Cycling Through the Rural Landscapes of Galway City

As part of Galway city's contribution to Ireland's Heritage Week, 'Friend of the Eglinton' Brendan Smith organised on Sunday last an educational cycle journey through some of the most interesting historical and scenic localities on the east side of the city.In spite of the atrocious stormy weather, participating cyclists enjoyed a trip through an alternative Galway city, one that moved over small country roads, past ruined castles, rocky landscapes, abandoned farms, bogs, hills, lakes, dykes, turloughs, woodlands, picturesque villages, meadows and idyllic botharins.
Three of the younger residents of the Eglinton took part.

Eglinton Residents All at Sea!

There are plans to set up a new group in the Eglinton whose aim is to promote an awareness of the importance of keeping Ireland's seashores clean as well as to increase knowledge of the country's marine wildlife.

Last Tuesday, 10 residents met with Aidan Gray from Coastwatch Ireland and Sandra Flavin from An Taisce (Ireland's Heritage Watch group) as well as Brendan Smith from Galway University who organised the meeting in Atlantaquaria.

The idea was to set up an Eglinton branch of Coastwatch Ireland. It was agreed that efforts would be made to organise a bus trip to a beach in Connemara that would combine an enjoyable day trip with an environmental learning experience for the adult residents of our asylum seekers' accommodation.

For this trip, Aidan will act as ecological guide and educate participants on the species that inhabit the rock pools and shoreline. He intends to give a talk in the Eglinton next month before the trip takes places which is expected to be in late April.

In May, it is planned that the residents will participate as a distinct group in the largest one-day clean up ever of Irish coastal areas. It is being coordinated by Collete Lavin of the nearby Atlantaquaria (Ireland's national aquarium centre) and will take place all along the Salthill waterfront which as we know is literally outside the doors of the Eglinton. This event will form part of the lead-up to the arrival of the round-the-world Volvo Boat Race to Galway in May.

Residents hope that involvement in such pro-active volunteer schemes such as Coastwatch Ireland will help in the integration of asylum seekers into Irish society.

For further information, contact any member of the Eglinton Residents Committee or Carole Raftery at reception

Multiple Nominations with asylum seekers' connections at Galway City Mayoral Awards

(L-R) Dmitry & Natasha Vershinin (Eglinton); Ted Brennan, Lorraine Tansey (organiser of 'CKI Alive!' student volunteer unit at Galway University) & Aida Chipera (former asylum seeker)
Quite a few of those who received certificates at this week's Mayoral Awards, in recognition of their unselfish and unpaid voluntary efforts on behalf of others, had connections either with the Eglinton Accommodation Centre or with asylum seeking generally.

As we know from a previous article, our very own Dmitry & Natasha were popular candidates for these prestigious honours as well as Ted Brennan, student volunteer in our Computer Room
But there were others:

• Karin Wimmer who has been the top clown and events organiser at our Christmas & Halloween parties over the last few years. Karin has also provided learning courses to our children in her Galway Circus Project which was also nominated for an award and featured recently in a major national television programme
  
• former asylum-seeker Aida Chipera who has achieved a high reputation for her work with Galway community organisations
• Brendan Smith from Galway University. Computer Room organiser & founding member of our Residents Support Committee
• Aydros Hussam from the Westside Asylum Seekers Hostel in Galway City. Aydros is one of the primary motivators in promoting sporting and social activities for his fellow residents and was one of our honoured guests at the launch of our Activity Programme 2007-2008 which was hosted by Irish government minister Eamon Ó Cuiv.
  

Photo: L-R Dmitry, Mayor of Galway City Tom Costello, Natasha & Adrienne Lynam (HSE)

VEC Announces new FETAC computer course for Eglinton

Smiling Happy Students from DERI's Internet Awareness Course

Mary McMahon of the Galway City VEC has announced that a second FETAC computer course will be starting next Tuesday (Jan. 15th) in the Eglinton Computer Room. Due to advanced bookings, it is already full!
Both Brendan Smith's (DERI of Galway University) two Internet Awareness Courses will be completed next week. He hopes that he will be able to tutor on a new Web course commencing at the end of the month (Details to follow).

Irish Government Minister & Galway Mayor Launch Eglinton Residents 2007/2008 Activity Programme

Photo shows Minister of Community, Rural Affairs & the Gaeltacht, Eamon Ó Cuiv T.D. standing beside samples of the craft work produced by the Eglinton residents as he addresses the large audience present at the launch

Nearly 100 guests and friends turned up last Monday in the Eglinton to launch the 2007/2008 Cultural & Social Activities 2007/2008 Programme for the residents of the centre.

The event was officiated by government minister, Eamon Ó Cuiv and the Mayor of Galway City, Councillor Tom Costello.

Special guests also included Councillors Mary Leahy, Terry Flaherty & Colette Connolly; staff of the Health Services Executive, the Vocational Educational Committee (VEC), Galway Refugee Support Group, Integrate Ireland, Galwy Multi-Cultural Forum; the Garda Siochana, Westside Resource Centre, various departments of Galway University(CKI, Health, DERI & ECI), student volunteers & representatives of the Great Western male asylum-seekers hostel.
Photo: Chidi, Kathi Dillon (Westside Resource Centre & Mary McMahon (VEC)

Photo shows Sarah Knight (ECI, Galway University), Councillor Terry Flaherty & Maria Alesandro (CKI, NUI Galway) enjoying the learning environment of the Eglinton playschool)

Brendan Smith of the university's Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI), on behalf of the Eglinton Residents' Support Committee, welcomed everyone particularly the Mayor and the Minister . His detailed presentation included a brief summary of the impact of the 'global village' on Ireland, the country's historical emigration patterns & recent immigration; a review of the Eglinton support committee and its various new programmes for the year ahead including sewing classes, quilt-design & computer FETAC courses. He outlined the funding sources available that included the RIA, HSE, VEC , Galway Refugee Support Group and Galway University as well as private benefactors. Brendan also paid tribute to dedicated committee members such as Maeve Geraghty, Suzanne McKane, Mary McMahon & Mary Leahy; to the hotel management particulalry Carole & Patrick; to the college volunteers such as Ted & Caoimhin; to Dr. Hans Piper for his work on immigrant health issues; to the different support agencies who had provided the nececssary funding such as the RIA, the VEC and DERI & to Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv for his long standing record in promoting a 'community' ethos.

Chidi & Dmitry then gave two excellent verbal insights into life as asylum seekers in Ireland and in the Eglinton in particular.

Councillor Tom Costello, Mayor of Galway City, praised the efforts of the residents' support committee for improving the quality of lives of asylum-seekers.
Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv in his well-received speech pointed out that the committee are an inspiration for all those in the country that are promoting integration and social inclusion. He promised to increase his efforts to respond to the efforts of the members requests for extra services and support mechanisms.

Computer Presentations to Volunteers

Finally, Brendan Smith issued 6 reconditioned computers at the event to individual Eglinton residents who had completed in-house computer courses as part of the DERI Computer Recycling Scheme. Special computers were also awarded to Dmitry Vershinin & Ted Brennan in recognition of their extraordinary efforts as computer room volunteers.

Photo: rep of the Western Hostel; Dmitry Vershinin, Oisin Kenny (Galway City Multi-Cultural Forum) & Natalie Vershinin

Photo: Councillor Mary Leahy, Dmitry Vershinin, Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv & Councillor Terry Flaherty

Eglinton Residents Committee- Live on Galway Bay FM!

Soon after the launch, four members of the Eglinton Support Committee were interviewed at length by Keith Finnegan on his popular morning show on Galway Bay FM.
So successful were Chidi, Adrienne, Brendan & Dmitry in their endeavours, and so impressed was the radio station management, that they applied to the Irish Department of Justice with an offer of using the Eglinton to host their famous end-of-the-year show! Unfortunately the government did not give the 'green light' in time for what have been an historical occasion. Still maybe next year!


Photo: Chidi, Dmitry & Adrienne in the studio of Galway Bay FM just prior to their live broadcast on the popular Keith Finnegan Show

Over 30 Student Volunteers Sign Up for Computer Room Supervision!

Esther, Blessing & Chidi with Lorraine Tansey of the CKI Student Volunteer Fair

36 students signed up today at the 2007 Galway University Volunteer Fair to serve as unpad voluntary supervisors for the Eglinton Computer Room!
"This was a marvelous result and was due solely to the excellent work carried out by residents", according to Brendan Smith, Outreach officer of the Digital Enterprise Research Institute & promoter of the Computer/Internet Room. Chidi, Esther and Blessing from the Eglinton. "These 3 ladies did a fantastic sales job at at the Fair convincing attendees of the importance that they could play in improving the lives of residents by agreeing to volunteer for the job. 36 was one of the highest responses received at any of the Exhibit's stands. Well done Girls!
For further information, click here

New Computers for Computer Room in September!!

Brendan Smith from Deri at Galway University has promised to upgrade the Computers in the Eglinton Computer Room. He has managed to source 12 newer models that he hopes will be installed and operational by the end of September.
Furthermore the committee is planning to decorate the walls with artwork produced by the Eglinton residents in order to give the room a more 'homely feel'.
Great Stuff!