Offaly Foróige Clubs honoured

Offaly teenagers were honoured at the fourth permanent tsb Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards, which were held at the Tullamore Court Hotel recently. Over 30 groups from Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Cavan, Monaghan, Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford displayed their citizenship projects at the awards, which reward voluntary projects that made a difference to make a positive mark on the local community. In an effort to recycle their unused books and bring the community together Tubber Foróige Club arranged a book sale and family fun day, with a percentage of proceeds going to Down Syndrome Offaly. Ballinabrackey club focussed on senior citizens. They designed invitations and posters for a senior citizens afternoon, decorated the hall for the event, made flower arrangements and also prepared a photo display of the past hundred years. Ballycumber Foróige Club discovered a need for a new local phone directory, and so collected details from local people, businesses and tradespeople within a ten mile radius and then distributed the resulting directory to the entire community. Croghan Foróige Club meanwhile designed and launched a community website to provide information on community clubs, societies and events. During the project they realised a number of people were unfamiliar with technology, and they hosted a series of internet classes. Gallen Community Foróige embraced the recession and organised exchange parties, where people could bring their unwanted books and DVDs for exchange. They now have plans for a book bank. Mucklagh club, after deciding a derelict building in the middle of the village was impacting negatively on the landscape, secured permission from the building owner and worked with a local artist to put a personal touch on the building. Offaly Comhairle na nÓg ran the Say It Out Loud Conference to give young people an opportunity to speak openly and honestly about issues affecting them, such as mental health, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drugs, eating disorders and sexuality. Speaking to the young people at the awards Chairperson of the National Council of Foróige Mairí McMahon said everyone should be very proud of themselves. "Once again you have shown us what you can do. You make things happen and you do it with energy, style and commitment. You turn an idea into something tangible that impacts on your own lives and lives of others." Three similar events were held across Ireland, with 150 youth projects honoured overall. Ten projects will now go forward to take part in a television show entitled "Ireland's Top Teens" on TV3.