Lough Lene Gaels Madame Thouseau’s Ceili Band.
Yes I saw them with my very own eyes and almost believed that Barry O’ Donnell, Lisa Murtagh and John O’ Farrell were making that sweet music for the dancers to rise the dust. Such was the menu of the whole night on Friday the 3rd of May in Mullingar Park Hotel at the Lough Lene Gaels OsKaRs 50th Celebrations. People you and I both know doing all things new and not so new and they are almost all believable.
That indeed was one night. The question is, what did really happen this whole community over the past ten weeks and how will it leave us feeling long into the future?
It’s times like this I wish I was a great writer and could eloquently put it into words.
I wish I had the powers of a Brendan MacWillians to tell it in his ‘All the Pope’s Children’s’ mode.
Alas I don’t.
However I will tell it in my own way, my perspective, as I see Kevin Rowe’s OsKaRs as a perfect model for Community Development for many reasons. Economically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and educationally, it has it all.
Kevin’s template for the OsKaRs has the ability and power to enable families and individuals of all abilities and ages to partake and become involved in their Community in new ways. People are encouraged to become involved and if they wish, to push themselves a wee bit out of their comfort zone, to mix and to engage, to plan together, to act together, to support each other, to partake and to compete, a community encouraged to organise itself and to work with what its got. It is wonderful.
If I had to do a paper on communities and good community practices it is a model I would be singing from the roof tops about. It has the power to get the community to juxtaposition itself. To shift into a different gear for an allotted time and work towards a common goal. It encourages communities to look around them and to be imaginative, to co-operate with other neighbouring communities.
My engagement with LLG OsKaRs made me push myself outside my comfort zone a bit, it enabled me to meet and work more closely, more creatively, more imaginatively with new younger Mams, neighbours that without this LLG OsKaRs fundraising event I would not necessarily exchange anything except a polite ‘Hello’. It also allowed many of us to ‘play’ to enjoy ourselves in the company of others. It gave us permission to be that bit ‘mad’ in a good safe space. It allowed some to ‘Shine’, to be seen in a new light by our many neighbours, peers, enemies and friends.
The financial goal for Fundraising was definitely achieved and out-did its expectations by some reports. That money will go back into the development of the ground it grew out of which is wonderful. So too did many a small business benefit over the past ten to twelve weeks, the local Hall a hive of activity, the shop, the local pubs, the search & spend for costumes in the second hand shops, the hair and beauty salons were booked out last Thursday and Friday, the Tux rentals, yes many a pound was spent to deliver the LLG OsKaRs.
I applaud everybody that took part in each of the Seven Films no matter how how big or small the role they played, or if the were one of the many extras. I commend the very brave and hard working Lough Lene Gaels OsKaRs Committee. I sincerely thank Kevin Rowe and all his team for honouring our request to do ‘My Left Foot’, I would recommend his company and ‘The OsKaRs’ without any hesitation to any Community to have a go.
It was brilliant to have our appetites wet to urge us want to research and watch the real Films. I borrowed Christy Browns Book and the two copies of ‘My Left Foot’ the Film I was in for our cast from Castlepollard Library. I was thrilled to hear that the young members had spent one weekend watching the Film. It is rewarding to know we have created awareness of ability in Disability through this Event also.
In my opinion the ‘OsKaRs’ will stand to us long into the future. Memories made are etched well into minds and hearts without ever owning a copy of the soon to be released LLG OsKaRs DVD.
Teresa Doyle