Page 50 - The Gonzaga Record 1987
P. 50
THE INNER CITY PLUNGE
Gonzaga's involvement in the Inner City Plunge began in November 1986
when the organiser, Fr Paul Lavelle, came to talk about the project to the
Sixth Year, and invited us to participate. We learned that the 'plunge' was
to be a 48-hour experience of living in the inner city, or other areas with
similar social problems. It was stressed that we were not going in to come
out with ready-made solutions. Anyway, as school-boys we were in no
position to offer effectual solutions to the long standing problems of
inner urban life. The aim was to make us aware of the life of the people
who lived there and to feel the poverty and the wretchedness. The
response to Fr Lavelle's invitation was positive, and eventually eight
Gonzaga pupils took part in the Plunge.
We were divided up into the following groups:
Simone Dunne (S6) } . .
Feilim Gormley (S A) Liberty Flats, Inner City
6
Patrick Kennedy (S6) }
Paul Keelan (S A) Buckingham Street, Inner City
6
Paul Greenan (S6A) }
Colm Kirwan (S A) Gardiner St Presbytery, Inner City
6
Paul Connellan (S6) }
lain Donovan (S ) Bonnybrooke Presbytery, Coolock
6
This article would become much too long if a full account of everybody's
experience were to be written down. The Editor has selected the following
for publication.
Bonnybrooke (lain Donovan)
On 5-7 January Paul Connellan and I stayed at Bonnybrooke Presbytery,
courtesy of Fr Noel Reynolds, in Cooklock. This is an area of Council
houses, high unemployment, and a large, young population. Fr Reynolds
had asked two local boys, John and Dessie aged about 15, to show us
around the parish during our two day visit. We had a discussion with a
member of the local St Vincent de Paul, and visited the newly-built
Community Centre, as well as the Bonnybrooke Unemployment action
group.
But what I valued most about our stay was the welcome John and
Dessie gave us. They showed a warmth of friendliness that I have rarely
come across. They introduced us to their families who greeted us with a
naturalne ss and cordiality that was wonderful.
The stay in Bonnybrooke helped me to appreciate the demoralising
effects of unemployment. It also revealed to me the intense involvement
48
Gonzaga's involvement in the Inner City Plunge began in November 1986
when the organiser, Fr Paul Lavelle, came to talk about the project to the
Sixth Year, and invited us to participate. We learned that the 'plunge' was
to be a 48-hour experience of living in the inner city, or other areas with
similar social problems. It was stressed that we were not going in to come
out with ready-made solutions. Anyway, as school-boys we were in no
position to offer effectual solutions to the long standing problems of
inner urban life. The aim was to make us aware of the life of the people
who lived there and to feel the poverty and the wretchedness. The
response to Fr Lavelle's invitation was positive, and eventually eight
Gonzaga pupils took part in the Plunge.
We were divided up into the following groups:
Simone Dunne (S6) } . .
Feilim Gormley (S A) Liberty Flats, Inner City
6
Patrick Kennedy (S6) }
Paul Keelan (S A) Buckingham Street, Inner City
6
Paul Greenan (S6A) }
Colm Kirwan (S A) Gardiner St Presbytery, Inner City
6
Paul Connellan (S6) }
lain Donovan (S ) Bonnybrooke Presbytery, Coolock
6
This article would become much too long if a full account of everybody's
experience were to be written down. The Editor has selected the following
for publication.
Bonnybrooke (lain Donovan)
On 5-7 January Paul Connellan and I stayed at Bonnybrooke Presbytery,
courtesy of Fr Noel Reynolds, in Cooklock. This is an area of Council
houses, high unemployment, and a large, young population. Fr Reynolds
had asked two local boys, John and Dessie aged about 15, to show us
around the parish during our two day visit. We had a discussion with a
member of the local St Vincent de Paul, and visited the newly-built
Community Centre, as well as the Bonnybrooke Unemployment action
group.
But what I valued most about our stay was the welcome John and
Dessie gave us. They showed a warmth of friendliness that I have rarely
come across. They introduced us to their families who greeted us with a
naturalne ss and cordiality that was wonderful.
The stay in Bonnybrooke helped me to appreciate the demoralising
effects of unemployment. It also revealed to me the intense involvement
48
