Nenagh Courthouse project commemorates children of the Rising

A NOVEL addition to Nenagh's commemoration of the 1916 Rising was unveiled last week.

The flower box at the foot of an oak tree outside Nenagh Courthouse serves as a reminder of the children who were killed during the Rising a century ago. It was put in place after Nenagh Tidy Towns approached the local Foróige youth group about a Rising centenary project inspired by young people.

Nenagh Foróige members Anna Powell, Emily O'Reilly, Amy Lombard, Sophie Hogan and Katie Moore decided to design a project commemorating the 38 people under the age of 16 who were killed in the Rising. The flower box contains a variety of colourful flowers and is punctuated with hand prints from the Foróige members.

The poignant project will be entered in Foróige's National Citizenship awards next month. Installed by the volunteers of Nenagh Tidy Towns, who are financially assisted by Tipperary Co Council, it is hoped that this poignant feature will also be noted by the adjudicators in this year's Tidy Towns competition.

The project is part of Foróige's Youth Citizenship Programme, in which young people are encouraged to make a difference in their community. It is just one of many initiatives taken on by the young people in their 'Youth Space' at Nenagh Arts Centre. Foróige members for between one and two years, the girls have been involved in a range of activities under Foróige's Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). These included setting up businesses, wherein, for example, the young members provided education on how to set up a website, started a confectionary company (called 'Milseoigrá'), and worked on a website to help Polish immigrants to Ireland with speaking English. Amy was also involved in the 'Techspace' youth programme, learning about cameras, computers and other technology.

Further activities include playing video games, table tennis, board games, Lego, and learning how to use computers and laptops at the Youth Space, where an after-school/homework club is also provided.

Foróige also brings young members on excursions, the Nenagh group speaking enthusiastically about a recent visit to Google HQ in Dublin. They said they have found Foróige great for character building and fun way of broadening their learning. Though now finishing up for the summer, all the young members said they are looking forward to coming back again in September. In the meantime, they have a summer party to enjoy on Thursday July 14th. There will be fun and games, a barbeque and other refreshments from 3pm until 6pm. All are welcome to come along and check out what Foróige has to offer.

Foróige is open to youngsters from the age of 10 right up to 20. For more information about the Nenagh group, contact Foróige Youth Officer Olivia O'Sullivan on 086-6079982 / olivia.osullivan@foroige.ie.