and the community gardaí who have an office upstairs joining in for a great day.”

The club has been going for one year and is for those aged over 65 and middle aged people that live alone.

The dinners cost €3.00 or €3.50 with dessert and coffee or tea.

The prices are kept low so that those who need a hot meal can afford to pay for it.

Staff members bring meals to the

tables while the patrons socialise.The club has also created

local employment and training opportunities. Dennis haigney from Delmege Park, Moyross is one of those to benefit.

“Dennis has been working

with us in the kitchen and he is now going on to college to become a chef,” Mr Quaid said.

A complimentary luncheon club is also provided on Wednesdays in a bungalow by the side of the local church in Moyross.

This is called the Friends and

Neighbours Club which FÁS operates. Club staff members collect and feed 30 people who are less independent. The club runs from 1pm to 3pm and bingo is played after dinner.

“There are three women workers who also provide an elderly outreach service offering help in the home, shopping, collection of pensions, friendly support and company,” said FÁS supervisor Tony Fahey.

This is vital as the luncheon club will not reopen until the end of January when the cold weather hopefully finishes.

A recent survey by the National Council for Older People has shown that there are 17,473 people over 65 living in Limerick City and County.

The survey recommended an improvement of service provision for the elderly in the community.

“Many elderly people around here are living alone and it cannot be assumed that their family members are in a position to take care of their relatives’ needs,” Co-ordinator of St Munchin’s Family Resource Centre

eleanor Cowen-hughes said.“Our aim is to improve the

quality of life and direct resources to those most in need.

“We provide a range of services here including meals on wheels, a driving service, a home security scheme, an outreach worker, services workers to help with housework, laundry and a small scale refurbishment and redecoration project.

“We are concerned about anti-social behaviour and how to knit the community together. We ran a gardening project recently in an old person’s property in partnership with a local youth worker.

“The teenagers really seemed to enjoy this. We are trying to find new approaches to bring all ages in contact with each other rather than the compartmentalisation that currently dominates,” she added.

By working in partnership and cooperation for the common good these three organisations provide essential services to vulnerable people especially in the coldest winter experienced in recent years.

12 features

Some of the diners enjoying the fun at the Moyross Luncheon Club in the Moyross Com-munity Centre. Picture: Eoin Stephenson

“Our aim is to improve the quality

of life and direct resources to those

most in need”.

The Moyross Luncheon Club answers a valid community need. Alex Grogan discovered more

Food and fun for the young at heart

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 2009

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009 13news/features

By Marie Dowd

LOCAL man, Colm Kelly, was among the 315 students who graduated at the University of Limerick on Tuesday.

Colm was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Languages and Cultural Studies.

Colm said that his experience at the university was fantastic and he really enjoyed meeting people from all around the world.

“I’ve had a great time at UL - I have met people from many different cul-tures and I was given an opportunity to travel.”

Through his studies Colm got an opportunity to live in Spain and experi-ence the country’s culture, language and literature firsthand.

He spent the last six months teaching English in Spain, and is open-minded about the future.

“I am hoping to take a year out and travel around South America,” Colm said.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my course and really appreciated the work of my lecturers and tutors” he added.

His father, Moyross Development Administrator Jude Meaney said that he was very proud to see his son graduate

from the university. Colm Kelly came to the University of

Limerick through the traditional CAO route and spent four years studying for his degree.

But in addition to the traditional route, students from Moyross can utilise the Access programmes provided by the university.

The Access Office works to promote and support the participation of students from groups who are under-represented at third level.

Under the programme, students can enter the university on reduced entry-level points.

The University of Limerick’s Access Officer Deirdre O’Connor said that UL offer reduced points on 5 per cent of all their courses.

“We support students before and during their time at university. We offer advice and guidance; students are free to drop in and chat about their concerns at any time,” Ms O’Connor said.

The Access Office provides pre-entry support with mentoring and shadowing programmes.

Bursaries are available to access stu-dents for books and materials. Laptops, print credit and extra tuition are also made accessible to Access students.

Local man earns his colours with UL degree

By Ciara Peters

MUNSTER rugby star Keith Earls has kicked to touch claims that people from Moyross can-not reach the very top.

“Just because you’re from Moyross doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve what you want in life,” said the Munster centre who grew up in Dalgaish Park.

He was speaking to The Moyross Voice about his years at St Nes-san’s Community College, the school of choice for most Moyross students, where rugby is a religion.

PE teacher Michael Johnson spotted exceptional match-winning potential in his pupil, a son of Young Munster great, Ger Earls.

“It all started in St Nessan’s with Mr Johnson. St Nessan’s were a ‘B’ school at the time and he sent me down to an ‘A’ rugby school trial. I had a good few games and it all kicked off from there,” said the 21-year-old who spent three years at the school.

Around 70 per cent of the students in St Nessan’s come from Moyross and among the current students are several who are seeking to match the high standards which their local hero has set for himself.

Transition year student Armando Perreto from College Avenue, Moyross, has recently completed a photography course and had his prints exhibited in King John’s Castle. Multi-talented Armando is a keen singer and wants to pur-sue a career in the arts or music.

He praised the school’s efforts to help out students in difficulty.

“They go out of their way and try to work out the problems that you have. I’m in a youth club where we help younger people have a voice.”

Orla Ryan, a sixth year student from Pineview Gardens, said St Nessan’s provided its pupils with sound career advice.

“There are great facilities in the school. The career guidance teacher, in particular, is very encourag-ing,” said the hard-working pupil, who wants to study nursing at the University of Limerick.

School principal Eugene O’Brien said interaction with the students was crucial to the St Nessan’s success story.

“The students are easy to approach and very easy to get on with. The whole interaction is great. That’s why I’m still here,” he said.

Tale of love lost and found in book on Moyross history

Keith Earls spurs St Nessan’s students to higher goals

Left: Keith Earls shares a joke with some of his former teachers (L to R) Eugene O’Brien (principal), Mai Patton, Michael Johnston and John Gale.

Above: Keith Earls with St Nessans pupils Tony Stanners, Garreth McNamara, Dylan O’Donnell, Ger Walsh and Jeffery Payne. Picture: Kieran Clancy

By John O’Regan A ROMANCE rekindled after fifty years is just one story told in a new book chronicling the history of Moyross since the 12th Century.

Martin McMahon from Ballynanty Mór lost touch with Delma Heaney, his childhood sweetheart more than 50 years ago.

The tale of how they recently met and renewed acquaintance is told in Frank Prendergast’s forthcoming book, Moyross – The Story So Far. The research, which

Mr Prendergast, a former Mayor of Limerick carried out, covers events including the burning of the original Corpus Christi Church and the construction of its replacement. He also details the origins of the name Moyross, which refers to a wooded peninsula. Delmege Park is one of several other place names about which he writes; it was named after the Delmege family.

“The Northern Regeneration Committee under Paul Foley, who is responsible for their work

in Moyross, asked me if I would write a book on the history of Moyross,” said Mr Prendergast.

“They were concerned with two aspects of the regeneration. One was the physical regeneration with the knocking down of old houses in poor condition and then the social side of it: how the people lived, what services were, their occupations and the parish side of things,” said the author.

The main goal of the book is to create a social record for posterity.

“If people in a hundred years time pick up the book they will get a feel for the lives, thoughts and emotions of the people who lived and moved and had their being in Moyross and Ballynanty Mór,” he said.

Mr Prendergast worked with an editorial committee comprising Fr Frank O’Dea PP; Alan Meagher, editor of Moywrites and Changing Ireland; Tony O’Gorman, former principal of Corpus Christi School and Áine Bean Uí Chroimín, the school’s current principal.John Maloney Snr, one of the original own-

ers of Maloney’s field

Colm Kelly graduating at UL this week.Picture: Eoin Stephenson

By Alex Grogan

Thomond Rugby Club is well placed to carry off the silver as it emerges from the mid-season lull. Players and officials are using the cold snap match cancellations to maintain fitness and skills ahead of the league and cup resumptions in the coming weeks.

At all juvenile levels the Thomond progress report is a positive one. Thomond’s juvenile stars are doing particularly well with the under-14s still unbeaten. The under-15s are in the semi-finals of their league while the under-17s are serious contenders for honours in their category. The under-13s are competing for the league and cup double. But it’s very early days for the under-16s who have just started their league campaign.

Competitive success, if it comes at season’s end, is being built on the back of a thriving club structure:

Players from six-years-old to seven-teen-years-old benefit from the club’s carefully constructed development and regular training programme. This programme provides a safe, supervised recreational opportunity for members to learn about and play rugby.

“Players come from all over Limerick now and Thomond has more junior members than any other club. many are local and make their own way in groups. Parents in cars bring others,” said Eddie hughes, Junior Teams Chairman.

“We have strong parental involvement and our ethos is not about winning trophies but more about community team building and sport. Players be-come friends for life.

“They pay a small membership fee and provide a photo so that players’ progress can be monitored from the time they join. This provides for kit except the shirt, refreshments and qualified coaches at every level,” he added.

Boys and girls up to 12-years-old play informal “blitzes” whereby the size of teams depends on the number of children participating on the day. Twice a month, on Sunday mornings, they play with teams from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.

All members begin to learn the skills required for the years ahead. new health and safety rules concerning lifting and scrums are taken seriously at the club. Players learn evasion, sidestep, hand-off and other technical skills.

Young people start playing 15-a-side rugby from 13-years-old in the north munster League. The under-16s won the league last year. Players over 16-years-old up to age 18 play in the All-Ireland League.

“The aim for every team is to have a team manager, a head coach, forwards and backs coaches and a kit man. our interest is in long-term player devel-opment and we concentrate on all the practical and visual elements of the game. The development programme for coaching is specific to the club,” mr hughes said.

The club has produced Irish interna-tional and munster rugby professionals the most recent being Keith Earls from moyross.

Sowing the seeds for soccer success

Ritchie to line out for LimerickBy Alex Grogan

moYRoSS United full back Ritchie neill has been selected to play for Lim-erick in the munster League against the best players from Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.

The 18-year-old right full-back is in fine shape as a result of a rigorous training regime and regular match practice.

“I train twice a week with moyross on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm with a trainer and then we have a match at the end. We do ball skills, sprints and laps to build up speed and stamina. I also train once a week with Limerick on Wednesday nights from 8pm to 9pm.”

Ritchie played in a very success-

ful St. nessan’s under-14’s team, which unexpectedly won the munster Schools’ cup. St nessan’s was a “B” school playing against “A” schools from all over munster.

“A” schools are bigger, have more pupils to select from and enjoy better facilities.

The nucleus of the team has stayed together which means they have pro-gressed through the years knowing each other’s strengths. This is very important in teams as Alex Ferguson at manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal have demonstrated. The result is an intuitive understand-ing between the players that provides success.

moyross United won the league and cup double last season like their

illustrious counterparts in the English Premier League. This also propelled Ritchie into the Limerick team.

Loyal to moyross United and his teammates Ritchie is between jobs but hoping that he can continue to work as a plasterer when the regeneration of moyross gets underway and provides employment for residents.

“Ritchie is also a handy rugby player who played with us,” Eddie hughes, Chairman of Thomond Rugby Club’s junior set up, said.

Ritchie intends to stay playing soc-cer and is looking forward to playing Corbally on Sunday, which is a lo-cal derby and top of the table clash. moyross are lying second with games in hand – like manchester United at the moment.

By Vincent Ryan

“WE’RE actually the last area in the country to be appointed development officers because it was so hard to get the funding organised,” explains Pat halpin, one of the four new develop-ment officers appointed by the FAI to Limerick City last month.

“What you had was a regional de-velopment officer. He was covering Clare, Limerick City, Limerick County and north Tipperary and with the best intentions in the world, trying to keep that area going all on your own was a massive task.”

The new sports development officers will be co-funded by the regeneration agency and the department of Culture, Sports and Arts. They will be prioritis-

ing the regeneration areas on both the northside and the southside of the city. Their first goal is to get an underage structure in place.

A problem getting volunteers has resulted in there being no underage soccer team in moyross until the under 17 age group.

“We’re in there working in the schools at the moment trying to set up inner city school competitions and mini-blitzes. To get them involved through the schools first and let the parents see how much the kids enjoy playing soccer. Then the parents might get involved in the local club,” explained mr halpin.

“We’re going to try and help moyross United set up an underage structure by

running coaching courses and volun-teer training courses to get guys on the ground in to the coach education system,” he added. The plan is that these courses will be starting in early February, to get the basic Kick Start 1 and Kick Start 2 coaching badges completed. The newly qualified coaches will then began training the underage teams.

This is not the only initiative that the sports development officers are hoping to implement in moyross. They are also hoping to run midnight leagues.

“This would be run between 10 pm and midnight for 17 to 21-year-olds. Instead of being in the pub or down hanging around the off-license we will have them playing ball and by the

time they come out the off-licence is locked up and the pub is closed,” mr halpin said.

“It’s to get them back into the habit of going to bed where at the moment a lot of them are out at night and they’re in bed during the day. We’ll change their habits without them even thinking about it. They’ll be knackered after playing ball and they might think of going home,” he added.

Pat halpin is himself a commit-ted moyross man. he’s been living there for 35 years and has been saying for years that if he won the lotto he wouldn’t move.

“Where are you going to find a place that’s better; good neighbours and good friends, money can’t buy that.”

In training - first class students from Corpus Christi School were put through their paces in a training camp by new soccer sports development officers Michael McCarthy (left) and Pat Halpin (right) with the help of teacher, Aoife Crawley. Picture: Don Moloney/Press 22

Thomond on trail to silverware

Moyross United’s Ritchie Neill.Photo: Eoin Stephenson

the moyross voiceThursday, January 22, 200914 news

Alan jockeys for Curragh successBy Abi Creed

IT WAS a chaotic scene at the beach in Ballyheigue on a cold Sunday afternoon in January. Point to point races were in full fl ow with the crowds gathered at the beach wall, hats and scarves worn by all to protect against the harsh sea breeze.

For his fi rst race Alan Ryan didn’t even manage to mount Ryan’s Daughter, as the horse bust its bridle and ran off up to the village.

For his second and fi nal race of the day, the young Moyross man saddled his horse but failed to pass the starting line, as the horse, unused to the soft beach sand, ran the wrong way.

It’s all in a day’s work for the 16-year-old trainee jockey at the Race Academy in the Curragh in Kildare, who wants to be the next Tony McCoy, and a long way from Pineview Gardens.

“T’was the worst day of racing in all my life,” Alan recalls, half disappointed, half joking, “they’re all nags anyway,” he laughs.

Born and raised in Moyross,

along with his sister and two brothers, Alan is horse mad.

From an early age he exercised local horses and ponies owned by people living in the Moyross estates. “It’s all I’ve ever ever wanted to do,” he said of his youth.

School wasn’t for him. He left St Nessan’s in second year, mostly due to his wild ways, but returned again to complete his Junior Cert.

After that he wasn’t interested, and when a local teacher gave him a reference to join the riding school last September he jumped at the opportunity. Since then he hasn’t looked back.

Although a few local teenagers tried out in the Curragh, Alan was the only one that qualifi ed. He is now almost half way through a 42-week trainee jockey course that, when he fi nishes, will allow him to become an apprentice jockey.

“I want to become an apprentice and then after four years a champion jockey,” he said, with steely determination, “Tony McCoy is my favourite, he’s an animal.”

For Alan, horses are his life and

he is at his most natural around them. He lives and breathes horse riding, during the week he spends his days in Kildare and at weekends he is in Sixmilebridge with his trainer Denis Quinn.

“I’d have come here Christmas day if I could have but Denis said to give it a break,” he says.

His days are spent getting up at the crack of dawn to bring horses around for their morning exercise.

After that he mucks out the stables starts grooming the animals.

After lunch it’s down to the classroom where he studies race tactics, horse care, nutrition, maths and money management. In the evenings he works out in the gym to keep his fi tness levels up and his weight down.

You have to be dedicated, he admits. “When I fi rst started in the Curragh, I was so scared. There was one horse in particular that used to throw me off every day without fail. When I looked up on the board in the morning and saw her name next to mine I used to be thinking ‘oh no’…. You have to be wild keen.”

He has learned a lot since coming to Kildare, about himself, about the horses, and about being a professional handler.

“You have to be quiet around horses; the one thing they’re scared of is sudden noises. You can’t be making loud noises around them, it’s dangerous and someone could get hurt.”

His daily focus is on teaching the horses “good habits” even if

that means being thrown off the horse every now and again.

Alan is not the only Ryan who is vying to become a professional sports star. His older brother Bobby plays for St Patrick’s Athletic Football Club in Dublin, although he hopes to be the famous one. “He’s playing away in the Eircom League….he’s too old to get famous now,” he said.

With fi ve months left, Alan is hoping to make a career for himself in the racing industry. He hopes to begin an apprenticeship as a jockey in June, when he is fi nished his course.

The course gives him a FETAC national skills certifi cate as a trainee jockey, which will allow him to work as a groom or an assistant if he doesn’t make it as a jockey. For him, it’s a “job for life”.

Above:Horse whisperer - Moyross jockey Alan Ryan with one of his favourite horses “Big Jim Mac” at Ballyvourgal Stables in Sixmilebridge.Picture: Brian Arthur/ Press 22

“I’d have come here Christmas Day if I could have but Denis said to give it a break.”

the moyross voice Thursday, January 22, 2009

the voice of the villagethe voice of the villageThursday, January 22, 2009

By Abi Creed

FATHER and son team Alan and Dean Kelly stormed through the opposition to win a trophy each at the pool tourna-ment held in “the Bays” this week.

Two generations of Moyross men took to the tables to try and win the Dads and Lads competition.

Dads were calmly warming up inside the pool hall, taking shots while the lads buzzed round from table to table, balls fl ying in all directions.

The cracks of the cues against the balls, the excited shouts, along with the rap music playing through mo-bile phones echoed from the tall ceil-ings.

The fi rst team to play the Kelly pair were Mike and Tyrone Power. Ty-rone, although very enthusiastic, did not have much experience. But Alan didn’t hold back. Balls were potted

without mercy. Next up came more of the Power

family, James and his two sons Jody and Paddy.

They were no match for pool shark Dean Kelly although the pair had been practicing since they received a pool table for Christmas.

Dean was determined to win and his enthusiasm was shown in his hands.

“Look at me I’m shaking and every-thing,” he said.

All the contestants gathered around for the fi nal game. Dean sailed through the match with a little help from his dad. Paul O’Brien and his son Tyrone Cronin also received runner-up trophies.

The School Liaison Offi cer with Corpus Christi National School, Tier-nan O’Neill, runs the Dads and Lads activities in conjunction with Limerick City VEC.

Mr Tiernan explained that the tour-

nament helped to get the dads more involved in their children’s activities at school.

“School is so female dominated...

I rarely see the fathers come in. It’s always the mother,” he said.

“We hope that through this some of the fathers who are getting involved in the taster session…might actually take up some adult education courses as well,” Mr O’Neill said.

“It’s a very non threatening way for the fathers to get involved in comput-ers…coming down and getting involved with their children,” he added.

The project, which is in its fi rst year, is benefi cial to both father and son. The fathers learn new skills and enjoy much needed interaction with their sons, who also enjoy the experience.

“The sons absolutely love it,” ac-cording to Mr O’Neill.

Above: On cue - father and son, Mike and Tyrone Power, planning their game before competing against 11 other father and son teams in a pool competition at “the Bays”. Picture: Keith Wiseman.

New GAA o� cer unveils plansBy Abi Creed

ATTRACTING new young players to the Moyross LIT Sarsfi elds Club will be one of the main tasks for the area’s new GAA Development Offi cer, Adrian O’Sullivan.

The son of Limerick GAA Assistant Chairman Mickey O’Sullivan has wasted no time in getting new projects underway to help develop the club.

O’ Sullivan and Ger Downes were recruited as GAA Development of-fi cers for the regeneration areas un-der a programme which saw them appointed by the GAA and funded by the Regeneration Agency and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The Northside offi cer will work pri-marily with the parishes of St Mary’s and St Munchin’s.

LIT Sarsfi elds has ambitious plans to develop throughout its catchment area of Moyross, feeding out of Corpus Christi and St Munchin’s National Schools.

“We are setting up a continuity team that will link the national schools to the secondary schools and feeding back to the club,” he said.

For his second project O’Sullivan hopes to have a hurling team repre-senting the Northside take part in an inter-county fi xture before the end of May.

Plans are also in the pipeline for a team from Scotland to visit the North-side areas.

“We’re hoping to have a hurling club from Glasgow visit before the end of February also,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

LIT Sarsfi elds currently have three teams; an under-10s boys hurling team, an under-12s girls football team and an under-14s boys football team.

Adrian O’ Sullivan can be contacted at adrian.osullivan@games.gaa.ie.

Below: New GAA Development O� cer Adrian O’Sullivan will work with LIT Sars� elds Club.

Pool sharp shooters

Le� : Tiernan O’Neill presents a trophy to father and son team, Alan and Dean Kelly - winners of the � rst stage of the Moyross pool tournament. Picture: Keith Wiseman.