President MacAleese Visits Axis Centre
(photo with thanks to Ballymun Concrete News)
In a tremendous coup for Ray Yeates,
Director of the Ballymun Arts and
Community Resource Centre (Axis),
the President of Ireland,
Mary MacAleese visited the
Ballymun Centre to formally
launch the Axis 2005 programme of events.
The well choreographed visit included:
•Greetings to the Axis Centre by
the Ballymun Gospel Choir.
•A musical piece by the
Ballymun Wind Project.
•Introducing the President to
some of the pupils of St. Michael's House.
•Introducing the President to
representatives of community
organisations that are ‘tenants’ of the Centre.
•A remarkable insight to the
struggles and hardships endured
by young aspiring actors in New York,
given by Ray Yeates and his good
friend Clarke Middleton,
whose film roles include
“Kill Bill 2” and “Sin City”.
The first speaker, Clarke Middleton,
who had been invited and had flown
from New York to speak at the
launch of the Axis 2005 programme,
described the difficulties
endured by actors and other
artistic folk who suffer from
physical disability.
Clarke suffers greatly from arthritis,
a debilitating illness that
without the greatest of courage,
determination and talent,
can prematurely end the career of an actor.
However the renowned
film Producer/Director Quentin Tarrantino,
looked past the disability
and recognised and focused
on the talent of
Clarke Middleton when casting him
for roles in his films.
Ciaran Murray, Managing Director of
Ballymun Regeneration Ltd (BRL)
and Assistant Dublin City Manager,
outlined the very positive
developments and attitudes in and
about Ballymun that are flowing from
the regeneration programme.
Formally welcoming and introducing
President MacAleese, Ray Yeates
pointed out that the President’s visit
“comes at the end of a remarkable year”,
crowned by winning ‘Best New Play’
award at the Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards ceremony.
That award winning play,
‘From These Green Heights’
was performed in part by some
of the actors, for the benefit of the President.
President MacAleese
The President congratulated the
Axis team on their work, successes
and their excellent programme of events for 2005.
"Axis represents the success
of partnership between the professional
and community, excellence and
inclusion without compromise.
This approach was not always in
Ballymun but history has taught
us some painful lessons about not
listening to people".
"It was wonderful to see Axis win
the Best New Play at this years
Irish Times/ESB theatre awards.
The community of Ballymun must
have been very proud that night
to take its place among the best
theatres in the county", she said.
Having met with some pupils of
St. Michael’s House Ballymun,
President MacAleese also unequivocally
praised the work of the myriad of
organisations who work tirelessly to
improve the quality of life for the
Ballymun community generally and in
particular for the disabled.
This page was updated on 6th July, 2009