On the 20th April fine dining came to Ballymun Youthreach with our annual fundraisng dinner. Around 60 guests from the local community and beyond came to enjoy a three course meal cooked by Teresa, Sinead and the students. The meal included a very attractive chocolate fountain. We would like to thank everyone who came and donated to our forthcoming trip to Rome.

As part of the ongoing Amnesty International Human Rights Education programme, Voice Our Concern (VOC), the students exhibited their artwork in the offices of Amnesty International Ireland.The exhibition ran from 23rd March – 6th April. Dona Harper, Ryan Whittaker, Mary Ann Maughan and Ellen Maughan represented 25 students from Ballymun Youthreach who created artwork highlighting the issue of Homelessness.

On Friday 11th March President Mary McAleese visited the Horizons Centre BYAP, to formally launch their 30th Anniversary celebrations. Following a rose planting ceremony the President was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Eoghan O Grady from Ballymun Youthreach.

The President then viewed artwork created by BYAP clients and local artists.Youthreach was represented by artwork created by Tony Marshall and Eoghan O Grady.

Ballymun Youthreach hosted the annual cake competition amongst the city of Dublin Youthreach Centres on wednesday, April 13th. There was some wonderful creativity among the entrants and all the centres made great contributions to the competition. The overall winner was North Great George’s St. with our own Leanne Furlong winning a prize also.

Some of the students of Ballymun Youthreach designed good will posters for display in Sendai, Japan to wish them a speedy recovery from the recent earthquake and tsunami. The exhibition will take place in Japan in May. Well done to all the students who took part!

Ballymun Youthreach walked, jogged and ran the annual Fun Run around Ballymun on Wed. 6th April. Jacqui Caulfield led the way finishing in eighteenth place while all our entrants finished the run successfully looking very smart in their new red fun run t-shirts. Well done to all who took part!

Ballymun Youthreach debuted their new jerseys in a friendly against Ballymun Comp on Friday, March 25th. The Comp gained the upper hand in the first half helped largely by their Business teacher John Platt starting in defence. Youthreach recovered from their slow start and began the second half strongly equalising through substitute Glen Emerson. Youthreach pushed for the winner with Lee Clarke moving up front and pressurising the Comp defence into an own goal for a 2 -1 lead. However the Comp snatched an equaliser of their own with five minutes to go and the match ended in a two all draw.

We are delighted to announce that the very successful Ballymun Youthreach football team will soon be smartly kitted out in a brand new football strip. The team themselves chose the colours and design and we will post photos of them from their upcoming game against the Comp.

We would like to welcome our newest member of staff to Youthreach. Mareta O’Driscoll will teach Communications and Literacy in the Centre and she will also coach the girl’s new football team.