Malahide visitors return with €1,000 gift for “My Streets Drogheda” programme

Last month 100 members and friends of Malahide Lions Club took the “My Streets Drogheda” sightseeing tour and, so impressed were they that their President and a colleague returned yesterday to present the “My Streets” organisers, Drogheda Civic Trust, with a cheque for €1,000.
 
The Malahide group arrived on the steam train excursion to Drogheda last month but Lions club President, Donal O’ Meara, and fellow member Joseph Gunning travelled by conventional train yesterday to make their donation which was gratefully accepted by Ide Lenihan and Austin Campbell of Drogheda Civic Trust who met them at the station.

Donal O’Meara told Drogheda Life that Malahide Lions Club was delighted to be associated with the “My Streets” programme which he described as “a wonderful initiative.”
“We experienced at first hand the terrific work that is being done with the My Streets Programme on 9th August – our guides gave us in Malahide Lions a great insight into the very interesting history of Drogheda. We wish Austin and his team continued success with this venture in the future – may it grow and prosper within the community of Drogheda.”
Austin Campbell of the “My Streets” programme said the money will be put into a war chest to be used to expand the programme to a number of locations nationally.

“For anyone not yet familiar with the My Streets programme, it is a programme that enables anyone who has experienced homelessness to become a walking tour guide of ‘their’ town” he said.
 
“It is a social enterprise which prepares participants for full time education and employment while providing a constructive interface between members of the general public and people who have experienced homelessness.
“So far a number of participants have been successful in securing positive outcomes including independent accommodation, full time education and employment.”
According to Joseph Gunning of the Malahide Lions: “It’s a fantastic programme that gives a voice to people who have experienced homelessness. I’ve been on two tours now and can attest that it’s a high quality product provided by witty and knowledgeable guides.”
The My Streets programme is one of a number of programmes run by Drogheda Civic Trust including Chord Road Cemetery restoration,  Tumelty Music sessions and Drogheda Band Stand project.