Asylum Support Group

The asylum support group is made up of local people who provide assistance to the asylum seekers who are living in the area and helps integrate them into the local community.

As you might imagine it is difficult to have to leave your homeland and move to a strange country with a totally different culture, language and climate to what you are used to. The asylum support group aims to lessen this burden by organising social events which will help new people meet others in the area and also providing language classes for those who are not familiar with the English language.

Over the past year the group have organised a number of successful events including a trip to Leahy's Farm in Dungourney just before Christmas so that the children could meet Santa Claus. Parties are also organised from time to time to which members of the local community are invited. These nights provide a great forum for people to get to know each other during a very sociable and friendly evening. However the highlight of the group's work each year has been the St Patrick's Day Parade which is held in Glounthaune village. By encouraging many different local clubs along with the national schools and local gospel singers to attend a wonderful carnival atmosphere is created.

Members of the group visit the Ashbourne House each week to meet with the residents in order to find out the kind of things they'd like to get involved with and generally keep up with what is going on.

The group always welcomes new members - in particular if you have an hour a week to spare and would like to help teach English classes or if you'd like to be notified of social events in order to be able to take part.
To find out more please call 452 4747.

Recent events that the group have participated in:

18th March 2004 - St Patrick's Day Parade proves an outstanding parish success
28th February 2004 - Taking the Tidy Towns challenge