The start of the year is a good time to make changes. If you want to get fitter, learn new things, meet new people and get more involved in the community, or finally sort out difficult personal issues that have been holding you back, it’s easier to do with help and encouragement. If you live in the Ringsend or Irishtown area it’s good to know that there is plenty of support on your doorstop. NewsFour has put together a summary of some of the agencies that are there to help.
Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre
The Community Centre on Thorncastle Street is the key provider of services for the local community. It hosts Political Clinics, houses the local Créche, the Citizens Information Service, MABS and FLAC. In addition, the Centre manages the Breakfast Club, the After School Club, Local Youth Services, and will soon introduce a new Local Employment Service (LES) which will be linked with the St. Andrew’s Centre in Pearse Street.
Staff also provide guidance for people who need help with mental health issues.
Activities include Yoga, Irish Dancing, the Mother and Toddler Group, Bingo, Scrabble, RICC Radio and the local Men’s Shed.
You can drop in any time for enquiries. There’s always something going on in the Centre and always someone on hand to help.
Address: Ringsend Community Centre, Thorncastle St, Dublin 4.
Telephone: (01) 660 4789.
Website: http://ringsendvillage.com/the-ringsend-and-irishtown-community-centre/
The Spellman Centre
The Spellman Centre is home to the Ringsend and District Response to Drugs (RDRD), an agency that offers direct support to addicts and their families in their struggle to become free of addiction.
Family members can avail of services in their own right. It is not necessary to have a family member in treatment to be a participant.
Services include Group Therapy, Counselling, Personal Development, Addiction Support, Holistic Therapies, Relapse Prevention, Drug awareness, Outreach, Referral and Contacts and Social evenings.
RDRD also manage a Community Employment Day Programme for people in recovery.
Contact can be made by phone or drop into the centre and ask for the addict support worker or any member of staff.
Address: 17 Irishtown Road, Ringsend, Dublin 4.
Telephone: (01) 667 7666
Website: http://rdrdspellman.wix.com/rdrd
The Irishtown and Ringsend Primary Care Centre
Here you will find Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Community Welfare Services, Mental Health Clinics, Dental Services and a Dietician. The Centre offers Stress Management, Counselling and Mindfulness courses (in the library).
Address: Irishtown Road, Dublin 4.
Telephone: (01) 660 8629
Email: tonyosu@eircom.net
Ringsend College
If getting back to education appeals to you, it might be easier and cheaper than you think. As well as being a secondary school Ringsend College has an adult education centre, with a variety of PLC, BTEI and VTOS courses on offer. Most of the adult courses are free, if you are aged 21 or over, unemployed for at least six months and in receipt of social welfare benefits.
There are always places available so check out their website.
Address: Ringsend College, Cambridge Rd, Dublin 4.
Telephone: (01) 668 4498
Email: info@ringsend.cdetb.ie
Website: http://www.ringsendcollege.ie/index.php
By Jennifer Reddin
