Press release

Know Your Neighbour weekend launched

23rd June 2007: "People don't even know their own neighbours." How many times have we heard this in recent times?

An initiative called 'Know Your Neighbour Weekend', which will take place on July 14th and 15th this year, is encouraging people to do more to get to know their neighbours.

The initiative was launched in Dublin this week (Friday, 15 June) by broadcaster and well-known personality, Brenda Donoghue, marking the start of a nationwide campaign to encourage people to organise activities on the weekend of July 14th and 15th and invite their neighbours along.

Macra na Feirme is driving the initiative with the support of ESB Customer Supply.

Macra na Feirme's national president Catherine Buckley explains: "While we've seen increased prosperity in Ireland in recent years, many people are now also faced with the increased pressures that come hand-in-hand with modern living. Long hours at work, ever-increasing commute times and family and other commitments mean that people are spending less and less time involved in community-based activities. All too often we hear people saying that they don't even know their own neighbours."

Gerry McGough, Community Initiatives Manager ESB Customer Supply said: "ESB Customer Supply is delighted to sponsor the initiative for the second year in a row. ESB has contributed to the development of every community in Ireland, rural and urban, and is committed to enhancing this role through the support of initiatives which help foster community spirit across the country."

"Macra na Feirme is to be commended for coming up with the idea of running a project such as this, which directly encourages and assists people to interact with the neighbours in their own locality," he said.

Speaking at the launch, Brenda Donoghue said that the initiative was a great way of encouraging people 'who don't know anybody living in their local street, estate or apartment block' to do something to rectify that situation.

"Know Your Neighbour Weekend is a great idea because literally anybody and everybody can become involved. I'd encourage anyone interested in organising an activity or event to order their organiser's pack straight away and start planning for the weekend of July 14th and 15th," she said.

A list of suggested activities and events that people can organise as part of the 'Know Your Neighbour Weekend' is available on the official Know Your Neighbour website.

These include a barbeque, a coffee morning, a picnic, a football game, a clean-up day of the local estate etc. The interactive website also encourages people to apply for an organiser's pack containing printed posters, fliers, invitations and stickers.

To request an organiser's pack:

• email info@knowyourneighbour.ie
• text KYN followed by a space and their name and address to 51444.
• Call Macra national office on 01 426 8915

However, Macra's president, Catherine Buckley, said that even if people are not in a position to go as far as organising an event on Know Your Neighbour Weekend, they could still make a greater effort to interact with their neighbours on July 14th and 15th.

"It could be as little as saying 'hello' or inviting a neighbour in for a cup of tea - in whatever way they can, we'd like people to make an effort on Know Your Neighbour Weekend to get to know their neighbours better," she said.

Ends

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