Athlone arm of children's charity to be launched

A charity which aids disadvantaged children is to be launched in Athlone with a fundraising event at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on Thursday, October 29. 'Love Rescue Me', the 2007 book by Athlone-based Franciscan priest and author, Fr John O'Brien, will be relaunched on the night with all proceeds going to the charity Children First. The book will be relaunched by traditional musician Máirtín O'Connor, and friends, who will perform at the event. It's hoped that the night will help establish the charity as a presence in the town. "It will be the launch of many things. We just use the book as a focus," said Fr John. Children First provides a sponsorship and mentoring programme which offers educational and social services to children in need. It was founded in 1991 and, until now, its work has predominantly taken place in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Fr John explained that the charity is in financial difficulty and that local work will initially focus on fundraising, with the aim of subsequently establishing Children First programmes to assist young people in Athlone. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent last week, he explained how the local initiative came about. "Over the years I've met an awful lot of disturbed children who fell through the system," said Fr John. "One girl is a heroin addict who can't read or write. I've met many like her, and I felt for years that if some kind of mentoring or sponsorship programme was in place we might be able to help some of them. "Children First wrote to me and asked if I could help them in any way, so I gave them the rights and royalties to three of my books. I looked at their programme and saw they had an expertise and experience that I hadn't." He felt that there was an opening for Children First in Athlone. "We're not replacing any services. We have spoken to local groups and they would like to see Children First come in and complement what they're doing." However, fundraising is the first priority. Tom Farrell, the CEO of Children First, stated that it and many other charities were grappling with "pretty dire" financial circumstances. The local priest is a keen rugby supporter and spiritual mentor to the likes of London Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards and former England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio. Fr John plans to auction a jersey signed by the British & Irish Lions team on the Ebay website and he will donate the proceeds to Children First. He is also to receive donations of a signed Wasps jersey, other rugby memorabilia, as well as CDs from Máirtín O'Connor, who has had a distinguished solo career in addition to his membership of groups such as De Dannan and The Boys of The Lough. Lawrence Dallaglio is also hoping to perform the relaunch of another of Fr John's books, 'Cry Me A River', in the new year. The local priest expressed his thanks to Paddy McCaul for donating, free of charge, a function room at the Shamrock Lodge, along with tea and coffee, for the upcoming event. The charity relaunch, by Máirtín O'Connor and friends, of 'Love Rescue Me' will take place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel at 8pm on Thursday, October 29.