Dick Hickey and Sr. Maria McGuinness, at St. Brigid’s for the opening of the newly refurbished centre.
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The Minister for Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, paid a visit to Waterford recently to celebrate 25 years of the Saint Brigid’s Family and Community Centre on the Lower Yellow Road, Waterford.
This charity has engaged in many types of community work over the years, ranging from help for the elderly to family problems and literacy issues. The facilities have undergone a major refurbishment under Dick Hickey, Director.
Sr Maria McGuinness, the founder, was on hand to meet the Minister and describe
how the centre started back in the mid Eighties. This was a time of problems also in the economy and the centre focused on disadvantaged families. Its inner city base meant it was easily accessible for its services. It also became a focus for the community to meet there and use it for various activities.
More programmes and facilities are provided as the charity has expanded under Dick Hickey, a former Ciba Geigy, executive.
The centre received over €466,000 in funding in 2009 which is considerable backing from the State for the refurbishment but, as the organisers would say, it is never enough. State aid of €110,000 in day to day funding will be committed by the State for 2010. It is hoped to continue the expansion in the future as the need for their work is more acute in a recession.
