Castlemartyr & Mogeely Community Council Limited

Castlemartyr Mogeely Community Alert

Castlemartyr Mogeely Community Alert, affiliated to Castlemartyr & Mogeely Community Council Ltd, is in existence since 1984. These are some of our achivements and activities:

• The Thursday group commenced in March 2007 and progressed to the Arts & Crafts classes funded by Cork VEC. It has been continually running to date and when we have not got VEC funding, we fund these classes ourselves with the monies we collect for different projects.
• Silvers Surfers computer class funded by ECAD. Two different groups learnt great skills and are now surfing away at home and keeping in touch with their families. Computers sponsored by Cork VEC run in Castlemartyr classroom for 10 weeks where the laptops were supplied by the tutor.
• A Health and Wellbeing course ran for 20 weeks in Castlemartyr classroom a group of 20 attended and enjoyed it immensely.
• We bought 10 heaters which are left in school hall and are at our disposal to have our classroom nice and cosy.
• Yoga classes in Castlemartyr were funded by Cork VEC and two sessions of 10 weeks ran in the school hall.
• Grants for securities for older people have provided many people with security devices and have made them feel safe in their own homes. The funding for this grant is suspended at the moment but I have written to the Dept of Community Rural and Gaeltacht affairs addressed to Minister O’Caoimh and Minister John Curran TD highlighting the importance of this grant and the urgency to reinstate it for the very vulnerable in our Community.
• Through the Community Alert and Cork County Council we received high visibility jackets which we sold at a very reduced rate. We gave out to our groups and we gave a substantial amount to Castlemartyr National School for both children and parents, because ‘be safe be seen’ is becoming more relevant each day and we all have a vital role to play in instilling safety at a very early age.
• We supplied many people especially the vulnerable in our Community with smoke alarms, these were provided free of charge through the Community alert and the Cork Fire services, and it was frightening to see as we went from house the amount of people who did not have a smoke alarm. They have a 10-year guarantee. It was very rewarding to realise that we were bringing safety into people’s homes. And I must sincerely thank my own son John who went with me to every house and installed each one of the smoke alarms.
• The Muintir na Tire Jamboree has been enjoyed by many of our senior citizens each year in the Midleton Park Hotel, where members of the Community council ferried these people to and from the venue, so that they could be part of the social event.
• Some senior citizens have enjoyed a social event run annually by Muintir na Tire at Blarney Park hotel where there were different workshops on health and wellbeing and entertainment.
• Pantomime outings funded by HSE grants, each Christmas Everyman palace and Daniel O’ Donnell outings, enjoyed by all.
• Booley house outings last year and this year were a great success. We are grateful to SECAD for providing 75% of the transport costs for these outings, without this funding it would be impossible.
• We are joined Age Action and as they have proved they do take action and we congratulate them for being a voice for this group and stood up to the challenges of the day, congratulations to everyone.
• The Tennis coaching, thanks to everyone involved and thanks to the boys and girls that came along and enjoyed it, we had a few hiccups but that’s part and parcel of every project. But we overcame them thanks to the close dialogue and support from a few interested willing people that have the interest of our youth and the marginalised in our Community at heart. Special thank you to Paudie, who saw the action in the tennis court had stopped and offered his services free of charge for the good of our youth We need people like you on this Community Council.
• The Snooker Hall which is part of our Community must be revitalised. Many people have fond memories of this Club. We must pass it back to where it belongs and get it up and running with an active committee at the helm. There is no shortage of interested people; all we have to do is ask.
• Living Links which is a support group and is active in East Cork is running a session for people affected or bereaved by suicide. The school classroom has been offered for this session. This group has their own insurance. I help them with grant funding and correspondence each year , and this April the group was granted €3,200 from Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social and Family Affairs. It is being put to good use by a group of very dedicated counsellors. When the session is starting it will be well advertised so that the people that may feel in need of this support will benefit.