By CLAIRE CORRIGAN
Mullingar Credit Union’s Social and Cultural Committee held their annual awards on Monday, 27 June at the Parish Community Centre.
Mullingar Credit Union manager, Tom Allen said the fund, which has been in operation since 1998, was set up specifically to support groups within the community. “All the groups who are receiving funds are not here because there are just too many. What we’ve given out tonight and what was given out last week was close to €90,000. There’s an awful lot going on in the community as you can see. Every year the committee invite voluntary organisations to apply for grants for their projects. This year, we received about 225 applications who were looking for funding, which is great.”
Mullingar Credit Union paid tribute to two directors who are leaving the financial establishment after many years, Eileen Smith and Alan Collier. “We don’t like saying goodbye to directors, particularly ones who have served us so well,” said Tom.
Addressing the crowd, the Chairman, Seamus McLoughlin, said that the awards were about showing their appreciation for the role of voluntary organisations in the community. “It’s a night where we, the Credit Union, as volunteers ourselves, like to show our recognition for the role all of you perform in your various organisations. We had an increased number of applications this year and I can see that’s reflected in some new faces here tonight.”
The fund was increased by €10,000 at the last AGM and a new standardised form was introduced this year to assist in this process. “There was a motion from the floor to increase it by €10,000 and I think our committee that adjudicates on these applications were very appreciative of the extra money to be able to spread it around and give a contribution to more
people’s work in the community.”
“On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Brian (Gillen, Chairman of the committee) and his committee for the work they have put into the application process for the awards, and the criteria they use for deciding who gets what,” Mr. McLoughlin said.
Since the fund was set up, €1.2 has been presented to voluntary groups.
Mr. Gillen said that the awards were about volunteers supporting volunteers. “If volunteers stopped volunteering in Ireland, the next morning the country would be closed. That’s the idea of the social and cultural fund. For that we have to thank the president, Seamus and the board of directors, board oversight committee, Tom and Derek and all the staff, particularly the people at the AGM, because they are the people who approve the funding.
“We had 235 applications and every one of them were deserving of money and I’d like to commend the committee because they are putting it back into their community and it’s an effort.”
Mr. Gillen said that the Credit Union had seen a rise in its members over the last year.
“Our community in the Credit Union is getting bigger and bigger. Everyone should be in the Credit Union. Everyone wants to do work on their house, educate their children and a buy a car and so on.”
Mr. Gillen thanked the Parish Community Centre for giving them the use of the premises to hold the awards.
