The Avondhu

The Ozanam Centre - one of the pillars of ‘town

- L Roche

When one looks at the origins of The Ozanam Centre in Mitchelstown, it is difficult not to acknowledge the other monuments to voluntary efforts within our town. Dairygold Co-op, Mitchelstown Credit Union, Tearmon Ui Chaoimh and, more recently, our beautiful Leisure Centre. Mitchelstown’s reputation for volunteerism is something we can all be so proud of.

Mitchelstown Co-Op, later to become Dairygold Co-Op, founded just over a century ago provided employment for many at a time when such opportunities didn’t exist. These jobs, in addition to providing an income, gave many of us confidence and a grounding on how to run and manage a business. It was therefore only a matter of time before other developments would follow.

Mitchelstown Credit Union was probably the first offshoot. Started by a group of Dairygold employees, it provided banking facilities to so many who had scarcely seen the inside of a bank up to 1966, the year of its formation! It provided guidance, advice and loans to many who would be too bashful to face a bank.

To speak of our banks at the present time - very recently we have had one of our major banks close their doors in Mitchelstown for the last time. Since then, the writer has had the experience of having to drive to Fermoy to lodge a cheque received from his next door neighbour. I am sure many others have had similar experiences. Still, we watch this bank brag about the service they provide on our television screens.

Tearmon Uí Chaoimh is another ‘monument’ to the courage of a small group of volunteers. How many of our senior citizens would have to spend their final years in nursing homes were it not for this facility?

Our Leisure Centre was a long and protracted project that must have caused those involved headaches, but it is now a thriving facility in the heart of our town. Well done to those volunteers who stayed the course.

And now we come to The Ozanam Centre. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) is the oldest voluntary organisation in Mitchelstown. It was introduced into Ireland in 1844, and a Conference was established in Mitchelstown in 1861. In an article by one our former members, Michael Hayes RIP, he made reference to the first meeting recorded on July 22nd, 1881. The members of the SVP in Mitchelstown at that time were Thomas Roche, president; Edward O’Brien, vice-president; John Sarsfield Casey ‘The Galtee Boy’, secretary; James Murphy, assistant secretary; Theodore Lynch and Michael Cusack, treasurer; Michael Cahill, John Murphy, Roland Moriarty, Michael Moher, Edmond O’Mahony, and Rev. Walter O’Brien, spiritual director.

In those earlier years, many were attracted to the Society as the horrific memories of the Famine were still fresh in their minds. They saw it as an organisation that helped the downtrodden. As a matter of interest, it is on record that at that meeting one woman was granted 2 shillings and 6p in cash, another granted 6p worth of bread and groceries, and £1 worth of leather was approved to a local shoemaker.

CHANGED TIMES

Many of us have memories of schoolmates going to school barefooted, or perhaps without a midday bite. The “hand-me-downs” or “cast-offs”, or the occasional parcel from America or England, was the best on offer for many. Fortunately, times have changed and this is not the case any longer.

Within The Ozanam Centre, we have experienced this change more than anywhere else. Much of the improvement can be attributed to our society for a variety of reasons. We support parents in keeping their children going to school longer, we help with school expenses, we provide food and fuel vouchers in difficult situations, and we have provided computer training. We help with unexpected expenses, and of course, our shop is a gift from God. We have had the pleasure of seeing people change from very poor quality clothing and shoes to designer labelled articles. These are the same people, but they look so much better and obviously feel more capable and confident. This is personal development at its best.

Our sincere thanks to those who support our collections, and all those who donate clothes, shoes, books and furniture. We are proud to report back, and to say thank you.

NEAUTY HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-13T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://avondhu.pressreader.com/article/281986085914402

The Avondhu (Ireland)