Anton McNulty
‘MOL an óige agus tiocfaidh siad’ the old Irish proverb in praise of youth was very much in evidence in Belmullet last Friday when the teenagers of the Erris No Name Club were given all the praise for the development of the new ‘Pairc Bheo’ outdoor sporting facility.
The purpose-built outdoor multi-sports facility in Belmullet was the vision of the teenagers of the Erris No Name Club who dreamt of a place to go and enjoy themselves without having to join a club. That vision became a reality when the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Burke officially opened the facility which will cater for indoor football, basketball, tennis, volleyball and even bocce. It also has its own out-door gym and trim track.
While the teenagers deservedly received the praise on the day, the Chairperson of Erris No Name Club, Edith Geraghty was praised for her energy and dedication to get the project off the ground and secure funding. To show their appreciation, the members of the Erris No Name Club made a surprise presentation to Edith to thank her for all her hard work.
The Chairperson of the No Name Club in Ireland, Carole Goulding, who travelled from Cork for the opening said that while their funding has been cut they expect there will be 50 No Name Clubs in Ireland by the end of the year. She said the No Name Club is about young people enjoying themselves without alcohol or drugs and it shows that young people can be responsible even if they don’t get the recognition.
“We had our awards ceremony in Kilkenny recently which was attended by 800 young people but very few read about it in the media. You won’t read about it because it was good news, there was no trouble, no one was drunk, nothing was vandalised. If one problem had come up we would have made national headlines, that is very sad and disappointing that our young people don’t get the recognition they deserve for being what they are. The media should be much more open to the idea of publishing good news stories, especially where young people are concerned, and not always concentrate on negativity, gloom and doom” she said.
Carole told the young people that the No Name Club leaders are there to listen to them and they are always available to talk if they have problems.
“This facility will become a great asset for your community and for the young people. Cities are a bottom pit of youth projects but places like Belmullet can be isolated and it is necessary you have a facility like this. In Cork last week we had five suicides and I have to say to the young people you are very precious to us. Look after each other, if you need us we are there,” she told the young people.
Cllr Burke said it was a great honour to attend and open the facility which he said was a reflection on the vibrancy of the community, which was the envy of the county and country.
“This impressive facility we are opening today is a perfect example of a mutually beneficial partnership between the Erris No Name Club and Mayo County Council. I want to pay tribute to the young people involved for the vision and enthusiasm for bringing the project to fruition under the leadership of this great lady, Edith Geraghty and the hard working committee. I have a great admiration for the No Name Club, it makes young people very focused and it is great that there is such a club. It has done great work around this county,” he said.
Local councillor Gerry Coyle praised the persistence of Edith Geraghty in getting the No Name Club off the ground and said the young people deserve all the praise they get.
“We hear and see so much negativity and the sad things that happen and I am sad that the national media are not here to see the positivity of Erris. The young people from the schools are an absolute credit and we have to look at the positives with young people and old living in Erris.”
Other speakers included TD Dara Calleary, Martin Keating of Mayo County Council and Gearóid De Faoite, CEO of Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta. The project cost €400,000 to complete with funding received from LEADER, the Bellacorick Enterprise Fund, the Corrib Enterprise Fund and the National Lottery Fund amongst others.
Edith thanked all the people who made the project happen and for the vision they showed and said it will be used by hundreds of young people in Erris for years to come.
