New members sought
The Community Alert Group for the Haggardstown and Dublin Road are seeking new members to help with their activities.
The Group look out for the senior citizens and organise social events for the community, especially the elderly and the vulnerable, as well as strive to protect those living in the area and make it safer for all.
The Group undertook the setting up of a Text Alert scheme which enables the community to guard itself against ill disposed individuals, and combat crime, and support and assist the Gardai with their job and ultimately protect the area.
There is a special number that is written on sign posts across the area that anybody can contact the Gardai on if they have suspicions about individuals or activities that they notice.
The Gardai assess that information and decide what action to take, and maybe issue a general alert or notice to the community.
Likewise the Gardai can get in touch with the community if they require assistance or become aware of information that the community should know about.
The scheme works through the co-operation and support of local mobile telephone holders who provide their numbers to the Gardai to pass on such information to the community.
The Group also help to make the elderly and those living alone especially feel safer and obtain assistance and medical aid if they need it. One of the most practical ways is to through the wearing of personal alarms which the holder can press if he or she is in difficulty, such as feeling ill or suffer a mishap at home. The Group will guide them through the application process, with the alarm free for the first year.
This service is on top of trying to enhance the quality of life within the community through the organising and staging of regular social events to provide the elderly and vulnerable particularly to have contact with neighbours and friends and renew friendships in instances in a friendly and enjoyable setting.
These include outings to musical shows and concerts, staging of quizzes and an annual Christmas party.
The Group is comparatively small in number and would warmly welcome the infusion of new younger members from all the different parts of the community , Marymount, Ardee Road, Greengates to name but a few.
If you are interested please contact any member of the committee. Practically the full compliment of the officers were re-elected at the recent annual meeting of the group.
The list includes: Chairperson, Amy Gilligan; secretary, Emer McGuinness; assistant secretary, Noel Sharkey; treasurer, Gerard McGuill; pro, Marie Fleming.