Photos by Pat Shortall
A very special guest arrived at Newpark Family Resource centre recently.
Eddie Keher received an enthusiastic welcome from those present and many hurling stories and matches were recounted. During his hurling career, Keher had become known as the deadliest finisher in the history of the game. He held the record for scoring in All Ireland finals with 7 goals and 56 points.
His visit to The Newpark Centre was to highlight the Friday men’s group.
Newpark Close Family Resource Centre was built in 1976 to provide services and support for families living in Newpark Close and the surrounding areas. Primarily, its remit was to address the needs of children in the area and to eliminate the sense of isolation and social exclusion that some residents were experiencing.
The success of their work is the result of over forty years of dedicated commitment from the community. Pride and satisfaction resonate as the next generation of new up and coming community activists participate in, and drive the programmes.
Over the past four decades Newpark Close Family Resource Centre has grown from a small centre into a thriving and busy community facility that achieves and maintains the highest standards of management and organisational development.
Central to its success is the dedicated involvement of local people in identifying needs and developing needs-led responses.
One very important and beneficial need identified in every community is the need to connect and socialise with people. One group in Newpark Close Family Resource Centre that do this is the Fridays Men’s Group.
The Friday’s men’s group had their relaunch on the 24th of November with a very special guest Eddie Keher. While the men’s group was a long running group as result of Covid, older people in communities have fallen victim to more social isolation. Groups such as this are a brilliant way to connect with other people. The purpose of the relaunch was to expand our members and promote the already greatness of the group which meet every Friday in Newpark Close Family Resource Centre.
The former Kilkenny hurler spoke of how happy he was to have been invited to speak. “ Men’s health is something that is quite often overlooked” said Eddie.
“We all have a duty of care to each other”,said the Inistioge man and continued to say that the project at Newpark was a great opportunity and he hoped that many men would avail of it.
Also in attendance was T.D John McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness who has been a longtime supporter of the Newpark centre expressed his delight at the constant progress and development at the centre adding that he hoped the relaunch of The Friday men’s group would be a success.
The group meet every Friday in the centre for a chat and a cuppa. The group have trips and activities planned for 2024.
Newpark Close Family Resource Centre hold their Fridays Men’s Group every Friday in the centre 10am – 12pm. They would welcome anyone who would like to call in for a chat, coffee and many other activities.
