The Kerryman (North Kerry)

Modern family services underpin life in a famous North Kerry Village

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DUAGH is a village which looks after its children, elderly and disadvanta­ged. It has retained the caring spirit of a small village and yet has adapted to offer all the services we have come to expect from a modern-day village. This unusual combinatio­n has led to its becoming one of North Kerry’s most popular villages to live in and this looks likely to continue into the future

Duagh Family Resource Centre has an impressive track record. It is a progressiv­e organisati­on with an impressive track record of achievemen­t in the field of family support and community developmen­t. One of these achievemen­ts is the establishm­ent of a community childcare enterprise over 17 years ago. Those of us involved know that for Duagh individual­s and their families to achieve their true potential they must be empowered with real employment and learning opportunit­ies. Childcare is more than just kids ‘stuff. Priorities change when people have children, young beings whose needs come first.

Our children now occupy that number one spot. Our childcare project is dedicated to promoting the learning and developmen­t of each child. Our instinct is to want the very best for them. The same is true when it comes to choosing a childcare service for your child. You want the crèche to be the very best and provide the best learning and developmen­t opportunit­ies for your child and support for you, the child’s family. Here at Duagh Community Childcare, staff and management ensure that each individual child and his/her family are treated with respect and dignity. With the establishm­ent of the Child and Family Agency earlier this year we can now look forward to children having rights of their own in our country. Our Children First has allowed the voice of the child to be heard and listened to for the first time. This is a great achievemen­t and a first, at last, after many years of effort by those involved in the education and welfare of children.

Our Children’s Centre supports children from the age of 3 months to 12 years through our crèche, pre-school and after schools facilities with a breakfast club that facilitate­s families who have to travel outside the area for employment. Our After Schools facility is a very popular service where dinner is provided, homework is completed and indoor or outdoor activities to suit the wide age range of the variety of children are also provided. In addition we accompany the children to primary school and collect them again in the afternoon. All these services are provided at very affordable prices.

 ??  ?? Above: Briget Donegan and Eleanor O’Mahoney with the Wobblers Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
Above: Briget Donegan and Eleanor O’Mahoney with the Wobblers Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
 ??  ?? Geraldine McCarthy and Eilish McEnery with the After School Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
Geraldine McCarthy and Eilish McEnery with the After School Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
 ??  ?? Right: Mairead McEnery with her Toddler Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
Right: Mairead McEnery with her Toddler Group at the Duagh Community Childcare Centre
 ??  ?? Left: Adam Stack Holly and Mia O’Hanlon in the Baby Room at Duagh Community Childcare Centre
Left: Adam Stack Holly and Mia O’Hanlon in the Baby Room at Duagh Community Childcare Centre

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