President Mcaleese praises the women of Blacklion
THE Irish President, Mary Mcaleese, officially opened the Macnean Resource Centre, Blacklion to a crowd of 150 local people.
The centre, located in the Old Church of Ireland National School, Blacklion – which closed in 1977 – has been completely renovated to provide facilities for meetings, classes and courses providing access to training and personal development for members of the local community.
The Macnean Women’s Group, who were largely responsible for accessing funding for the centre and forming the Macnean Resource Centre Management Committee, invited the President to preside over the centre’s official opening.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mcaleese said she was more than impressed with what she found at the Resource Centre in Blacklion and explained she had first heard of the Macnean Women’s Group in a completely separate context.
“I am very familiar with this area, having travelled this route from Queen’s University to Carrick-onshannon, where my father was brought up,” she said.
“I am also aware of the cloud of gloom that has hung over Blacklion for many years, in terms of economic deprivation, and my heart lifted when I heard there was a women’s group here because I thought, ‘This place will be all right – the women have got organised!’”
The President continued: “It is wonderful to be a part of this generation where women are instrumental in lifting the cloud of gloom and putting energy back into the community.”