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ESB NETWORKS LTD

Aug/Sept 2011 www.esb.ie/em

Over 100 donations for Paul Cooney

Irish blood transfusion awards were presented recently presented by the Chairperson of IBTS, Katharine Bulbulia, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin. Also at the presentation was the President Mary McAleese, who made a very moving speech. The award was in recognition for donors who had given over a hundred donations of blood or platelets. Paul has been giving blood since the age of 21 and would encourage all members of the ESB to donate, if they can, either locally or by attending a platelet clinic in Dublin or Cork where you will be accessed for suitability to give platelets. The demand for blood products has increased over 50% in the last 10 years and donating blood is one of the most rewarding things you can do.

RSA Shuttle Bus in Finglas

The shuttle bus visit was organised by the Dublin North Partnership Group.

Sean McGoldrick and Noel Kavanagh.

Colm McDonald.

DUBLIN NORTH Partnership Group organised a visit to Finglas by the RSA Shuttle Bus on June 14th and 15th last. A large number of staff took advantage of the visit to brush up on their driving skills. A number of students on site were also invited to attend and found the exercise very beneficial. It was felt by the staff overall that this was a very worthwhile exercise.

ESB cyclist wins iPad after lunchtime spin

Dublin City Council’s ‘Bike-to-Work’ lunchtime-cycle took place on Wednesday June 22nd. In a prize draw for participants, ESB's Noel Rushe was the winner and was presented with an Apple iPad2 by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Andrew Montague.

Denise Healy of ESB Telecoms making the presentation to Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin.

ESB Telecoms sponsors charity ball

THE 13TH ANNUAL Telecoms Industry Charity Ball was hosted by IBEC’s Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) in the Burlington hotel recently. ESB Telecoms is a member of this representative body for industry-leading companies and associated interest groups in the field of electronic communications. The event was widely supported with almost 350 members of the Telecoms Industry present and they were honoured to have the Minister of State for the New ERA project, Fergus O Dowd, as the guest speaker. Again, ESB Telecoms was one of this year’s main event sponsors. Every year the committee members struggle to decide on the most deserving charity. The charity selected was the Capuchin Day Centre for the homeless, located on Bow Street, Dublin 7, which was founded by the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Order almost 40 years ago.

The Capuchins provide 200 breakfasts and 400 dinners to the needy daily and, as a direct result of the economic downturn, the queues along the narrow little Bow Street are getting longer and longer as those who are hungry line up to receive a hot meal. On Wednesdays they distribute over 1,000 food parcels packed with essential food items. Fresh clothing and shower facilities are also available for the homeless. There is a GP and Nurses' Clinic at the Centre and, in addition, chiropody and counselling services are provided. They offer free advice and information to people and also have a HSE welfare officer on duty there.

The work the Capuchins do is tremendous, together with the hard work and kindness of the volunteers at the Centre. Although the Centre is part-funded by the Government, it relies heavily on public donations, as the food bills alone amount to a staggering €50,000 a month. It is the biggest ‘food Centre’ in the city.

However, it is not only the homeless that depend on the Capuchin Day Centre but also Dublin’s ‘new poor’. Those on the poverty threshold in Dublin’s city centre are rapidly increasing and people are struggling to survive on their social welfare benefits alone. Many simply do not have enough money to feed their families.

Despite the hard times we are all faced with, Brother Kevin Crowley touched the hearts of every one in the room that night and those attending the charity ball dug deep into their pockets, giving very generously. Raffle tickets were sold out and collection baskets were filled. The auction was a huge success. Ian White from Whites Auctioneers was on a roll and the auction was most exciting as the bid figures rose and so did the tension in the room. To hear high bids being placed on rugby jerseys, football tickets and weekends away brought a huge smile to Brother Kevin’s face.

Prior to the event individual telecoms companies carried out their own fundraising events. ESB telecoms held a raffle that was warmly supported by ESB staff, not only in Head Office, but in each of the four provinces. For every €2 raised from the raffle, ElectricAid gave €3, resulting in a tidy sum of €3,550 being raised in total by ESB Telecoms and ElectricAid prior to the event. This money went directly to food expenses at the Capuchin Day Centre.

The total proceeds raised for the Capuchin Day Centre was €27,000. It was a most successful and enjoyable evening and ESB Telecoms was proud to support such a hard-working and wonderful charity that makes a big difference to the lives of so many.

Athlone district retired staff outing

Athlone District Retired Staff on the shores of Lough Erne during their annual outing, which this year included a tour of the northwest.

New LED lighting introduced in Wilton

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