This article is from page 25 of the 2008-04-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
TWO major new recreational facili- ties for young people have opened at the headquarters of Clare Youth Service at Carmody Street Ennis.
Youth Space is a youth café and meeting space for over 15s and Youth Studio offers fully loaded rehearsal and recording facilities to meet the erowing demand fostered by the Clare Youth Service Bands Project.
Both spaces were opened by lead- ing Irish musician and Ennistymon native Joe Wall in Ennis last Tues- day.
Youth Space operates as a Self-serv- ice youth café in a setting designed and fitted out by young people. The
Meeting Space element was designed and refurbished by members of the Garda Youth Diversion Project.
Youth Space is open to all young people aged over 15 years, Wednes- days to Sundays inclusive 3 to 7 and Saturdays 2 to 9. Youth Studio is booked through Brendan on 086 COL ler
Both spaces have already become operational and are attracting up to 200 young people each weekend in the pre-launch phase.
Ennis Youth Worker, Jean Tierney, is delighted at the uptake of the serv- ices So far,
“The new facilities respond directly to needs that young people have been expressing to us for some time. The
atmosphere is terrific so far and we see many benefits arising from these new facilities. Creative ideas, new relationships and simple chill out zones are all happening at the same WU Nelom Noone
As a founding member of the Stun- ning and the Walls, Joe Wall knows how difficult it can be for young bands to find a place to play.
Clearly impressed by the new fa- cilities, Wall said it was important young people had somewhere to go to express themselves.
He said, “I’m totally blown away with this facility. Every town should have something like this.
“Growing up in Ennistymon, we had absolutely nothing like this. We
kicked a ball around the streets and generally hung around not doing very much. Music has a great ability to help people express themselves…. it links across various areas, T.V. Video, filming. It’s absolutely great to have a place where young people can come and express themselves. Well done to all.
Both facilities have been made possible by funding and voluntary efforts of several organisations in- cluding the Lions Club of Ennis, Irish Youth Foundation, Clare VEC, Garda Youth Diversion Projects, HSE (Clare Community Drug and Alcohol Service), Dormant Accounts Fund and the Mid-West Regional Drugs Task Force.