Local volunteers needed to point young people towards a better future

THOSE in positions of leadership have a moral obligation to cultivate practical patriotism through good example if increased numbers of people are to be motivated to volunteer some time to meet the growing need for local community services that will provide our youth with worthwhile activities and lessen the attractions of alcohol and drug abuse.

Growing materialism, evident within amateur sports organisations, is spreading the gospel of greed among our youth and suppressing the seeds of patriotism, respect and responsibility that are essential requirements for the creation of a generous, caring and law-abiding people.

Lack of respect for our national flag and national anthem, which is widely evident among a minority of GAA players at the highest level on major sporting occasions, reflects perhaps an unintentional level of disregard for the emblems and institutions of the State.

That problem must be addressed through clubs, our educational system and in our homes.

In many schools in the past, students were always reminded that how they behaved while the national anthem was being played was a strong indication of their character.

In society now the many strong-minded young people we are fortunate to have must lead their counterparts away from the threats that alcohol and drugs pose for so many.

As we had brave leaders in Co Tipperary like Seán Treacy and Dan Breen who faced the British empire 90 years ago and released us in this part of the country from foreign rule, we now need young people of the same quality to free their peers from the threat of addiction to drugs and alcohol before it is too late for some of them.

As a public representative and GAA official for many years, I see now more than ever the need to exhort people of all ages to offer their help voluntarily to local organisations in the interest of the common good. Thankfully, more public resources are now available than in the past to support community projects.

Let us look forward to Tipperary leading the way once again for the rest of Ireland through our youth finding better things to do with their lives than consuming dangerous substances.

Michael Maguire MCC

(Former Chairman, Tipperary GAA County Board)

Lattin

Co Tipperary