Macra chief seeks to fight isolation
During his inaugural address in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, he urged young people to involve themselves more in their communities.
Mr Markey, a 32-year-old dairy, beef and tillage farmer from Duddestown, Togher, County Louth, said that individuals and the localities in which they live could benefit greatly from an increased participation in community life.
He added that with the arrival of the Celtic Tiger and increased prosperity in rural and urban areas, many people are also faced with the increased pressures that go hand-in-hand with modern living.
He said long hours at work, ever-increasing commute times, family and other commitments mean that people are spending less and less time in community-based activities.
“Many of us do not even know our neighbours very well and, as a result, a lot of Irish people are today experiencing a real sense of isolation and loneliness,” he told his organisation’s annual general meeting.
Mr Markey said he believed loneliness and depression, often by-products of modern living, were undoubtedly contributing to Ireland’s high suicide rate, now rising faster than that of any other EU country.
“Many people do not feel part of any real community and are suffering as a result. I would encourage all young people to involve themselves in local community groups or clubs, and volunteer to participate in activities or events going on in their local areas,” he said.
Mr Markey, who will serve as Macra president for two years, said it was vitally important that a sense of community was sustained and developed where people live and work.
Mr Markey is the 30th president of the rural youth organisation. Since it was founded 60 years ago, 250,000 people have passed through its ranks.
Currently, it has 8,000 members in 300 clubs.
Donal Glennon, Leinster, Geraldine Beattie Green, North-West and Frank O’Mahony, Munster, also began their terms as regional vice-presidents at the annual general meeting.
