Celebrating Adult Learning in Moyross

The Moyross Adult Education Project is currently in the process of celebrating adult education in the area by bringing out a book covering community education since 1979 which we hope to launch at the end of 2011.  

In preparation, we invite all learners past and present to attend the event on Thursday 16^th June in the Community Enterprise Centre at 3.30 to bring along any photos, or if you have stories to pass on.

Followed by a presentation of Fetac Awards and Participation Certificates at 5.30 by Minister for Skills & Training Ciaran Cannon.

UPDATE: The day was a mighty success. Here's one of the pictures we received on the day. We're looking for names for the caption - can anyone help? Double-click the photo to ENLARGE!

“The best solution to a problem is yourself” - INTERVIEW WITH JUAN CARLOS AZZOPARDI

BY BRENDAN MEEHAN

Juan Carlos Azzopardi is clearing his desk out after 15 years working in Moyross, but the Sligo-born community worker says it is not the end.

Juan Carlos packing up

“I don’t expect to miss Moyross, because I don’t see myself as leaving, simply expanding my work to other communities. This is not goodbye.”

His proudest moment was the change of school enrolment policies in 2005. “The Northside Local Education Committee made sure that all children got an equal oppurtunity at the same time.” Juan said there had been a “huge problem” for children applying to various schools prior to the issue being highlighted.

Juan spoke candidly of his time here: “What struck me most when I first arrived was the enthusiasm and friendliness of the people and that is still the case today. People in the area change but the area itself remains the same.”

Perhaps the latter reflects the pace of the regeneration.

Moyross faces many challenges in today’s Ireland, but the most difficult one is perhaps the sullying of the areas reputation by the national media.

“It has a very unfair reputation and as a result people get a bad impression of the place yet anyone that comes here sees the friendliness and resilience of the residents.”

Regeneration and parish history book delayed

Have you seen this book?

BY BRENDAN MEEHAN

Which came first? The chicken or the egg? While that conundrum may have passed its sell by date long ago, we may soon be asking “Which will come first - the parish history book of Moyross or the houses regeneration planned?”
Almost 12 months after we told you of the forthcoming book chronicling the parish’s history, we are none the wiser. According to Tony O’Gorman, “talks about the launch of the book are off, pending the return of Fr. Frank O’Dea”.  

He’s due to return in a matter of weeks.

Local resident Tony Lynch referred to the book at last week’s Moyross Partners community meeting, “I asked about the book almost 14 months ago and I was told they were putting names to the photographs”.

The history book began life as a parish project, overseen by a local committee, while Northside Regeneration funded a researcher to prepare the bulk of the text.

Another one hits the deck

Meanwhile, house-building in Moyross has been postponed due to difficulties encountered by the first bidder for the contract. Demolitons continue without interruption.