Once again RDRD hosted their Drug Awareness festival this year offering a wide range of fun and creative events. The aim was to engage as many young people as possible and members of the wider community to participate in the events and in turn highlight the drugs issue in the area. The project was successful in its aim in that quite a large number of groups and local schools got involved.

The RDRD soccer event took place over a weekend in the Ringsend & Irishtown sports stadium. All who were there will agree that this was a very nail-biting, exciting experience with up to 80 young people participating.

All teams put in a fabulous, energetic display. In the end, the team that won was a group of local boys who named themselves ‘Bucko’s boys’. Runners-up was a second local team ‘Betsy Seven’ from the Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre. Congratulations to all the teams who participated in the event.

Teresa Weafer Grennell Manager of RDRD said that the highlight of the festival was the launch of their DVD on early warning signs and also the Ringsend and District Response to Drug’s closing event which the project held once again in the local Clanna Gael Hall.

A number of local groups in the area were invited to participate in this event by displaying stalls and providing information on the service they provide. Minister John Curran met with all the different groups on the night. Each group was provided with an opportunity to meet with the Minister and discuss issues regarding their projects.
The following groups displayed stands on the night.

Ringsend & District Response to Drugs
Ringsend Community Training Centre
Ringsend Community Service Forum
Ringsend Poolbeg Training– Rinn Voyager
Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre
Money Advice Budgeting Service
NewsFour
Ringsend & Irishtown Playgroup and Créche
Clanna Gael Fotenoy
Irishtown Garda Station
Ringsend & Irishtown Football association
St Patrick’s Rowing Club
Stella Maris Rowing Club
Coolmine
Soilse

Members of the St Andrew’s Resource Centre also attended on the night. Betty Ashe and Deloris Wilson have been long-time supporters of the service in Ringsend.

Special recognition was given to Jim Doyle (HSE), Ann Ingle (recently retired from News Four) Michael Kavanagh (FÁS), Anna Quigley (City Wide) and Brian Reynolds (Volunteer of the year award) for their outstanding and ongoing support to RDRD.

Local Political representatives, Chris Andrews TD, Councillor Daithí Doolan, Councillor Kevin Humphreys, Councillor Sarah Ryan, and Maria Parodi were also present on the night.

Chairperson Dermot Lacey and Colm Browne, Co-ordinator of the South Inner City Drugs Taskforce were acknowledged by RDRD for their work and commitment in support of the Drug projects across the city in trying to combat the drug crisis.

The fun part was that each of the candidates on the night were given an opportunity to say in three minutes why the people should vote for them. Charlie Murphy from the Dublin Port Company facilitated the event and was standing by with a big school bell if any candidate dared go over the three minute time.

The event filled the hall with local people and young people and it was very clear that everyone was of the same mind that is, we must stand in the way of Drugs.

Minister John Curran presented the certificates to the participants of the Drug Awareness programmes and to the participants graduating drug-free with the project. A special thanks was given to the HSE and Dublin City Council for sponsoring the events.

Special Guest Barry Murphy of Shamrock Rovers presented the winners of the RDRD Soccer league competition on the night. Winners received €250.00 along with a Cup and runners-up received medals and family cinema tickets. All the players who participated received a medal.

Tom Crilly, chairperson of RDRD, thanked everyone on behalf of the Board and staff of the Spellman Centre for getting involved and making the week so successful. Even more importantly, it was a great occasion for all the groups that got involved and worked in partnership for the community.

Anyone wishing to obtain a copy of the RDRD DVD, please contact Teresa Weafer Grennell in the Spellman Centre on 6677666.