Philly shows true spirit

BALLYMUN legend Philly McMahon is calling on all voluntary and community groups throughout Dublin to make a submission for the 2018 Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards.

Last year the Dublin senior footballing hero was presented with a Community Spirit Award for his HalfTimeTalk CLG, which provides programmes and supports that reinforce self-belief in young adults.

Last week Philly announced the launch of this year’s awards and spoke about the impact of the €5,000 grant award on his charity.

“The grant gives us the ability to provide more programmes and support for youths that will reinforce the self-belief that they have a right and potential to be the best that they can be,” he said.

“I would encourage all voluntary and community groups to make an application for a Dublin Bus Community Spirit Award – the money will go a long way.”

Speaking at the launch, Dublin Bus Chief Executive Ray Coyne explained why Philly’s charity is an ideal award winner.

“Philly is a role model to young people across Dublin and especially in his local area in Ballymun where, through his charity HalfTimeTalk CLG, he educates, trains and empowers young, unemployed adults,” he said.

“We were delighted to be able to support his charity with a €5,000 grant and we know there are many more Philly McMahons in community groups across the Greater Dublin Area who we want to encourage and support.

“Our Awards highlight the heroes in our local communities who give up their time to give something back and improve the lives of others where they live.”

This year’s awards were announced during the official reopening of the One Family early years crèche in Smithfield.

One Family, Ireland’s organisation for people parenting alone, sharing parenting, and separating have refurbished its premises with the help of a €5,000 Dublin Bus Community Spirit Award.

One Family worked with the Men’s Shed from Kells, Co Meath to fit out and equip the crèche with quality furniture for the babies and toddlers who access the service.

One Family CEO Karen Kiernan, spoke about how the grant had helped them.

“We were able to improve our facilities and provide a higher quality environment for the children we care for,” she said.

“We were grateful to the Men’s Shed in Kells for their skills and time and were delighted they ended up with some new tools for future projects.

“We would encourage all local community groups to apply for a Community Spirit Award.”

Dublin Bus is now looking for more community groups to support this year. 

Application forms for the 2018 Community Spirit Awards are available on www.dublinbus.ie and will be accepted up to June 29.

Any voluntary and community group based in the Greater Dublin Area is eligible to apply for a grant of €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000. To date over 1,800 groups have received funding from Dublin Bus through the Community Spirit.