Ukraine fundraiser and youth wellbeing
Senator Dolan promoted a Ukrainian support coffee morning and a local Headstrong event for teenagers. After a brief interjection, she continued describing the initiative as a way to support youth wellbeing through sport and role models.
I will point out two events that are happening. First, my office in Ballinasloe is holding a coffee morning in support of people from Ukraine. It will be a fundraiser for the Irish Red Cross. Everyone is welcome to come along but there are many ways for people to volunteer or get involved as well as giving financial donations.
Second, a fantastic event called Headstrong is being run by Caltra GAA in Caltra community centre on Friday evening, tomorrow, at 8 p.m. Sir Stevo, aka Farmer Michael, will be there and it will be a light-hearted way for teenagers and their folks to come along and engage. We also have sports star Michael Meehan, whose family probably single-handedly propelled Galway to amazing heights when it comes to football.
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Completely. Michael will be there. It is in association with Ahascragh and Fohenagh men's and ladies', Caltra Cuans, Caltra and District Athletics Club and St. Cuan's United. It is a great way to engage at a local level, particularly around well-being and the pressures on teenagers after lockdown over the past two years. I would love to see this model of bringing role models and celebrities in sports and comedy together with sports psychologists. We have Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, who is with Galway GAA and also commentates on Virgin Media, to talk with young people about what has been affecting them over the past year or two.
It is to pay tribute to them and welcome people along. It is open to people who do not play sport at all. Not everyone is into team sports. Young people are into lots of different things. It is open for people between 11 and 18 years of age. They can pop along and have a laugh with Sir Stevo tomorrow evening at 8 p.m. in Caltra community centre.