Community Matters 17dec2024

The Community Matters show discusses various topics related to support and services available in Galway City. They speak with Cathy Connolly, Executive Director of the Galway Way Crisis Centre, about the services they offer to victims of sexual abuse, including counseling, advocacy, and accompaniment. The Rape Crisis Centre is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is currently fundraising for a new building. They have a draw with a 100,000 Euros first prize to help fund the 1.5 million Euro building. The new building is located in Claddagh and is expected to be finished in May. The Crisis Centre has a helpline available for anyone who needs support. They have seen an increase in the number of appointments and are working with a team of 31 people, including therapists and an admin team. The Crisis Centre aims to eliminate sexual violence and believes that awareness and support are crucial in achieving this goal. Despite the prevalence of sexual abuse, more people are coming forward and s Good evening and you're very welcome to Community Matters this Tuesday evening December 17th. Only a week out from Christmas now and this of course is the final Community Matters of this season. So just to give you an idea of the lineup for tonight, currently we're trying to get through to Cathy Connolly, Executive Director of the Galway Way Crisis Centre and she's going to be coming on and talking to us about supports and services available in Galway City and I'm just going to check with Dermot there now that we will actually have her on the line. That's good, I've got the thumbs up. After the ads we'll be talking to Father Ronayne and to Reverend Diane Matchett and they will be telling us about matters and services across Connemara over the Christmas period. At about 7.35 Muriel Dolan, Deputy Director with Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be talking to us about Irish consumers preparing for costlier Christmas, of which we don't like the sound of and new CCPC research reveals one in four anticipate a surge in spending this year. Then finally after the ads we'll be talking to Emma Ward, student and podcast producer and Letitia McCrudden, also student and podcast producer from the University of Galway and they have won an award, a volunteer award in campaigning and activism category for their podcast Paving the Way. So before all that we're going to go back now to Cathy from the Galway Way Crisis Centre. Cathy are you with me? Hello Cathy? Can you hear me Mary, I'm here. Now I can hear you loud and clear. Yes sorry. Not at all, not at all, how are you? I'm fine thank you. Now talking generally first about the Rape Crisis Centre itself, Cathy how long has it been in existence? Well would you believe this year is our 40th anniversary? Wow. So it's fairly appropriate that we're building our own centre this year because we're 40th in existence, yeah. That's fantastic, yeah. Now you offer a whole range of services to victims of sexual abuse, it's not just the counselling aspects, there's advocacy and accompaniment. Can you tell us a little bit about the work you do in general? Okay, now our counselling service is the main thrust of our service, that's what we are, we're counsellors, we meet people who have been raped and sexually abused, we meet people from as young as 14 years of age, there's no upper age limit and we also offer volunteer accompaniment service to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Galway with people who are recently raped and we have highly trained volunteers who accompany people at that time and support them when the forensic examination is taking place. And those same volunteers also, some of them also accompany people to court and when they are giving their statements to the guardie as well. And we work with all the services, the guards, GPs, CAMs, psychology, psychiatry, right across the board to support people that need us. Yeah, it's amazing work that you do and it's unfortunate that there's a need for it. Yeah, there is a need for it, yeah. The helpline numbers, would you care to give those out? Yes, our helpline is 1800 355 355 and you can ring that any time and if you don't get an answer, don't worry because if you leave a message or leave your number, someone will always get back to you, so you have our word on that, we'll always get back if you don't get through. And you did say earlier, Cathy, that you were talking about a new building. Now, I believe in respect of that, you started a fundraiser, haven't you? Do you want to tell us a little bit about the fundraiser? Well, we have, we have a fundraising draw and the draw is for 100,000 Euros first prize, it's an amazing first prize. So throughout, when it started last May, we had bonus prizes along the way, the last bonus prize was yesterday, we had dinner for two for Nevin Breen and for Nevin, for Nevin Maguire, sorry, and that was won last night by some lucky person and so the million prize is taking place, the draw for it is taking place on the 28th of December, so we have like, I think 11 days to go to that now and so it's all, you know, all our energy is going in to try to make the best result for ourselves that we can to help our clients and the money that we raise will go towards the centre, it won't build a centre but it will help build a centre. The building is costing 1.5 million and so everything we make in the draw will help with that effort, you know, so we're hoping to have it finished in May, around May and be in it and it'll be great to have our own place. And where will that new building be located? It's located, it's actually started and the roof is on and the windows are in so it's great because people can actually see it's happening now, it's down in Claddagh, down in Claddagh Quay, facing the sea, couldn't be in a better place and it's a beautiful location and I just want to mention the draw if you don't mind, Mary, it's win100grand.ie, that's the website if people want to go on to it, win100grand.ie and it's really easy to enter the draw, it's 50 Euros for one ticket and three tickets for 100 and actually I just want to say we were out in Clifton on two occasions and I want to thank the people in Clifton who supported us and I want to particularly thank Super Value because they allowed us to use the front there in the foyer in their supermarket to sell the tickets and we had two very successful days so I'm very grateful to everybody that bought tickets and please if anybody wants to spread the word to their family and friends about the draw, this is the time to do it with Christmas coming up and people wondering what they'll get for Christmas presents so it's a great Christmas present, it'll be a great start for somebody. I certainly would, 100,000. Yeah, a lot of money but you wouldn't buy a house nowadays either so it's charitable isn't it? Yeah, well if we got enough people even now to get tickets it would take you an awful lot closer to the building cost. To the goal it would yeah, we were lucky we had some private donations from individuals who gave us quite a sum of money and the rest then is up to ourselves to raise to build the building and I have to say people of Galway are incredibly generous and kind and I think they realize the service is needed. You said earlier it's unfortunate that it's needed, it is but I think even you can see in the last number of weeks some of the cases that were on the airways, they were at the tip of the iceberg, I mean this year alone I think we'll offer nearly 5,000 appointments so it's very busy, it's not a great thing to be saying that it's very busy in one way but I think what I'm learning is it's great that people feel they can come forward and ask for the help and get help and feel better in themselves and that is more important than anything so that they go back to being their own themselves and feeling happier and that means they've overcome the awful things that were done to them, you know. I mean when you hear that 5,000 appointments in the year. That's not 5,000 people now, it's about 500 people but you know on average they get quite a number of appointments each. Yeah, and how big a team are you Cathy? With 31 people and we have a couple of new therapists starting and hope to take on a few more in the new year, please God, and we have about 24 therapists that work part-time because on average about three days a week, it's difficult work and they're amazing people the work they do. Each day they would see four people each so it's a difficult job to do five days a week and then on the other side of the house we have a great admin team who keep everything going and a development team and an education team that raise awareness about the subject and you know educate people on how to identify people that are grooming them, how to say no, how to remove yourself from dangerous situations so it's an overall view. One doesn't exist without the other. We have to all work together to kind of reach our goal where we're trying to eliminate sexual violence which is a real battle. And what direction do you feel it's headed in, in the sense like over the 40 years you've been in existence, I mean is the situation improving at all? I think it's improving in the sense that people are more open about it and they're willing to come forward and to talk about it and it's still very prevalent and it's horrible to think about it that way because I know it frightens people and it's not a very easy conversation to have Mary, even on radio, because you don't know where it's touching someone that's listening and again like if anybody needs help or if they're upset by anything that's said tonight or anything that I would say about the subject, please feel free to contact us 1-800-355-355 because we're there to help and we do realize that this impacts an awful lot of people of all age groups, all backgrounds, you know all religions, no religion, it's right across the board and I think the good thing about programs like this is it's raising the awareness and letting people know there are people there that can help them. Yeah indeed, now this, going back to the building again, I take it the building that you've been currently operating in wasn't purpose built so no doubt you're looking forward to No, we were very kindly given a lease of that building by Cope, we're right behind the Magdalene Laundry, it's full of irony, we actually live at the moment in a house that was built for the sisters and the survivors of the Magdalene Laundry who became institutionalized and they lived in that house until they all passed away and so we're there for the last I think about 13 years and that building is going to go back to Cope because they will use it for single occupancy or for offices, I'm not sure which but they've been very good to us and so the whole idea is now that instead of worrying about where we'll be, we'll have our own building and it's a permanent home for our clients and you know I want to just talk about the clients and to thank them for trusting us and you know with their stories and we feel very humbled by the people that come into the centre every single day of the week, they're extraordinary brave people and I have great admiration for them. Absolutely, well with all them in mind again all of those people we'll do a final push here for the draw and just to give out those details once again it's win100grand.ie That's right win and the 100 is 1-0-0-G-R-A-N-D-I-E and you can enter right up 7pm on the evening of the 28th of December and I want to wish everybody that's bought a ticket and who'll buy a ticket the best of luck with the draw and happy Christmas. And it's 50 euro for a ticket and you get three for 100. Yeah and it's a great way to buy three between three people you know it's a good opportunity to win. Absolutely, well I really do wish you the very very best. Thank you Mary. And hopefully we'll be able to have you on again later and we can see what the outcome of the draw was. Yeah that'd be great. Thank you very much for publicising the draw, we really appreciate your help. Well thank you Cathy and thank you so much for all the work that you do and all the people that you've cared for over the years. Thank you so much and have a happy Christmas. You too, have a happy and peaceful Christmas. Thanks Cathy, bye bye. Okay that was Cathy Conley there, Executive Director with the Galway Rape Crisis Centre. We are going to go now with some ads. John Doe from John Doe's Fish Van would like to wish all his customers a very happy and woolly Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your business throughout the year, especially the regulars. The directors and staff of Connemara West would like to thank you most sincerely for your help and support for our work this year and we wish you a safe and peaceful Christmas and good health and happiness for the New Year. More at the Dining Repair Studio, we would like to thank our clients for their support this year and hope you have a happy Christmas and looking forward to seeing you in the New Year. From Rose, Caroline and Stephanie at the Dining Repair Studio. Wishing all our members and visitors a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2025. From all the teams at Connemara Coffee. Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas! Christmas Day is now on at Broderick's Electrical Castle Bar and West Court. If you're looking for that perfect gift for someone special in your life, call into one of our shops today or go online at broderickselectrical.ie. From TVs to tablets, air fryers to hair dryers, Bluetooth speakers to robot vacuum cleaners, all at the lowest prices in store at Broderick's Electrical Castle Bar and West Court. Clifton Supply Centre, Galway Road, Clifton. Provide building supplies, plumbing and heating supplies, fuel merchants, DIY and general hardware. Contact the Clifton Supply Centre on 095 21476. Well you are very welcome back and now on the line with me I have Father Ronayne, Parish Priest of Clifton Parish and Reverend Diane Ratchett, Dean at St Mary's Cathedral in Tuam. Hi. Father Ronayne, good evening, are you with us? Yes, hello Mary, yes. How are you? Good, thanks very much. Sorry, now there's a good bit of background music here. Bear with us for just a second. Reverend Diane, can you hear me okay? I can hear you. Oh yes, that all sounds much better now. Thank you very much to the two of you for coming on and I believe you're both going to give us an outline of masses and services across Connemara over the Christmas period. So Father Ronayne, if I could start with you, if you wouldn't mind giving us an outline of the mass times. Yes, thanks Mary. Good evening to Diane there, good evening to all the listeners. Good evening. So yes, Christmas we're just, we're actually here right now at 8 o'clock having a penitentiary service in St Joseph's Church at 8 o'clock. We had a penitentiary service for Christmas last night in Ballygneidae and tomorrow night at 7 o'clock we have a penitentiary service in Tadda Duff. Then the masses for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we have mass at nine o'clock here in St Joseph's in Clifton and we have mass at seven o'clock in Ballygneidae and mass at seven o'clock Christmas Eve also in Tadda Duff. And then on Christmas morning we have mass at 10 o'clock in Ballygneidae, 11.30 in Clifton and 12 o'clock in Tadda Duff. So there are Christmas masses. Well I've made a note of those now as well and I'll be able to give them out again at the end of the programme. And Reverend Diane, would you mind giving us an outline of the times of the services as well if that's okay? Yes, so we have actually got five carol services between now and the 22nd. We were to have a carol service tomorrow night in Ashby Falls but that has been cancelled. We have an access issue so that is cancelled so that needs to be out there and it is out there. Then we have a carol service in Rhinestone, an ecomedical carol service in Rhinestone at seven o'clock on Friday night to which everyone is welcome. And then on Saturday at 21st we have also an ecomedical carol service at four o'clock in Moyard. Again everyone is welcome to attend that. And then on this Sunday I have, I actually have four services myself. So I either service in Conn, I know that's outside the Connemara region but and then I have the Cathedral in Tuam, a carol service. And then up to Clifton and Fr James and some of the congregation will be joining us at four o'clock in Clifton this Sunday for the carols by candlelight. And then back to Conn for 7.30. And then on Christmas Eve I have a celebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral in Tuam at midday. And then on Christmas Day there are services in Conn at 10, the Cathedral at 12 and up in Clifton at 11.30 where there is communion by extension. So I'd love to see you all there and a big shout out to all those in Connemara. And stay safe and stay well in this weather as well. And hopefully, it's not planned to be a white Christmas I hear. I was just listening to you both there. It sounds like you'll hardly have time to catch your breath. You've got big areas to cover and there's a lot of masses and services to be covered. When you do get the time going to you Father Ronayne, how would you, how will you be spending your free time over Christmas if you get any? I think this year I'm going to, Father George and I are going to cook dinner for ourselves here in Clifton. So when all the services are over I'm just going to relax. Down the years I would always travel home but it's like a two-hour drive and you know it's like a lot of work after the services. So I'm going to, I'm going to relax I think quietly. And which of you will do the cooking? I will. Okay and you're a good cook I take it? Well I'm happy to do it yes, yes. Oh good, good. And how about you Reverend Diane? Yes so my in-laws are traveling tomorrow from Barnsley, South Yorkshire over to Belfast because Hollyhead of course is out of action. So they're having to travel via Belfast and down to Conn. So they're joining us up until over the new year as well and it is a very busy time. People, people say it's very busy but it's just different for clergy isn't it over this time and whenever I finish all the services we normally eat around four or something on Christmas Day. Well my husband's the chef so he's he is a chef and so he he loves the cooking place it's great. Oh very good well I mean it is a very very busy time and that's good but of course it's a lot more than that isn't it? Yes it is and and we eat a lot of Christmas dinners don't we Francie? Yeah. What a lovely hospitality we're blessed, very blessed. Oh very good and Father Ronayne is there any particular message that you would like to send out to your parishioners this Christmas? Well yes I would like to and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to do it. Christmas is a very moving time as we all know it's a time of memory it's kind of where it's laden with memory and and it's a time of excitement for children. I send great greetings out to them I hope they have a wonderful Santa Claus and all the excitement because I do believe it's very big to create memories that when they're older like us they will look back and they will be able to be supported by very happy childhood memories of Christmas. But of course for all the for for everybody my real message would be I suppose the heart of the Christmas message which I believe is peace that you know the Saviour came into the world to bring hope and peace and the world at every time I suppose down through the civilization and down through history the world always needed peace and it never needed it more than it does today. We need to lift off all the places across the world where it's heartbreaking to see the lack of peace and somehow you know the power I'm always touched by this story on you know Christmas night of the water walk when they were in the trenches how the sound of silent night stealing up you know touched their heart so much that hardened men in battle lay down their arms and would cross the trenches and share their Christmas cigarettes and cake and tobacco and sat and sang together and then how they did it I don't know took up arms again to start that awful battle but it's that kind of power of peace that I wish for everybody and I know there are lots of people troubled there's lots of people going through sicknesses there are a lot of people you know with personal family issues and Christmas is the kind that seems to surface you know all of the things and of course we all have a past and we bring it back and we have people we have lost particularly first Christmas is lonely so I just wish the blessing of peace and joy those two aspects of Christmas that shines forth from a little baby and an angel and I wish that to everybody whatever place they're in in their own lives or wherever and that would then be my wish That was absolutely beautiful and you know I suppose listening to that it just brings us home just how lucky we are to live where we do and you know when there's so much war going on in so many countries around the world. Going to you Reverend Diane is there anything that you would like to say to your congregation as well? Obviously I concur you know with everything that Father James has said and this is our first Christmas in the west of Ireland and you know moving to the west of Ireland was a massive you know decision and leaving behind of course memories not leaving behind but actually all my memories of childhood were in Northern Ireland and particularly with my mum who came to us for Christmas and up until she was unwell you know so there's lots of memories of that and really I suppose my wish for everybody not just my congregation but for everyone is that they know deep love and connection and community. I have been so blessed by the warmth right across a community from we've arrived not even a year ago here in the west of Ireland. I have felt deep warmth and love and connection and I wish that for others you know everybody I meet and we meet a lot of people in the line of our profession and it's a privilege and I just want people to know that they're loved that they're not alone and yeah the message version of the Bible you know says something like this that Jesus took flesh and blood and moved into our neighborhood and that people know that they're not alone and again that that it's good news it's not good advice the gospel is good news and in the midst of a broken world we need good news and so I concur and add to Fr. James's peace and joy and love and connection and I want to thank you Mary for the opportunity as well to come on and to speak on the radio as well it's a privilege thank you. Well we're very grateful to both of you because we you know we understand just how busy you are at this time of the year and it's very kind of you both to take time out and to come on here and update us with with the times of matters and services so thank you both and thank you both for all the work that you do not just around Christmas but throughout the year. Your roles are very much appreciated. Thank you so much. So just to wish you a very very happy Christmas from everybody here at Connemara Community Radio and hope that 2025 is a good one for you both. So our thanks again to Fr. Ronayne and to Rev. Diane there. So I'll just go through those times again at the end of the program but for now we are going to go with Céline Dion and Oh Holy Night. The angel voice said, oh night behind. Oh night when Christ was born. Oh night divine. Oh night, oh night divine. The angels sang, oh night divine. Oh night divine. Christ is Lord. Then every prayer to Him, to Him. Oh night, oh night divine. Noel, Noel. Oh night, oh night divine. Noel, Noel. Oh, holy night. Oh, the hauntingly beautiful voice of Céline Dion there and her cover of Oh Holy Night. Now with me on the line I have Muriel Dolan, Deputy Director of Constitution and Consumer Protection Commission. Muriel, you're very, very welcome to Connemara Community Radio. Thank you, Mary. Yes, thank you so much for joining us this evening. Now Christmas is no doubt a very expensive time of the year for everyone, isn't it? It is and every year we do research just to see what has changed from last year in terms of how much people are spending and what people have told us this year is that they're actually going to spend 14% more than they did last year. And when we asked them the reasons, like over 70% said it was because the rising cost in goods and services. But some people did say that they had more presents to buy. Others said, you know, they just wanted to make Christmas a bit more special. And some people also said that they had an increase in their salary. So there's a variety of reasons as to why, but the main reason that was coming true was the rise in prices of goods and services. But to achieve all that, of course, for a lot of people, that will bring them into borrowing territory, won't it? It will. And we were happy with some of the research that we, some of the, I suppose, responses we got from the research, because three out of five people out there are saying that they're going to use their savings, which is really, really good. And it's something that we really would encourage because if you don't have to borrow, it helps your financial well-being. Now, one in five say that they are planning to borrow to fund Christmas, and the average borrowing is actually over 600 euros, which is quite substantial. It's actually 631 to be exact. And when we ask people, how long will it take them to pay that money back? Like 54% said it's going to take more than a month. And many of them say that it will take up to a year. So there could be people paying back for Christmas for the whole of 2025. So I suppose what we really want to get across to your listeners is that if you are going to borrow, and people have to borrow, and we understand that for Christmas, that you plan your borrowing. So you get the best option out there. I mean, plenty of people have credit cards, but they may not realize what credit card interest rates they're paying. On our cost comparison site on our website, ccpc.ie, we have a credit card cost comparison. If you look at that, the interest rate varies from 13.5% right up to 23%. So it would be important for people to maybe start thinking about if they do have a credit card, if they can pay it off every month, that's a brilliant way to use your credit card. But if you don't, you should try and pay off as much as you can. Also look at the interest you're paying. You may be able to swap a credit card to another financial provider that has a lower interest rate. So it's good to look at your different options. It might be cheaper to go to your local credit union or your local bank to get a personal loan, because you can pay back a personal loan early if you have it, if you have some savings built up that you can pay it back early. I suppose one aspect of, you know, saving at Christmas, I guess if people send out messages online, I mean, you know, I was posting some Christmas cards the last day. Now, the cards themselves are costly enough. But you know, for every card you post, it's going to be at least another euro. So at least I suppose that's one method of saving, isn't it? Well, it is. And there's probably plenty of methods of savings. Also, in this research, we found that one third of people still have gift vouchers from last Christmas. That means they haven't used them or spent them. They could use them to buy Christmas presents this year. And that's really, really important. But even staying on gift vouchers, 55% of people in this research told us that they had had negative issues with gift cards, whether that was when they went to use the gift vouchers, it had expired, or they had lost the gift vouchers, or the business had closed. So if you are giving gift vouchers, encourage anyone who gives them. And I would say to anyone who has gift vouchers that could be in the drawer at home, use them as quickly as possible, because you can forget about them, you can lose them. Also, some gift vouchers can put charges on every month after a year, usually. And that then eats away on the balance on your gift card. And you could go to use it maybe in a year and a half or two years and realize that maybe much of it or all of it could be used up on charges. So we would really encourage people that if you do get a gift voucher or gift card this Christmas, make sure and use it as quickly as possible. But if you have any old ones in the drawer, take them out and use them. Because they've taken away the expiry dates, haven't they as such? They have been taking away the expiry date. It has to be for at least five years. Oh, it has to be for at least five years, okay. But not every gift voucher falls within the five years. And the ones I was talking about there that usually you can use in multiple, maybe shopping centers or all-for-one vouchers, they don't fall into the five years, but they usually don't have expiry dates on them. But then they will usually have that, they'll usually have charges on them after the first year. And they're usually monthly charges and they can add up very quickly. So it's really important for people to use them. Also, you could give cash as an alternative to gift vouchers. People are less likely to put cash in the drawer and forget about them. So it's just another option if that's what you want to do. But what people should be doing, and we all, I try to do it every year and I try to stick to it. I make a list of all the presents and then I try to see how much money I budget and I try to keep to it. We're all human. It's so easy to go online or go into a shop and be taken away by, you know, the season that's in it and say, oh, I'll just buy this. I just, you know, I just, you know, the kids need more or whatever it is or whoever you're buying for. And we can all get caught up in it. But what we don't want for people, in particular listeners tonight, we don't want them to go into January with a financial hangover of thinking how much, how am I going to pay back all the credits that I have borrowed over Christmas? Yeah. And obviously there will be a lot of people who will struggle anyway over Christmas. So for those, what support would be available for them? Well, yeah, if you are in debt or if you think you're going to get into debt, we would definitely suggest you contact your local MAPS office. That would be really, really important. Most communities or most counties have a local MAPS office. So call into them and talk to them. And people who just want to try and budget a little bit better, they can go onto our website, ccpc.ie, and you have different kind of budgeting tools that you can look at. But also we have cost comparisons. So it shows you, for example, like I mentioned, the credit cards. It compares all the credit cards in the market. It compares personal loans that are in the market. It sets out all the different savings accounts that are in the market and the different interest rates that you can get in them and also even mortgages. So that's a big, that can be a big saving for people in general is if you switch your mortgage. Okay. And I suppose in all of this, you don't want the meaning of Christmas to be lost in all of us, that, you know, it's, you can't get too far down the commercial route, really. And it's very easy, because everything is quite commercialized. So it can be very difficult. But if you set out that plan, and make that list and make your budget, and you know what you're going to get. And also what we would suggest to people is so many different shops out there. So shop around for what you want, if you're looking for a bicycle, or if you're looking for a special gift for somebody. Because you know, there is deals around there as well. So look at the deals, look at the different shops, and you may be able to get that a little bit cheaper than you had budgeted for. So wouldn't that be great, if you can kick that off your list for less than you have, you know, than you had originally budgeted for. But yeah, it is, but we are, we are very encouraged that three in five people are using their savings. And that makes people so much better. It makes them feel more in control of their money, if they can save a little towards Christmas and don't have to borrow. Well, Muriel, if anybody listening wants to go on to your website to get more information, what is your website? It's ccpc.ie. So ccpc.ie. Okay, well, and that's, of course, Consumer Competition Consumer Protection Commission. So ccpc.ie. Well, Muriel, thank you so much for taking the time to come on and talk to us today. I really appreciate it. And we'd like to wish you a very, very happy Christmas. And the same to you and all your listeners. Thank you very much. Thanks, Muriel. Thank you so much. Okay, we are going to go with ads and a piece of music. And when we come back, we're going to be talking to Emma Ward and Letitia McCrudden. Wildlands Winter Wonderland is back and it's bigger than ever. Take the drama out of Christmas with one hour play. Sustainable gift, printed family photos, hot drinks and treats all included. 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If you have any friends or family who are looking to book a holiday home, please check out connemara-lettings.ie or call us on 353 95 22 669. Yvonne and her team would like to wish all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. This Christmas give the gift of Calmaray. This is our beautiful Connemara estate and experience the festive atmosphere of Ireland's best loved historic treasure. Make Christmas shopping and dining an experience to remember with our wholesome winter menu and delightful handcrafted gifts. Fill your larder with homemade Calmar Christmas fare and choose from a beautiful range of giftware and award-winning chocolates handmade in Sister Grenadine's chocolate kitchen. Gift joy this Christmas when you shop in store or online at calmarabby.com. Calmarabby, a story so timeless it's still being written. No, we better not. Oh, it's terrible. Oh, it's so true. Close it down with you. I want to cut it up and cold it down Christmas with you. Cut it up and cold it down in a wonderland or two. Why don't we cut it up and cold it down Christmas with you. Merry Christmas. Two very distinctive voices there, Dolly Parton and Michael Bublé with Cuddle Up Cozy Down Christmas. And you're very welcome back to Community Matters this evening. There's all kinds of gremlins in the studio this evening. But yeah, fair play to Dermot, he's battened them as fast as they come at him. Okay, with me hopefully on the line now I have Emma Ward and Letitia McCrudden. Girls, you're very, very welcome to Calmar Community Radio. I'm delighted to be on with you. Now, of course, Galway won big at the National Volunteer Awards on Sunday, the 8th of December. And the two of you, I believe, have taken the honours at the National Volunteer Ireland Awards. Could you tell us a little bit about your podcast? And unfortunately, I'm not an Irish speaker. So you'll have to tell me, you'll have to tell me how to pronounce that name. Yeah, our podcast is with Spun Out and our podcast is called Mink Hair is Paving the Way. And I suppose we would have been working on our podcast since June of 2023. And we had a variety of episodes on topics such as domestic abuse, ableism, mental health, education, activism, women's rights, etc. And they started going out in June of 2024. And we had guest speakers from the community as well that we felt were most experienced in them areas. And it's been a real success, the podcast, and we've had over 250,000 listeners at the minute. So it's been really good. 250,000? Yeah. Wow. And tell me, how did it come about? Like what encouraged you to start the podcast? So we both got an email from Spun Out. And they had asked us, would we be interested in collaborating with them? But we didn't, they didn't know that we knew each other. And we hadn't spoken about what we were going to talk to Spun Out about. And both of us had mentioned that we would be interested in doing a podcast. And because we were friends, they thought we would be, we would do it a lot better together. So it kind of came from there. And me and Latisha have a really good friendship. So it just made it better in a way, a lot easier to present with someone. So it came about in that way. And then we had the idea to talk about topics that are very, very important to both of us and to talk about things that needed to be discussed more in the media. And was there any particular individual angle that each of you brought to the table? I can, so for myself, I'm a disabled Irish traveller. So I brought my, I spoke about my experiences of that, because you really don't see that in the media. And then Latisha, you can talk about it. And then I suppose there would have been specific episodes that would have been really, I would have brought bring a big impact into I suppose, I'm a domestic abuse child survivor myself. So I suppose I told someone what's my story and advice I could give and supports that are there and what I think needs to change for domestic abuse, not just for our community, but Ireland as a whole, and in the domestic abuse episode as well. And during the sport, we had a sport episode as well. And I've been doing karate since the age of four. And I'm a first time black belt in it. So I told my story with being an Irish traveller through karate as well in that episode. So you both were not just were able to provide your background in the travelling community, but also he brought up the topics of domestic abuse and disability. And so you both brought a lot of experience yourself before you spoke to any other guests at all. Yeah, and it was just good that we were able to do that. But our, our goal was to bring in other Irish travellers and to show the media that we are all you know, we're all Irish travellers, we're all different. There's a wide variety of us. An absolutely fabulous idea. And definitely not done before, I imagine. No, it definitely hasn't been done before. And I think like we just really wanted to get that across. And I suppose sometimes the media doesn't like to highlight travellers in the most positive limelight. And I think what we wanted to do is show that there is such individuality in the community and that like, we really have progressed as a community in the last 10 to 15 years, like the amount of us that are getting degrees now, the amount of us that are making something of ourselves in the music industry, and in education as members of the Gardaí. Like, you wouldn't have seen this 10 or 15 years ago for our community that, you know, times are changing. And just that, you know, we are more than what maybe you might see on the newspapers, for example. Well, I mean, you're not just empowering travellers, but I would imagine any marginalised background. Oh, yeah, definitely. Because I suppose the way I look at it, like, for the ethnic minority communities in Ireland, it can be a very hard time for them. And like, you can feel very isolated in Ireland. And the way I look at it, through my activism as well, outside of the podcast, I think it's a really great thing to try and bring marginalised communities together. Because so instead of being a minority, if you bring all the minorities together, you actually do the core part of the majority in a way as well. Well, that's fantastic, ladies. And tell us about the night, then, after your awards. What was that like? It was amazing. And we didn't expect to win, and we're very, very honoured. Like, we're both very young Irish travellers, and I think we were one of the youngest recipients at the event. It was just great, wasn't it, Leticia? Yeah, it really was. And it was just brilliant to have, you know, Emma had some of her family there, and I had some of my family there. And just being together, it was just really, really amazing. And I suppose it's a brilliant way to wrap up the end of our podcast for Season 1, and wrap up the end of 2024 for both me and Emma, that with the podcast individually has been a really great year for us. And we're really hopeful that there will be a Season 2 for our podcast, because between who has listened, the amount of people that have listened in, and we were on Ireland The End back in August as well for our podcast, and then at the awards, we really would be hopeful that Phone Out will give us the opportunity of a Season 2 as well. Well, that's, well, I tell you, I'm for one now, I'm going to be tuning in from here on out. Now, is it, is it Mincear, Mincear it's pronounced, Mincear Paving the Way, is it? Mincear. Mincear, you'll have to pardon me now, my Irish is shocking. So just for anybody listening who's like to look, look up that podcast, it's M-I-N-C-E for the I-R-S, Paving the Way. Yes, that's it, yeah. And you, and you did it through Spun Out. Yeah, we did it through Spun Out. You can listen to it on Spotify and Apple Music, and you can also go to Spun Out website, where it's directly linked. Well, Emma and Letitia, fair play to you, it's a fantastic thing that you've done. And have you got great ideas now for Season 2? Yes, lots of them, it's going to be hard to narrow them down. Okay, well, I won't, I won't ruin any surprises or put you on the spot now for that. But just to say congratulations to the two of you, you should be very, very proud of yourselves. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. And listen, girls, have a great Christmas. And the same to you as well. Rest up well, and then we'll be hearing from you then for Season 2. Perfect, thank you so much again. Take care of yourselves. Bye-bye, bye-bye. That was Letitia and Emma there, and Letitia McCrudden and Emma Ward, and fair play to them, it's a fantastic, fantastic thing they've done there. They were just telling us about their winning the Volunteer Award in Campaigning and Activism category for their podcast, Mince Air Paving the Way. And I probably am still mispronouncing that and probably as the Irish-speaking person is cringing, but apologies. But M-I-N-C-E for the I-R-S, Paving the Way. Okay, just to thank Emma and Letitia for coming on tonight. Also to thank Cathy Connolly, Executive Director with the Galway Rape Crisis Centre for coming on and talking to us. And like that again, if you want to buy some of those tickets from the Galway Rape Crisis website, you still have time to do that up until 7pm on the 28th. It's €50 per ticket or €100 for three. And also, sorry now, the website there for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, the phone number for anybody who needs it, 1800 355 355. And that number again, 1800 355 355. We also spoke to Father Ronayne and Reverend Diane Marchant with the times for the Masses over the Christmas season. So just to give a brief recap on those. So for Clifton, you have a Mass on a Tuesday, Christmas Eve at 9pm and Wednesday, Christmas Day at 11.30. For Ballycamelie, you have Mass Tuesday, Christmas Eve at 7pm and Christmas Day, Wednesday, 10am. For Claddagh, 7pm on Christmas Eve and 12 noon on Christmas Day. And the penitential services, the only remaining one left is in Claddagh tomorrow at 7pm. And then the ecumenical carol services, the one for the Ashley Falls has been cancelled. And so St. Mary's Church in Roundstone on the 20th of December, that's Friday at 7pm. St. Thomas' Church in Moyard, that's Saturday the 21st and that's at 4pm. And then on the 22nd, which is the Sunday, there's one in St. Mary's Cathedral in Shewm at 12 noon, St. Mary's Church in Cong at 7.10pm and in Christ Church in Clifton at 4pm. Then lastly tonight, we spoke to Muriel Dolan, Deputy Director with Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. And she was just talking to us about spending over the Christmas and giving us some tips and help for anybody who would like any advice or guidance. So if you go onto their website, ccpc.ie and you will be able to hopefully get some advice and guidance there. That's about it. My thanks to Dermot on the desk and just to wish you all a very, very happy and healthy Christmas. Good night and God bless.