just discussing with a few work-mates last night about how various different clubs and commumity groups have gone out of existence over the last 10 years or so in our town
1--2 youth clubs
2--pipe band
3--volleyball club
4--musical and choral society
5--a gaa club
6--badminton club
just wondering if other posters had noticed a similar trend in their towns etc
Could be related to a decrease in levels of volunteerism amongst adults due to, in my opinion, lifestyle changes associated with increased prosperity.Originally Posted by Deep Throat
Sorry, doesn't answer your question.
Even the GAA club? As Clay Davis would say..."sheeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttt". Are people just working harder or do people care less about being part of the community?
When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators
to be frank, the community spirit in ireland is totally gone. i remember as a kid in the town i was in there was town parades, bazzarres, charity dos, sports days, etc on all the time, especially in the summer. thesedays? unless you're in northern ireland parading around is a thing of the past. the local army barracks here used put on a day where everyone could come in and see armoured cars etc, hold weapons and listen to them talk. they haven't one it in a least 10 years not.
"Great minds talk about ideas; mediocre minds talk about events; small minds talk about people"
Rampant globalization, capitalism, materialism and consumerism are the 'Godparents' of the the unhealty individualism that afflicts not only Ireland but most nations of the western world. I believe that is the increasingly individualistic nature of Irish society and the corresponding weakening of peoples’ involvement in, identity with and sense of belonging to wider entities such as: community, church, trade unions, voluntary, sporting, cultural organisations etc
that has provided fertile ground for our many social problems to fester and grow.
From a republican perspective, I believe that the time is long overdue that we had a national debate about the main causes of our increasing social problems and how to bring about a 'healthier' society in Ireland.
Up until now, the debate and political response about how to tackle these spiralling social problems has been mostly a reactionary one. Legislators, faced with public pressure for immediate action, have introduced policies and measures to deal with the symptoms of these social problems instead of dealing with the structural issues that are allowing these social problems to flourish. The reality is that short-term measures like more police on the streets, imposition of ASBOS, drink and drug awareness campaigns etc have not and will not in themselves make any meaningful difference in reducing the growing social problems that are affecting modern Irish society.
I believe that this debate should focus on bringing forward policies and practical measures that will re-engender the primacy of collective and community values in Irish society and which would serve to address the underlying causes of many of our modern social problems in a more fundamental way.
quote of the day:
"How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young?" -Paul Sweeney
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. -Michel de Montaigne, essayist (1533-1592)
We can also thank Noel Dempsey for putting the final nail in the coffin of community groups, as he failed to give them an exemption for water charges.
There are lots of groups who can't afford teh charges as they work in a voluntary capacity and don't make any money. Has there ever been a buffoon of a minister like Dempsey before?
"This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever."
- Sigmund Freud (speaking about the Irish)
Would extremely long commutes be another factor? Leaving people exhausted and with little time to do things in?
Very well said.
Fianna Fail - The Loss of Sovereignty Party.
It true the Celtic Tiger, Globalisation, commercialism had a lot to do with the demise of community groups in Ireland. Everyone is so busy watching 400 TV channels, foreign holidays, access to the people you want by mobile phone and Internet.
Kids who would rather spend 6hrs on the latest xbox game than go down to some of the local clubs and do something active.
So yes I would say that community groups are in trouble, we don't seem to care about the community anymore we tend to live in our own little world. People rarely speak to their neighbours only when they happen to come out the door at the same time, they know little or nothing at all that happening in their area or care.
When local groups do go out seeking help most people those who do care would prefer to put their hand in their pocket that go and help out for a few hours. If you look at any area its the same handful of people who are involved in most of the organisations, and sometime you just have to say why do I bother?
Why will the children growing up today interact with their peers, as stated above they spend most of the time on their own paying computer games. They will have lost many vital skill to interact with others.
At preset many teenagers have lost the ability to organise anything for themselves, if they are going to town the find it difficult to organise when or what time to meet. They have become totally dependant on a mobile phone. I worry if it were a national emergency where the phones all went down would they have the ability to think for themselves without a friend at the end of a phone. It very worrying I think.
It a little better in rural areas still because they still rely on one another still but I see major changes there too.
This is an issue that the Government need to look at very carefully.
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