Successful end of year event for Westmeath Foroige

Foróige in Westmeath has gone from strength to strength over the last twelve months with new clubs like Moate Junior, Garrycastle and CSI coming on stream and getting involved in their local communities. The national youth organisation meets for one to two hours per week in their local community centres during the school term. The young people elect a committee made up of their peers to run the club with the help and support of adult volunteers. In the club, young people get involved in sports, drama, music, projects, and lots more. They also meet up with other clubs regularly holding discos, soccer tournaments, talent shows and other inter-club events. This year many clubs have been involved in innovative projects. For example, Tubberclair Foróige club worked in conjunction with Westmeath County Council to link the local library (books, music, dvds) to people who are housebound in their area. Rosemount Foróige club organised a community Eater egg hunt and cake sale on Easter Sunday and Moate Junior Foróige club organised an Easter fun day for local children with special needs. Presently there is 17 Foroige clubs in the Westmeath area including Boher, Ballynacarrigy, Coosan, Castledaly, Castletown Geoghan, CSI, Drumraney, Dynamic, Garycastle, Moate Jnr, Moate Snr, Mount Temple, Moyvoughley, Milltown, Rosemount, Tubberclair and Tang. Moyvoughley and Boher received national recognition during the year at the permenant tsb Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards in Croke Park for the positive contribution that they made to their community. In February, some of the older members in the clubs attended a night out especially for over 15"s in the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon. At the event members mingled with other members form Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Letrim, Longford and Galway and got their dancing shoes on for the band Transmitter and DJ Phil Cawley. March marked the 21st Anniversary of the foundation of Mount Temple Foroige and clubs also battled it out in a Soccer blitz during that month in Moate Community Centre. Castledaly and Moyvoughley were unlucky in the finals when Ballynacarrigy stormed through and took home the under 15 and the over 15 trophy. April was all about some intercultural integration with Moyvoughley hosting a night of games and music for Dynamic Foróige who are based on the Asylum Seeker Site in Athlone. At the regional awards in Tullamore in May the following clubs received recognition: Ballynacarrigy, CSI, Moate Jnr, Moate Snr, Rosemount and Tubberclair for there hard work and dedication. On May 22 the year ended with a successful Quiz and variety show in Rosemount Community Centre. The quiz winners on the night were a team mixed with members form Moyvoughley and Drumraney but the real surprise was the amazing talent that preceded the quiz. Rosemount members certainly got the crowd going with a solo singer and a dance act, while a young musician from Tang, John Conlon, wowed everyone with his rendition of McFly"s "It"s all about you". Foroige members and workers would like to sincerely thank the volunteers who have given up their time for the future of their communities over the past year.