Issue 1, June 2007
www.prosperfingal.ie
Our first
issue!
Profile: Geoffrey
O’Connor
By Pat Reen
Geoffrey lives in Portmarnock with his mother. He is 37 years
old. He enjoys going out for dinner and a few pints, going to
the cinema, playing snooker – he has met Steve Davis and has
his autograph – and playing DVD games e.g. “Who wants to be
a Millionaire”. Geoffrey has been with Prosper Fingal for the last
20 years. He commenced in 1987 and has worked at a range of
jobs over the years e.g. contract work, screen printing and horticulture.
In 1991 the Pottery Department was set up and Geoffrey worked in this
department until it closed in 2006. He has seen the centre change a lot over the
years but mostly in the last year. At the moment Geoffrey is doing IT and the
History of Ireland. He is in charge of recycling in the Rush Centre and he works
on the centre newsletter "The Rush Factor". His achievements to date are:
a City and Guild qualification in Pottery and he is the current chairperson of our
new newsletter "Prosper Times".
As Director of
Services, I am
delighted to
introduce our
first company wide
Newsletter titled “Prosper Times”.
Every quarter each year, the
Prosper Times will be arriving in
the doors of service users, parents,
carers, staff, friends, local officials
- amongst many others - with the
aim of giving each reader
a brief insight into the wonderful
achievements and work happening
within Prosper Fingal.
What makes this publication
even more special is that it is not
managed or developed by staff but
by an editorial team made up of
service users and parents.
I am very excited about this project
as it represents a new way forward
where service users lead the way with
support from parents and carers.
It is truly a sign of the “Times”.
He hopes to have a prosperous and successful life, is looking forward to
becoming an uncle and really wants to win the lotto!
Profile: Clare Murray
Clare has lived in Portmarnock for the last 27 years.
She won’t say how old she is! She is a nurse by
profession but hasn’t practiced for many years.
Married to Noel they have three children – James,
Alison and Jennifer. Jennifer attends the Piercetown
Centre. Clare enjoys reading and loves to curl up
with a good book and a glass of wine. She also
enjoys socialising, especially with her friends from the
Portmarnock Integrated Arch Club of which she was
secretary for three years. She is looking forward to the
newsletter being a great success and like Geoffrey she
hopes to win the lotto!!
Issue 1, June 2007
www.prosperfingal.ie
Breakfast with
the Stars
Prosper Wins Award
When director
Neil Jordan’s
agent came to his
school looking
for someone to
star in the Irish
film “Breakfast
on Pluto”, Seamus Reilly was the first
to put his hand up! Seamus, who is
currently in the Piercetown Training
Centre, had to go through
a very extensive audition process
which involved candidates from all
over Ireland.
He was quick to impress the director
and was soon enjoying the life of a
film star, working alongside such fine
Irish and international actors as Cillian
Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Liam
Neeson and Stephen Rea.
This year Prosper fingal entered the Fingal Business Awards for the
first time. The awards are organised by the Swords Fingal Chamber
to celebrate business excellence in the Fingal region. They recognise
the efforts of companies to promote the quality of their products,
services and customer care.
In the film Seamus plays the part of
Laurence, who is the childhood best
friend of the lead character Patrick
who is played by Cillian Murphy.
Seamus really enjoyed his part,
hanging out with Cillian, Brendan
and Liam who are all 'cool guys'
according to the young Naul man.
The film was premiered in Dublin last
year and became an immediate box
office success. Seamus thoroughly
enjoyed the whole experience and is
now ‘between films’ as he awaits the
next offer! Congratulations Seamus.
By Fiona Savage
We applied under the 'Best Public Service'
category which is open to all public service
providers. We had to detail our practices in
service delivery e.g. how we communicate
with our service users, parents and other
stakeholders. We were delighted just to
be short-listed along with Dublin Airport
Authority and Fingal County Childcare.
The Award Ceremony was a gala Black Tie
event which was held in the Crowne Plaza
Hotel on 27th April 2007 and hosted by
Marty Whelan. Ten people were there from
Prosper Fingal including service users, Board members and staff. They were
Tony Grimes and his mum Mary, John Smith and his mum Patricia, Pauline
Cronin and myself (Fiona), Dr. Mary Murphy, Karen Tyrrell, Tony Stewart and
Jim Duggan. Many of the ladies wore very fancy designer outfits and we had
to dress in our long dresses. The men looked great in their tuxedos and Tony
Stewart put on a kilt for the occasion!
Karen Tyrrel
l
with Tony St accepts the award for
Pr
ew
(2nd from rig ard (left) and Jim Du osper
ggan
ht)
After a lovely dinner, the awards
commenced and we could not believe
it when our names were called out as
winners. Karen, Tony and Jim went
forward to accept the award on behalf
of all in Prosper Fingal and everyone
applauded and took photographs - we
were all very proud! The award is held
in the Head Office in Skerries and you
should go and see it if you are visiting
that centre. I hope we win again next
year and we get to go to the party again!
Fiona, John and
Tony enjoying the
glamour' of the
'glitz and
evening
Committee Background
Back Row: Pa
t
Kay Delaney, Reen, Eoin Hall, Kitty O’
Co
Maureen Mah
er, Yvonne Ho nnor,
ward.
Seated: Cole
tte
Clare Murray, Kavanagh, Geoffrey O’
Co
Collette O’Lo
nnor,
ughlin
Following the recent Parent
Forum meeting a Newsletter
Group was set up which
consists of service users and
parents from Prosper Fingal.
Geoffrey O’Connor (Rush Service
User) was elected chairperson
for the first two newsletters
to be followed by Eoin Hall
(Service User Portmarnock)
then Colette Kavanagh (Service
User Portmarnock). Clare Murray
was elected secretary and Collette
O’Loughlin assistant secretary. This
newsletter is an exciting event for
Prosper Fingal in the broadest sense as
it gives everybody the opportunity to
find out what is happening in all the
centres and the opportunity to express
their views. We hope you enjoy
the newsletter and look forward to
receiving all your news and views.
Local News
Against the Odds
by Sandra Flynn (RT Swords)
Pancake Day
The Rush Centre held a Pancake
Party in Aid of the National Children’s
Hospital. They made up “loads”
of batter and put it in the fridge
overnight. The next day was spent
making and flipping pancakes.
Everyone had great fun and all
enjoyed the pancakes-they were
delicious. A total of €176 was
raised for the Children’s Hospital.
e - 'flip'
One, two, thre
Denim Day
In April the Portmarnock Centre
held a Denim Day in aid of the
Irish Youth Foundation to raise
funds for disadvantaged children in
Ireland. For €1.50 you could enjoy
tea/coffee and a scone. Tickets for
a raffle were €2 each and a grand
total of €257 was raised. The Best
Dressed competition resulted in a
three way tie – Claudia Smyth, Orla
Delaney and Gillian Cantwell. Well
done everyone.
....Denim!
s special is
And today'
Cheerleaders
Three Cheers for Piercetown.
A group from the Piercetown
Centre recently set up a
cheerleading squad.
They went to two basketball
matches in Blackrock and
did a brilliant job urging on
the Prosper Teams. Those
involved are Claire Adams,
Prosper
Go Go Go
Ruth Murphy, Christina Montague, Rachel
O’Connell and Greg McCann. Well done
and thanks for the great support and lift at the
matches.
Art Classes
On Thursday mornings the service users in
Skerries have an opportunity to be creative, get
messy, work hard and have fun all in one go.
The sessions are lively and stimulating and no
two classes end up the same.
Gareth Savage, Paul Farrell, Catriona Tolan
and Michael O'Shea are all hard at work.
For me, music is really important.
I could not imagine my life without
it. I love the feel good factor of
music and music reflects my mood
whether I’m sad, relaxed or just
chilling out.
A few years ago my boyfriend Richie
introduced me to the music of Def
Leppard. I really like their lyrics and
music, they have a song for every
mood and occasion.
The band were
formed in 1977
and in 1978 Rick
Allen joined them
as a drummer at
15 years of age. He
had been drumming
since the age of
5 using his mum’s
kitchen utensils. He
toured with the band
which sold more than
7 million albums.
In 1984 he had a bad car crash and
lost his left arm. Rick thought that he
would never be able to drum again.
The support of his friends helped him
to recover and overcome the trauma
he had experienced. Rick developed
a specialised drum kit which allowed
him to drum the same as he could
before the accident. It took a lot
of hard work, courage, strength.
Along with a fellow drummer they
developed some revolutionary drum
technology to make it happen.
Rick rejoined the band and has never
looked back. He has set up his own
charity, The Raven Drum Foundation,
to help and encourage people to
overcome challenges and was given
a humanitarian award in 2001.
For me, he has a lot of determination.
He could have given up but instead he
found a way to make it work. He could
have said “I can’t do this anymore”,
but instead he said “I can”. To me,
he is a hero and inspires me to look at
life with an “I can” attitude.
Issue 1, June 2007
www.prosperfingal.ie
“Prosper
Sports
Times”,
Where did
the name
come from?
While trying to decide on a name
for the Newsletter, we thought
it would be a novel idea to ask
all the service users and staff in
Prosper Fingal for their ideas. What
a huge response we got back!
Congratulations to Bill McMahon
from the Admin staff who came
up with “Prosper Times” and is the
winner of our competition. Your
prize is on the way Bill.
Amy for Ireland
ots!
Hope
kam bo
ky Bec
my luc
d
e
k
c
a
Ip
Basketball
Thank You
The committee would like to thank
Mr. Kieran Maher (Auto Tyres) who
has generously donated €800
towards the cost of producing our
first Newsletter. Each Newsletter
costs approximately €1,600 to
produce as 700 copies are required.
A second sponsor who does not
wish to be named has matched
Kieran’s donation so the cost of the
first Newsletter is covered. If
anyone feels that they would like
to contribute to help fund future
Newsletters the committee would
be delighted to hear from you.
Advice/Help
If you have any suggestions on
future articles, or indeed questions
you would like answered, please
forward them to the Secretary, Clare
Murray. We aim to give some useful
advice or information in each issue
of the Prosper Times.
Contact Clare Murray
086-3867592 or email
[email protected]
Amy Duffy from the Rush Centre recently
represented Ireland in Hungary at the
European 7-a-side championships.
She had a great send off from her
friends in Prosper who made a
wonderful poster and organised a
surprise lunch party. This was a great
achievement and Amy will receive
a full Irish cap for her endeavours
– something to be very proud of.
pions!
e cham
th
We are
Congratulations to the ladies basketball
team who took part in the Special
Olympics league and finished on top
after a terrific run of matches. On the
finals day they played an exhibition
match and won by 12 points to 8.
The team was Amy Duffy, Shannon
Moss, Laura Mangan, Bridget O’Reilly,
Martina Kelly, Paula Thornton,
Orla Belton and Paula Smith.
Golf Competition
Recently a group of parents volunteered
to teach four lads from the Portmarnock
Centre how to play golf in Malahide golf
club. In May they took part in a pair’s
competition in the Blackbush Golf Club
playing against 40 other competitors.
A fantastic result was achieved with
Adam Howard and Mark Leahy coming
first and Matthew O’Neill and David
O’Connor coming second.
David, Mark, Matthew and Adam before tee off.
Soccer
Prosper Fingal 11-a-side soccer team took
part in the AUL Plate Competition in
Clonshaugh. Our opposition was the very
strong and highly fancied Cheeverstown
team who went on to win the match
well in the end. However, Prosper Fingal
players thoroughly enjoyed taking part in
the event.
Sports can be accessed through Robbie from the Respite Team or
through Key workers in each Centre