Large crowd attends launch of anti-bullying initiative
An event in Tullamore recently heard moving personal testimonies about the damage caused to individuals and families by bullying.
The stories were told during the official launch of 'I’m a Friend’ (IAF), an anti-bullying initiative founded by Ferbane man Charlie Wynne.
Up to 300 people attended the function in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Friday, April 1.
One of those in attendance was a man who travelled from Connemara and said his daughter’s confidence had been shattered as a result of the bullying she experienced.
“IAF is worth supporting, because my daughter will never be the same again,” he said. “You would not believe the stories that are out there and the harm that can be done, not just for a year or two years, but for life.”
Another woman said she was “a survivor of bullying” which occurred at her workplace for a number of years. She said “the support of my family, and the truth,” helped her get through the ordeal.
The event concluded with a performance of the IAF theme song by former Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan.
IAF was established to work towards the prevention of bullying and the reduction of its harmful effects.
It asks people to make the commitment that they do not agree with bullying; they will not accept being bullied; and they will support the victims of bullying in whatever way they can.
In his speech at the event, the GAA’s national children’s officer, Gearóid O Maoilmhichil, spoke about developing a “partnership” between the GAA and IAF.
He predicted that the launch would mark “the beginning tonight of a new friendship, a new partnership and, I hope, an alliance that we can build nationwide.”
The keynote speaker at the launch was prominent US lawyer, businessman, and newly appointed chairman of IAF, Tim Moynahan. He said Ireland now had an opportunity to become “moral leaders in the world” through the IAF initiative.
Leading entrepreneur Nicola Byrne, who founded companies such as Cloud90 and 11890 Directory Enquiries, said she supported IAF ever since Charlie Wynne first approached her about it six years ago.
“I thought, nobody is talking about this and it’s really, really important,” she stated.
The event also included an excellent speech by John Dunican, a third year student at Gallen Community College in Ferbane and a member of the national council of Foroige.
“Exclusion and isolation are invisible but insidious forms of bullying,” said John. “Prolonged exposure to these experiences can do untold damage to self confidence, self esteem, and social development in a young person.”
He added that Foroige members were organising a 'pledge event’ in the coming weeks at which they will individually make a promise to support the principles of IAF.
The initiative’s founder, Charlie Wynne, said IAF was started because victims of bullying had no voice.
“This is a very simple initiative. It’s to give a voice to everybody, and it’s to deny anybody taking your voice away from you,” he said.
He quoted the words of Martin Luther King: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend”.
The crowd was also shown video messages in support of IAF from legendary sports broadcaster Jimmy Magee, former world boxing champion Andy Lee, and John F. Keane, a native of Westmeath who is the Honorary Consul of Ireland in Seattle.
More details about the initiative are available at: www.imafriend.com