ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF BALLYFIN COMMUNITY HALL
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF BALLYFIN COMMUNITY HALL ON SATURDAY 4 APRIL, 1998
Earlier this afternoon, I visited Clonaslee and had the great honour and pleasure of opening their Community Resource Centre. Ballyfin is somewhat different to Clonaslee in that the population is much more rural-based with Ballyfin is their local parish centre. I am particularly pleased that Fr. Dunny - the Parish Priest here at Ballyfin - invited me to be with you this afternoon and I am delighted to perform the opening of your upgraded Community Centre - a place for all of the people in the area where you can meet as a community.
Projects such as this are never easy to complete but perseverance pays off and here we are - three years after work commenced - gathering together in a celebration of a great community achievement. It is a sign of a healthy community – where people are prepared to row in - to lend their support and energy for the good of all - where they can pool their resources to work for each other. Embarking on a project such as this involves commitment, dedication and hard work – in involves new partnerships and linkages between the people of the community and between the community and outside help such as FÁS. This is what community partnerships are all about. All over Ireland, communities are using the partnership model to focus energy and resources on improving their areas – in making them places of which they can be proud.
So this is a great occasion for the people of Ballyfin – an occasion when you have come together to celebrate - when you can appreciate just what can be done through determination and hard work - but mostly through faith in yourselves and your ability to make it work. Your new centre will give you facilities for indoor games – for meetings – for a drama group – for activities for all age groups. Most importantly though, it will give you a sense of belonging – a sense of identity that is important for a population scattered in a rural area. In fact, Fr. Dunny tells me that every one of you will have to use a car or a bike to reach the centre – so I presume that the first item on the agenda was a large car park!
A major factor in Ireland’s great economic and social success stems from the partnership approach - which is a feature in so many areas of life. But of course there’s nothing new in this – it always has been a feature of Irish life for neighbour to help neighbour - and friend to help friend - especially when an extra pair of hands were needed. Earlier today, I attended the Civil Defence National Exercise which they have appropriately called “Meitheal ‘98” – after the ancient system of neighbour helping neighbour.
Nowadays not only are “willing hands” welcome, but also open and creative minds with new ideas, to help and support communities as they come together to harness their strengths and talents for the good of all, such as in the parish level support of local development initiatives. And there is a new spirit in Ireland – a self-confidence in our abilities – a “can do” philosophy – which is bringing us to new levels of achievement.
This newly extended centre is the result of a lot of time, effort and commitment on the part of a lot of people. I have no doubt that this will be a living, vibrant centre long into the future – a credit to the energy and generosity of you, the community of Ballyfin. The Parish Committee have done an excellent job. I would like also to pay tribute to the people of the area who assisted the Committee in their work and, of course, FÁS, without whom this would not have been the success that it is today.
I wish you all congratulations and every success with your new centre, and I have no doubt that as the focal point where people can meet and interact the centre will prove to be an invaluable asset to the community – and the inspiration to many people in the area to reach out for new goals and to work with renewed confidence for their own community.
ENDS