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REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE TEMPLESHANNON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE TEMPLESHANNON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ENNISCORTHY, CO. WEXFORD 25th JANUARY 1999

It is my great pleasure to be here with you today at the Templeshannon Community Development Project. I would like to thank Molly Brennan, the Project Co-ordinator for her words of welcome and her kind invitation.

Templeshannon is, of course, at the foot of Vinegar Hill, a name that is associatedthroughout the country with the 1798 Rebellion. The values for which that Rising was fought – values such as equality and solidarity - are much better understood, much more realisable today, yet still remain dreams for many people in Ireland. The new forms of oppression are more subtle, but equally soul-destroying. They take the form of unemployment, poverty, discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion.

The increasing prosperity which Ireland has experienced in recent years gives us great pride and growing hope, but there is still a way to go if we are to have real equality of opportunity. Indeed, in some ways the gap between rich and poor can appear to be increasing – as those who are doing well seem to accelerate further ahead and those whose boats are beached remain static. We can only judge ourselves to be a success as a nation if all members of our society are enabled to participate as of right in every sphere in employment, in social networks, in the decision-making process which determines their lives. That has to be our goal, the destination of all our energies. This generation is the closest to realising it.

Projects of this kind demonstrate that this is not just an empty aspiration. Real community development is not simply about improving people’s lives – although of course this is an important aspect. The key reason for the success of projects like this is that they give the people who need help, the skills, confidence and self-belief to help themselves. This means they are no longer the passive recipients of whatever assistance other people decide that they need – instead, they are given a voice with which they can speak for themselves.

Templeshannon is a fine example of this. It shows that with a little money and a lot of love, dedication and hard work, it is possible to make a very real difference in the lives of people in the community. Already, in less than a year, you have established a Women’s Group and a group for young women Travellers; you have set up courses in childcare, first-aid, baby sitting and computer training. Through the drop-in centre, people can gain mutual support, learn about what is available and, most importantly, stop for a chat. I understand that this is just the beginning of your plans, with literacy support, an Active- Aged group, a Community Arts Network and an Outreach Centre for Money Advice in the pipeline.

I am particularly delighted to see the close links that have been built up with the Traveller Community. If community development is to mean anything, it must mean that all members of the community are included, without “ifs, ands or buts”. It is only through bringing people together, respecting their differences but also recognising how much we all have in common, that barriers of suspicion and hostility can be broken down.

I am both astonished and delighted at how much has been achieved already by the Community Development Project in Templeshannon. Particular thanks and congratulations are due to the Chairperson, Richard Sinnott, the Project Co-ordinator, Molly Brennan and, especially, to all of the management members and volunteers who have got this project off the ground with such resounding success. Finally, I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has taken part in the training and development activities. I have no doubt it takes a lot of courage, when hope is at its lowest, to come forward and risk disappointment. I hope that your involvement has given you new hope and faith in your own abilities and skills.

I am sure that this is just the beginning of many achievements for the Project, and I wish all of you the very best of success in the future.