Northside voices are heard at local community event

TWELVE speakers participated in an event recently to share their vision of what is required to make the Northside a better place to live, work, run a business and raise a family in the future.    

‘Northside Voices: Our Vision for the Future’, hosted by Northside Partnership, took place at Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock. 

It was organised as a once off event by Northside Partnership in celebration of its 25th anniversary this year. 

The Northside Partnership is a company working with local people, representatives from communities, the State, employers, trade unions and elected representatives to improve the opportunities for communities in North East Dublin.

The event saw 12 different speakers – ranging from mental health activists, advocates of older people in society, members of the creative arts, sports persons and business people – providing a six-minute input each on their vision for making the Northside a better place in the future. A dance crew from Coolock also participated in the event.  

Speakers included Declan Cahill, long serving community activist and drama enthusiast; Jessica Clohisey, a mental health activist from Manor House School; Kilbarrack native and actress Maeve Fitzgerald; novelist, actor and film producer Kealan Ryan; and Jessica Nalumansi, nurse and lone parent, who moved from Uganda eight years ago, amongst many more.

Michelle Watson of Dynamic Coaching Solutions spoke to Northside People about the benefits Northside Partnership have on the local organisations and companies. 

“They are there at the drop of a hat if you need to ring them about anything that you were nervous of, tax, setting up your company name. They’re always helpful, whether it be things that are happening in the Northside Partnership, or in the surrounding areas,” she said. 

Declan Cahill, former Director of Northside Partnership, was the first speaker of the night. He highlighted the role of older people in society, stressing that only 45 per cent of people between the ages of 60 and 74 can use the internet and that an initiative must be put in place to fix that. 

“The idea of the event was very clever and it was addressing issues which are coming organically from the ground and are providing a forum for people who would not normally have access to be able to make their case to a situation like this,” said Mr Cahill. 

Other topics that arose during the speeches included mental health, and the importance of residents’ committees, sports, volunteering and the arts in the local community.

Paul Rogers, chief executive of Northside Partnership, explained why this event was so important.

“The people that we hear all the time in the media and radio are professionals and they communicate particular agendas or policies,” he said.  

“Here were people from the Northside, young people, people that have worked in the community over the years articulating their experience and putting out things that they have come across and putting out their alternative idea.”

Other speakers included Saoirse Redmond, Ian Barrett, Sharon Kelly, Michelle Watson, Jamie Johnson and Rachel Batty, Denise Anderson and Keith O’Driscoll. Sphere 17’s ‘Funky Chicken’ dance group provided entertainment before the interval. 

REPORT: Hayley Halpin