Glencree Society marks 50 years with open day
THE GLENCREE SOCIETY held an open day on Sunday to showcase the many improvements that have taken place at the facility.
The day also included a gathering of former members, pioneers from 50 years ago, old neighbours, veterans, donors, all of whom celebrated 50 years of dogged perseverance.
The not-for-profit voluntary enterprise was formed in 1968 by a group of youth club volunteers, working in six South Dublin parishes, who had ‘discovered’ the Aurora premises five years previously.
The found that it represented an invaluable extension to their work. The rented cottage and hill farm were purchased, funds were raised and, year by year, facilities and accommodation were added, so that now up to 3,500 young people annually benefit from their time spent in this unique place.
Half of them come through the ‘Fighting Words’ schools creative writing programme, whilst the rest are mainly from scouting and youth groups, staying two or three days, or longer.
In recent years, a partnership with Donnybrook Scout Group brought a valuable new dimension to the society. Subsequently, an association with the Irish Youth Foundation has opened several doors: it led the society to hosting the Fighting Words initiative for schools in south Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare. It also resulted in useful volunteer days with Starbucks staff.
In June of this year, IYF introduced the society to management of Avolon Aircraft Leasing, who agreed to sponsor a number of projects in Aurora, which will add greatly to the benefits that all the young people who visit there will enjoy. The work involved was planned and managed by ‘Difference Days’ in conjunction with the society, and all put together in June with the help of 200 volunteers from Avolon’s workforce.