Full Life For Youth Project
The Full Life for Youth Project
Spunkane-Our Community
The Full Life for Youth Project was organised by Kerry Diocesan Youth Service under the enthusiastic encouragement of Bishop Eamonn Casey early in the 1970's. The Waterville Youth Club was one of the early Clubs in the County. Unusually, it consisted of two clubs, a Junior club aged 11-13 from 6.30 - 8p.m. and a Senior club from 7.30-10 p.m. Due to the lack of a Community Centre at the time it was based for short periods in an old hall, the staff quarters of Waterville Lake Hotel, and the spare room of St. Finian's National School. Because of the lack of indoor space for names, the Club concentrated on plays, concerts, debates and discussions. It was with great enthusiasm that a group of the Senior Club took up the challenge of researching their community, Spunkane. Only residents of Spunkane were allowed into the group. Various members went to interview the residents on a reel to reel tape recorder, the reels now lost, but the information is recorded in this project copy which reached the KDYS office a few minutes before the closing date of the competition. Certificates of Excellence were presented by Bishop Casey in the Iveragh Ballroom in Cahirsiveen. For many years the project was lost and it was with great joy that Gerard Sugrue, R.I.P., found it a couple of years before his early death. For many years this was the only local research done in the area.
Mary & Tom Horgan
