More than one hundred soccer players from across Cork City and County have raised much needed funds to promote positive mental health among young people and help create awareness around the difficult subject of suicide.
14 teams took part in the tournament last Saturday (21st July) at the Glen Resource and Sports Centre but there could only be one overall winner. The 'Smokin Aces' team came out on top and picked up the winning trophy following a gruelling competition. The team was made up of Mark Nolan, Louis Chisolm, Steven Murphy, Gary Nolan, Jeffery Moynihan, Barry O'Donovan, Michael Pieters and Paul Kenneally.
The tournament was organised by members of Glen Celtic Football Club, in particular Brendan Kenneally, Robert Deane and Brendan Long as well as members of the Sunderland Supporters Football Club.
The Glen Resource and Sports Centre kindly provided all the pitches free of charge. As sponsorship is still coming in, the exact amount raised has yet to be determined but every cent will go to both the Foróige Glen Youth Development Project and the Charleville Suicide Awareness Group to facilitate programmes which promote positive mental health in the lives of young people in Cork.
Lynda Garrett of the Foróige Glen Youth Development Project praised all of the players who took part and thanked the public who turned up to lend their support:
"The money raised through this tournament will definitely be well spent. The general aim of the Foróige Glen Project is to encouraging young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to continue their formal education and acquire qualifications.
"The project helps young people to develop appropriate social and communication skills and to make informed decisions regarding their behaviour and the consequences of that behaviour. Some elements of the project include individual work, evening and weekend clubs and activities, small intensive group work sessions and in-school programmes."
Meanwhile, the Charleville Suicide Awareness Project aims to educate and support the community on issues around suicide. The project works to promote positive mental health and during the past number of years it has hosted a number of free suicide awareness training programmes.
The organisers would dearly like to thank Imelda Kelly for her help and all the teams who took part from Charleville, Sunderland, the Glen, Spailpin Fanac, UPS and Ballyphenane. In addition, they would like to acknowledge the referees Timmy Kelleher, Paul Fitzgerald, Philip McCarthy and Brendan Long.
The local business community has also been praised for lending its support including the Island Tavern, Galvin's Carry Out, Tony's Veg, LCDP, the Cork Trophy Centre in Ballincollig, Tom Daly and Barry's Coaches and musicians Jackie & Donie.
If you would like more information about the projects detailed above you can contact Lynda Garrett in Foróige on 086 806 7816 or Charleville Project Leader, Margaret O’Callaghan, on 086 357 6109.
For further information please contact:
Cathy Gray
Foróige Media Officer
086 8075332
Twitter.com/Foroige
Facebook.com/Foroige
YouTube.com/Foroigechannel
