Ladies and gentlemen.
I am delighted to be here today to celebrate volunteering in Mayo and to acknowledge your many achievements and your strong commitment to volunteering.
The concept of volunteering is not new – it is as old as the hills of Mayo. The Irish phrase Meitheal refers to the practice of neighbours coming together to tackle a common need such as the harvest and in so doing achieve a common purpose, strengthen the concept of community and share the burden of need. It is the gathering in of expertise and labour, the sharing of a common burden, and the transmission of wisdom across generations. The outcome is far greater than the gathering of the harvest. It is the creation of the mutual bonds of kinship that bind communities together. The individual and the community both benefit by this mutual engagement.
In today’s modern world the term community has many meanings. There are communities of need, interest, locality, business, sport, music, art, education and care - all interacting, feeding and benefiting from each other. The glue that binds these endeavours is the activities of volunteers. Two of the greatest organisations on this island are built on the selfless activities of volunteers. I am of course referring to Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann and the GAA. As many of you know I have enjoyed involvement with my own local team, Islandeady, throughout my life from playing underage football to club President. I have always admired the countless others who are involved in their local clubs and turn up every weekend to mentor, coach or help in any way then can. Most will never win a medal or receive any recompense but they are the lifeblood of our local communities.
Where would we be without the Credit Union movement, for example or the Community Games, the St Vincent de Paul, the Cooperative movement, people who fundraise for community facilities such as delivering meals on wheels. One other topical initiative which is driven by a huge voluntary effort and one that acts as a great catalyst for energising voluntary community groups is the Tidy Towns competition.
While it’s great to win a prize, the competition is as much about participation, camaraderie and pride which arises from the community’s achievements and the improvements to their own environment.
And of course you can’t mention Tidy Towns in Mayo without mentioning Westport – three times previous All Ireland winners. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Westport again on this year’s Gold medal and regional award. Unfortunately another Kerry team, Killarney Tidy Towns, beat them by a single point for the all-Ireland award! While I’m here I’ll also congratulate Murrisk, Aughagower, Kilmaine and The Ballina Salmon Weir Restoration Project on their awards too. I commend all 46 towns and villages in Mayo who entered. These towns are much the better as a result of the efforts put in by volunteers in preparing for the competition.
All volunteer organisations whatever activities they engage in, have an ethos that depends upon the commitment of giving. Their vibrancy stems from their ability to attract committed individuals who give of their time, expertise, and wisdom. Our society has been enhanced, deepened and renewed by their actions and those who chose to volunteer.
As an elected representative I have also had the privilege of engaging with a wide range of social and community initiatives both in Mayo, and across the length and breath of Ireland, all of which were only possible because of the drive and effort of local volunteers. It is especially heartening that the past number of years has seen an enormous increase in the number of people who are getting involved in their local communities and giving their time in support of good causes. So far this year, over 250 individuals have registered with Mayo Volunteer Centre alone.
I have heard some commentators draw a correlation between rising unemployment and the rise in volunteering, but in fact only a small percentage of the people who are volunteering cite redundancy or unemployment as a motivating factor. In my view the reason for the increase in volunteering is much more fundamental, much more profound than that. I believe that the economic shock our country has experienced is engendering a fundamental reassessment of priorities across every sphere of society – economic, political and social. For many people, current difficulties have prompted a newfound appreciation on a personal level of what is most important in their lives – their health, their family, friends, neighbours and community.
We have been fortunate that we have this ethos of volunteering in this country. There is a well known saying that "if you need to get a job done – find a busy man!" It is a well known fact that you will find the same people scattered across a myriad of organisations. This complex matrix of interlinking relationships of individuals who are committed to volunteering and the giving of their time and wisdom is one of the greatest assets we have in society. They are to be applauded, appreciated, nurtured and helped. Because, as they will be the first to testify – there is plenty of room for more in their organisations.
This ethos of volunteering and the need to nurture it has been recognised by the Government. The Mayo Centre for Volunteering is but one of 22 centres actively supporting our communities across the country which are assisted by the State through Volunteer Ireland. It is recognition by the Government of the good work done by volunteers, and the need to encourage people to be more active in their communities.
Volunteer Centre’s provide a placement service between individuals and groups who want to undertake voluntary activity and organisations that are seeking to involve volunteers. Their primary function is to match individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities. They offer advice and support to both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations through a range of services and work with the organisations to develop their volunteer management capacity.
Volunteer Centre’s believe passionately in the value of volunteering and the benefits of volunteering for all: whether it’s the individual, the volunteer-involving organisation and the wider society. They contribute to community development, active citizenship and social capital and are a vital component of any national volunteering infrastructure, providing local support at the same time as informing future initiatives and national policy.
The Government has put in place this infrastructure of support services through the Volunteer Centre’s to enable people who wish to give of their time and talents. We live in an ever more complex world with diverse needs and expectations. The need for volunteers has never been more evident as the numbers of volunteers here in Mayo itself testify to.
The ‘National Day of Volunteering’, which the centre helps to co-ordinate will take place on 30th September. 2011 is designated European Year of Volunteering, a whole series of events and activities are taking place here in Mayo and across the country to celebrate volunteering and active citizenship. I am sure that many of you will be taking part and there is still time for others to get involved, and I urge people to do so.
Today is a day of celebration, it is a day of confidence and it is a day of thanks. It’s a day of celebrating that unique willingness of human beings to put themselves out for others and to change for the good those who they interact with. It is a day of confidence when one sees the level of commitment and interaction taking place in this one centre, knowing that altogether 22 others are also equally active. It is above all a day for thanks to those who – though they have busy lives and commitments – feel the need and duty to serve and volunteer.
On behalf of everyone here – I thank you.
Bail ó Dhia ar an obair!ENDS.