Chair’s
Report
The
year 2006/ 07 was a milestone in the progress of the Luton
Irish Forum as we approach our 10th anniversary in
September, of the founding of our organisation! We
relocated to our fully accessible centre Kathleen Connolly
House. The
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Dermot Ahern TD
formally opened the centre in November.
I would like to extend our appreciation, yet again to Díon
(Irish government funding support), the Kathleen and Michael
Connolly Foundation and Luton Borough Council for making this
possible. This is
now the home of the Luton Irish Forum, from which our welfare,
cultural, educational and social activities are coordinated;
and many take place.
Our
main cultural event, this year, was our 8th St
Patrick’s Festival. Our parade took place on St Patrick’s
Day and it was our best ever Festival with very varied events
taking place over a week. We now have a well established pipe
band; the Emerald Pipe Band.
The Pipeband played in public, for their first time at
the Festival and will take part in the Luton Carnival later in
2007, as part of our entry to this event.
The
Tuesday Club, and now our Wednesday Club are at the centre of
our social activities attracting numbers in excess of 150
people per week. The opening of our new building has seen an
increase of people avail of what these clubs have to offer.
The
number of people using our welfare services, as too the range
of needs has risen. Drop
ins and appointments have increased considerably in the last
year, as well as telephone inquiries. This demonstrates the
need for our outreach as well as centre based services.
The welfare service benefits from excellent relations
with local and national agencies who we work with on an
ongoing basis.
We
offer keep fit and computer classes together with an internet
café, genealogy and a library as part of our commitment to
health and education. The computer classes continue to get
booked out very quickly and we have an ongoing waiting list
for further classes!
I
would like to thank our sponsors, funders, volunteers, staff,
my fellow trustees and the members of the Luton Irish Forum
for their continued and valued support.
Unfortunately, John Hutcheson will step down from the
Board of Trustees at our AGM 2007.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge
John’s exceptional commitment and support to The Forum since
its establishment. Thanks
for your valuable contribution and best wishes to you and your
family. We are
delighted that you will remain involved, and look forward to
seeing you at choir practice.
We
look forward to another great year for the Luton Irish Forum.
Noreen
Kellett
Chair
