THE UNSUNG HEROES OF SLIGO
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GIVE UP YOUR TIME TO BE A VOLUNTEER IN SLIGO?
REGINA O’Dea - Feis Ceoil Sligo REGINA O’Dea has volunteered with the Sligo Feis Ceoil for more than 14 years and is part of a ten person committee who make sure the event runs smoothly every year.
Sligo Feis Ceoil has taken place every Easter since 1903 – with the exception of one year and this year more than 97 volunteers helped out over the three day event.
Regina became involved a number of years ago by helping out with the administration side of the committee and hasn’t looked back.
“We are all in it together. When I say I am volunteering I wouldn’t put myself as a single volunteer because it’s not me - it is all of us. There is no one person on the team that could get on without the other. Everyone is a volunteer – there are no leaders,” explains Regina.
“You couldn’t count the amount of hours you put in. You just keep at it and it goes from one year to the next. It is literally 24/ 7 but it doesn’t feel like hard work, I love volunteering.”
So after all these years what keeps Regina’s motivated to volunteer?
“The joy of the event and the success, not the success of the people who get the top prizes but the little successes.
“The child who wouldn’t dare speak to anyone then suddenly they stand up in front of a crowd and read a poem. It is about the people, making friends and each year it is getting bigger and bigger.”
While volunteering is about helping others, Regina has gained personally from her volunteer work: “I have friends from all over the country,” she says.
But doing volunteer work brings with it great responsibility, something Regina believes people forget.
“Sometimes people think that as a volunteer you can come and go as you like but that isn’t true. When you say you’re a volunteer you have to take on the responsibility that comes with that and part of that is get on with your work and doing it. You are making a commitment and you must stick by it.
“You can’t expect someone to be clapping you on the back all the time. You wouldn’t volunteer for that, you do it to make sure everyone has a good time that they enjoy it and have a good experience.”