APPLAUSE FOR ORGANISATION WHICH HELPS MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE
Applause for organisation which helps make dreams come true
THE chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Barry McElduff, has paid tribute to the founders of the Share-A-Dream Foundation, which is dedicated to helping young people reach beyond disability and attain goals not otherwise possible.
At a special reception honouring the Foundation, as well as the Rainbow Gateway Club, Carrickmore, Omagh senior and junior Gateway, Strule Buzz and Omagh Strikers, Mr. McElduff warmly welcomed Shay Kinsella, director of the Share-A-Dream Foundation and his colleagues, Charlie McGroarty and Ciara Brolly.
He said the members of the Rainbow Gateway Club had already benefited greatly from the Foundation's help, with members being guests of Tracey Piggott at the executive suite of Shelbourne Park Racecourse in Dublin.
"Unfortunately I don't think anybody had much luck with the bookies, but I suppose you can't win them all," he joked.
On a more serious note, Mr. McElduff commented that the club members had also attended a camp in Waterford with 400 other young people, and the Foundation had also been involved in making dreams come true for victims of the Omagh bombing.
"Stephen Coyle's visit to the Kennedy Space Centre and Claire Gallagher's trip to the White House with Phil Coulter were set up through your organisation," he said, adding: "For these two young people, who were so seriously injured, you helped make their dreams come true.
"You have helped brighten the lives of literally thousands of disadvantaged or terminally ill children and long may your work continue," he said.
Referring to the work of the Gateway organisation, he said Gateway Clubs had been in existence for quite some time.
"Indeed, the Omagh Senior Club, one of the longest established clubs in the North, was established over 20 years ago and now boasts more than 50 members.
"Omagh Gateway Junior Section was established three years ago to meet the needs of learning disabled people up to the age of 16 and has a membership of some 15 to 20 young people providing them with an important outlet for social and leisure activities," he said.
The chairman went on to say that his native Carrickmore group was established in January last, making it a year old this month, and had 14 registered members who had already benefitted from the work of the Foundation.
He said that the Omagh Strikers and Strule Buzz were also relatively new organisations.
"I understand that the Strule Buzz group is a 12-strong self-advocacy group of adults with learning disabilities who, through their contacts with statutory and public bodies, actively promote equal rights for learning disabled.
"I am told that you recently met with the Equality Commission to put your views across. Equality is, of course, a basic human right and I am delighted that people like Joanne and her colleagues are prepared to use every opportunity to promote the equality agenda," he said.
Mr. McElduff continued: "Omagh Strikers have had probably one of the most amazing starts to the history of any club. Formed to provide a social and leisure outlet, they participated in the Belfast City Cup and were just pipped in the final.
"This is a remarkable achievement by any standard but when you consider that this is the club's first year, it is truly amazing and certainly you will be much feared in next year's competition. Like any club, it is vital that members have an input into the running and management of the club and I am pleased that Gateway embraces this concept," he said.
"The members have a big role to play and I would urge you all to get involved and to have your say in the running of your club," Mr. McElduff added.
To complete the formal part of the reception, Mr. McElduff presented representatives of each organisation with a council plaque, and invited members to outline their organisation's activities.
THE chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Barry McElduff, has paid tribute to the founders of the Share-A-Dream Foundation, which is dedicated to helping young people reach beyond disability and attain goals not otherwise possible.
At a special reception honouring the Foundation, as well as the Rainbow Gateway Club, Carrickmore, Omagh senior and junior Gateway, Strule Buzz and Omagh Strikers, Mr. McElduff warmly welcomed Shay Kinsella, director of the Share-A-Dream Foundation and his colleagues, Charlie McGroarty and Ciara Brolly.
He said the members of the Rainbow Gateway Club had already benefited greatly from the Foundation's help, with members being guests of Tracey Piggott at the executive suite of Shelbourne Park Racecourse in Dublin.
"Unfortunately I don't think anybody had much luck with the bookies, but I suppose you can't win them all," he joked.
On a more serious note, Mr. McElduff commented that the club members had also attended a camp in Waterford with 400 other young people, and the Foundation had also been involved in making dreams come true for victims of the Omagh bombing.
"Stephen Coyle's visit to the Kennedy Space Centre and Claire Gallagher's trip to the White House with Phil Coulter were set up through your organisation," he said, adding: "For these two young people, who were so seriously injured, you helped make their dreams come true.
"You have helped brighten the lives of literally thousands of disadvantaged or terminally ill children and long may your work continue," he said.
Referring to the work of the Gateway organisation, he said Gateway Clubs had been in existence for quite some time.
"Indeed, the Omagh Senior Club, one of the longest established clubs in the North, was established over 20 years ago and now boasts more than 50 members.
"Omagh Gateway Junior Section was established three years ago to meet the needs of learning disabled people up to the age of 16 and has a membership of some 15 to 20 young people providing them with an important outlet for social and leisure activities," he said.
The chairman went on to say that his native Carrickmore group was established in January last, making it a year old this month, and had 14 registered members who had already benefitted from the work of the Foundation.
He said that the Omagh Strikers and Strule Buzz were also relatively new organisations.
"I understand that the Strule Buzz group is a 12-strong self-advocacy group of adults with learning disabilities who, through their contacts with statutory and public bodies, actively promote equal rights for learning disabled.
"I am told that you recently met with the Equality Commission to put your views across. Equality is, of course, a basic human right and I am delighted that people like Joanne and her colleagues are prepared to use every opportunity to promote the equality agenda," he said.
Mr. McElduff continued: "Omagh Strikers have had probably one of the most amazing starts to the history of any club. Formed to provide a social and leisure outlet, they participated in the Belfast City Cup and were just pipped in the final.
"This is a remarkable achievement by any standard but when you consider that this is the club's first year, it is truly amazing and certainly you will be much feared in next year's competition. Like any club, it is vital that members have an input into the running and management of the club and I am pleased that Gateway embraces this concept," he said.
"The members have a big role to play and I would urge you all to get involved and to have your say in the running of your club," Mr. McElduff added.
To complete the formal part of the reception, Mr. McElduff presented representatives of each organisation with a council plaque, and invited members to outline their organisation's activities.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0980
Published Date: 03-Jan-02
Related Images
