Interview with Aisling Johnson

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Ballymun Youthreach is sad to say goodbye to Aisling Johnson. It seems a long time ago, back in 2011 in fact, when Aisling began here as a shy, retiring student. She now leaves with a list of achievements including a full level 4 cert and level 5 in Customer Service as well as experience of both the framing enterprise and assisting in the co-ordinator’s office.

Aisling lists her highlights of the centre as the 2012 History trip to Paris and the 2014 trip to the Titanic Museum, Belfast. On a more personal level she lists gaining confidence, overcoming shyness and meeting new people.

When asked what she will miss the most she says the staff and students but that she’ll also miss how comfortable she felt here and she admits to a little anxiety about starting all over again. However she knows she’ll always have Ballymun Youthreach to come to if she needs help.

We wish Aisling all the best as she begins her FETAC level 5 legal administration course on the Jamestown Road, Finglas and hope to see her again in the very near future.

Successful FETAC graduates 2014

Ballymun Youthreach was delighted to welcome Dublin star Philly McMahon to present our twelve successful FETAC graduates with their full level 4 certs. Congratulations to the twelve students: Aisling Johnson, Erica Farrell, Michael Rickard, Ryan Whittaker, Kim O’Leary, Liam Neeson, Carly Caffrey, Sean Cahill, Lauren Garbutt, John Godfrey, Dean Fuller and Natasha Johnson and the best of the luck to all in the future.

presentation with phily 215

presentation with phily 221

 

SCC Art Competition

Congratulations to all the students of Ballymun Youthreach who exhibited in the annual CDETB SCC Art Competition 2014.

The exhibition and awards ceremony was held in the Dublin Civic Offices ,Wood Quay.

The exhibition was opened by CDETB CEO Jacinta Stewart with guest of honour Nicky Phelan; director of Granny O Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty, animated film.

Ballymun Youthreach had four prize-winners; Dean Fuller for his Pastel Drawing, James Darley for abstract Print, Erica Farrell for Animation studies and the special mention award for Jade Reddy for Mexican Skull Painting.

Also exhibited on the evening were Dean McGovern, Daniel Maguire, Claire McHugh, Natalie Farrell and Rian Fitzgerald. Well done to all.

 

Style It 2014

Congratulations to the Beauty Class of Ballymun Youthreach on winning their category in the Novice section of the Style It 2014 Competition in Colaiste Dhulaigh.

The theme was Avant Garde and from this the students chose a Futuristic theme. Make-up application was by Megan McMahon and Lynn Darley, costume and accessories were compiled by Megan McGuire and Tanya Judge, hair design and styling was worked on by Amy Byrne, Erica Place and Leah Hanney and Rebecca Place was the model for the competition.

Prior to the competition the group spoke to the judges and explained the look they had assembled and how they had achieved it. Erica Place had written a story board explaining the process of the group project which she presented to the judges also.

Each of the students from the different categories strutted their stuff on the catwalk with great aplomb.  Our own Rebecca took to the catwalk like a duck to water and is a natural on the catwalk. The atmosphere was electric and there was a great buzz in the hall among students and onlookers alike. When all the different categories were completed there was break during which there was beautiful food provided.  

Four Youthreach Centres participated in the Novice category and Ballymun Youthreach won 1st prize. There was great euphoria and yelps of joy when Ballymun Youthreach were announced the winner in their category.

The Make-up Application and Cosmetic Studies teachers Yvonne Murphy and Deirdre Deegan facilitated the group in this competition.

Well done again to everyone involved

Goodbye to Teresa and Deirdre

It was with great sadness that Ballymun Youthreach recently bid a sad farewell to two of its staff.

Teresa Broderick left her post of Resource Person recently after seven years of dedicated service. Teresa taught food and nutrition and consumer awareness and ran the kitchen with a professionalism rarely seen outside the finest eateries. She was extremely popular with both staff and students and will be fondly remembered by all.

It is with congratulations that we bid farewell to Deirdre Bigley who arrived to us in late 2012 from the ‘Copping On’ programme. While she will be sadly missed, we can offer congratulations on her new post as co-ordinator of Cabra Youthreach and we hope our paths will cross again soon.

Deirdre is seated below third form the left, while Teresa is seated fifth from the left.

 

Ballymun Youthreach meet Irish footballers

On a trip to Portmarnock Beach, Ballymun Youthreach bumped into Irish football stars Seamus Coleman and James McClean in the local shop. The footballers posed for a photo with the lads before we wished them well for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Ballymun Youthreach launches ‘Wake Up, Take Up’ Week

Ballymun Youthreach was delighted to be the host for the launch of Ballymun ‘Wake Up, Take Up’ Week this week. The iniative was attended by our own students, students from Trinity Comp and assorted guests from the area including ex Minister Roisin Shorthall, the Equal Youth Iniative and the Drugs Task Force. Jacqui Caulfield introduced guest speaker John Lonergan, a man well-acquainted with our own Eddie McElligot from the recent RTE series ‘John Lonergan’s Circus’. The assorted crowd listened attentively to an address from Lonergan on the dangers of cannabis before sampling some of the famous Youthreach scones in the canteen.

Events for ‘Wake Up, Take Up’ week include a football blitz in Trinity Comp, cannabis awareness in Trinity Comp and a Ballyrunners Induction.

Palestinian Church leaders visit Ballymun YR

The students and staff of Ballymun Youthreach were delighted to be part of a speaking tour which brought three of the most eminent church figures from Palestine to Ireland to discuss the deteriorating situation of the Christian community in the Holy Land, particularly in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas.  Our eminent visitors included His Excellency Archbishop Theodosius Hanna of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Rev. Canon Dr. Naim Ateek of the Anglican Church in Palestine and founder and head of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre in Jerusalem and Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Madros, representing the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.  These representatives are of highly significant stature in religious and socio-political terms – not just in Palestine but in an overall Middle East context. They are unequivocal in their quest for justice, truth and peace and were determined to bring that message to Ireland.

 

The visit to Ballymun Youthreach took place from on the 16th April and the guests informed the students and staff of the plight of Palastine and answered questions from curious students. It fitted in seamlessly with the development education programme of Ballymun Youthreach as well as the FETAC level 4 History course as well as engaging them in social justice issues.

 

Ballymun Youthreach and especially Lionel and Jacqui would like to thank Sadaka for their invaluable help and co-operation in organising the event and we hope to work with them in the future on a proposed student trip to Palastine. We also hope to upload a video of the talk online shortly.

Group C visit Crone Forest

Pictured below are Group C on an outdoor excursion to Crone Forest. The group from left to right is Glen Maloney, Lee Chalkey, Liam Neeson, Dean Fuller, Ryan Whittaker, Sean Meehan, Michael Dean. Front Row: Lionel Duffy, Natalie Farrell, Natasha Johnston, Sean Cahill.

 

Ex-student heads to U.S. on soccer scholarship

Maryam Carpenter, an ex-student of Ballymun Youthreach will shortly head to the U.S. on a soccer coaching scholarship. The 28 year old will be involved in coaching an academy of recreational teams at U4 – U8 level and competitive sides at U8 – U14. The academy is run by the North Kingston Soccer Asssociation in Rhode Island which is alligned with MLS team Chicago Fire.

Maryam is looking forward to immersing herself in the American soccer scene as she feels opportunities are still limited in the Irish game. However she definitely feels standards in our domestic game are improving although she still sees her future in the more developed soccer leagues of England, Canada and the U.S. Hopefully one day she will make as equal a mark on the game as her hero Ryan Giggs.