Foróige has made huge impact on people’s lives, says McAleese
She unveiled a specially commissioned golden jubilee commemorative sculpture by Colm Brennan consisting of a column of Kilkenny limestone with a series of carved bronze features symbolising Foróige’s work.
These represent an ear of grain for growth and three sets of hands depicting handing-on, friendship and planting. Foróige, headed by chairwoman Ann Mullins and director Michael Cleary has grown over the years to be a powerful national youth organisation with over 450 clubs.
It is recognised as having made a big difference to the lives of young people and for having provided the first educational and social outlets for many of today’s farm leaders.
President McAleese said it began in 1952 with the backing of the then Department of Education and Macra Na Feirme as a response to the decline in living standards in rural Ireland.
The path to the Ireland of today, to a country spoken of with respect and admiration throughout Europe and the world, was not a seamless and steady journey to success.
It was a long, hard road but Foróige stayed the course and it went from strength to strength.
It survived and prospered thanks to the generosity and fidelity of thousands of volunteers who knew that if the young people were strong Ireland would be strong.
Pointing out Ireland today is a land of opportunity and achievement, she said Foróige has an important role in motivating and harnessing the talent of young urban people as well as rural.
