St Mary?s takes another step forward into an IT future

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen commended St Mary?s Youth Centre in Tullamore on their foresight in opening an Information Communications and Technology room (ICT) last Friday. ?No more important work can be undertaken, now more then ever, then to provide direction and stewardship to our young people,? Minister Cowen commented. Promising continued support for the centre, Minister Cowen said: ?This centre provides a great opportunity for young people to be positively influenced?. Offaly County Manager Pat Gallagher expressed his delight at being invited to the opening of the new facility. ?The enjoyment and development and opportunity that I got through the youth services has been of tremendous service in my own path through life,? he said. Describing the board of management as very active and very professional, Mr Gallagher said the organisation has provided ?positive development opportunities in the town?. Chairman of Tullamore Town Council Richard Egan said he was all too aware of the great work which was being carried out by the group. The ?keen sense of partnership? that was evident through the work and workers at the youth centre was to be commended, he said. Tullamore?s Sister Genny recalled being a student at St Mary?s in 1952. On June 10, 1980 she was handed the keys to the building and there were only a couple of stools and a table in the facility, she said. She praised the foresight of the Sisters of Mercy in providing the facility for the youth and thanked all who had worked in the Youth Centre. ?It is a time of pride and nostalgia for me?, she said. She thanked Leader, Pobal, Offaly County Council and Atlantic Corridor for their contributions towards the latest project. Chairman of the Board of Management Ray Ryan thanked volunteers and said the Youth Centre could not operate without their assistance. Mr Ryan also issued an invitation to companies or organisations who needed a modern facility to train. Meanwhile, the new ICT room will be ?used to help young members develop there IT skills?. The centre caters for music, sports, drama and art at a time when there was ?never a greater need for the facilities for young people?. The Youth Centre sees an incredible 1,100 individuals passing through its doors on a weekly basis and has taken part in many large events, Mr Ryan said. The main Tullamore venue for the 2007 Tullamore All Ireland Fleadh was located in the centre, he commented. Links are being made with Maynooth and Galway Colleges to establish two new third level programmes from the centre, Mr Ryan said. The official opening of the new ICT room, which has 25 computers, was concluded with a blessing by Bishop Smyth assisted by Sister Genny.