Kerry Community Awards 2008

By

KMHA

On Thursday 24^th April the Killorglin & District Branch of the Kerry Mental Health Association were awarded first place in the category of Community Renewal through Social Entrepreneurship in the Kerry Community Awards 2008. They overcame tough opposition from Forbairt Na Dromada Teo and Knockanure Development Assocaition. It was a fantastic night for the Killlorglin & District Branch who turned up in numbers on the night to accept the Plaque and a Cheque for €4,000. Liam Hassett chairman of the branch said that they were delighted to get the award and that the money will be put to good use.   The Association prides itself on involving the entire community and is actively targeting young people. Since its inception four years ago, Fr. Liam O’Brien Vice –Chairperson has seen a unique enthusiasm around the organisation.   Fr. Liam said that he has worked in a lot of parishes and when something gets off the ground the committee usually disappears after a year or two but they are actually getting stronger.  He added that the association is satisfying a very worthy need.   “I have come across a fair bit of suicide and there would be a lot of Mental Health issues there. We saw there was a need and we are acting upon that”.

The Killorglin & District branch currently has up to 50 members with 20 of those very active and many of them are relatives or friends of people with a mental illness.

The aim is to promote positive mental health throughout the community and support people with mental health problems and their families and carers. This is achieved through recreational programmes, holidays, breaks for carers and the provision of occupational therapy and IT equipment and, hopefully the provision of social housing in the near future.

The work of the group can be seen at Ard Alainn Day Centre, Ardmoniel, Killorglin where over €300,000 was raised to purchase a house for the centre and the refurbishment was completed by members with generous help from local tradesmen. The group’s first fundraiser began as a coffee morning in January 2005 and from there, events grew with a Killorglin Golf Classic raising €20,000, an auction at Nick’s Restaurant collecting an impressive €45,000 and a National Lottery Grant of €50,000 was kindly matched by the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee. With massive support from our local Councillor Michael Cahill, Kerry County Council held a Conference in May 2006 which raised over €23,000. The Association would like to sincerely thank everybody who has supported this project over the past four years.