Paint project sees groups brush up on facilities

IF
you were out and about during the month of August, you may have come across a
number of Northsiders dressed in overalls and carrying paintbrushes.

Earlier
this year, the Dulux Let’s Colour Project called on Irish communities to take
up their paint brushes and give the mood of the nation a boost by helping to
transform dull grey spaces into colourful happy places.

People
living in North Dublin, particularly in disadvantaged areas, took up the
challenge and are continuing to do great work by helping out in their local
communities.

The
Let’s Colour team at Dulux Cork received a massive response from Dublin community
projects – people who are all community players and are keen to improve their
local community with colour.

Numerous
projects across north county Dublin are to receive help – from community
centres to tourist attractions all in need of a splash of colour.

One
of the oldest scout groups in the country – the 18th Santry Scout Group whose
Den is located on Lorcan Green, is celebrating 40 years of scouting this coming
year.

The
scout group received a surprise when they were named a Let’s Colour Project for
2011, with their members turning up with paintbrushes in hand to test their
painting skills.

Maurice
Wood, scout leader, said:

“Our scout group has provided scouting to Santry and
surrounding areas for 40 years and with the den being the focus of many of the
celebration events being planned for next year’s anniversary it would be
brilliant to have it looking pristine.

“We
are encouraging all to get creative and lend a hand

?¦ just what the scouts is
all about: being prepared and serving their local community and country.

?

The
Raheny Scout Den is also to receive a colourful makeover to transform it from a
dull grey space to a vibrant colour one and according to scout leader, Mark
Hardiman, it’ll be all hands on deck.

One
of the other projects selected was the Baldoyle Family Resource Service, which
is currently working on a community garden for local people.

A
group of 10 volunteers are planning to involve local young people in the
creation of a mural in the garden.

Much
of the graffiti around Raheny Village is also to be tackled by another
community group.

The
oldest soccer club in the country – Bohemian FC, based at Dalymount Park,
Phibsboro – is to have its stadium walls painted and laneways will be
brightened with plenty of colour and a large mural which will be visible to the
entire stadium.

St
Brigid’s Girls’ National School in Killester will now have the paint to finish
the murals they started last year to brighten up their schoolyard, while the
Community After School Project in Portland Square, Dublin 1, is to have a
colourful makeover to brighten it up for local children.

Verona
Football Club, based in Blancharstown, which caters for over 500 children from
six to 16, is to have its clubhouse and indoor football gym facility painted by
volunteers.

For
a full list of Northside and nationwide projects visit www.letscolour.ie

Ann
Marie O’Riordan at Dulux is heading up the Let’s Colour Project.

“We
are thrilled about the amount of energy people are injecting into their local
communities from scout halls to soft ball clubs, and projects for the
disadvantaged to the elderly,

? said Ms O’Riordan.

“Projects came in from
right across the spectrum.

?