G a t e w a y

N e w s l e t t e r

Unit 1, 2 Parker Hill, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6 ( opposite the swimming pool )
E-mail : thegatewaynewsletter@gmail.com

Blog : projectgateway.blogspot.ie

Phone : 085 752 1220 OR 01 4977005 ( Office hours )

MAY

Hours : Monday and Thursday

1.00 pm - 5.00 pm

2016

SPRING SURGE AT GATEWAY!

We never knew there was such talent lurking among us Huge well done and thank you to all involved!!

VISIT OF STUDENTS TO
GATEWAY

n the 6th of April

2016, between 2pm4pm, a group of
students currently
participating in a Mental Health in
the Community Cert Course
visited Gateway for the purpose of
learning how a peer led, community
based organisation works.

found here and so on. I gave a brief

history of Gateway: when and why
it started, some of the principal
activities and the importance of
being involved with Gateway.

Finally, each of the visitors spoke

about why they were doing the
We spoke of Gateway being a peer
course and how they found their
led space, where those who attend
interaction with Gateway. After 2
are encouraged to be active in the
hours of vibrant and worthwhile
day-to-day running of the
conversation, the session was
Association. This enables creativity,
concluded.
community, provides hope and
Gateway is such a place and when purpose to people. Most of the staff I found the gathering to be an
we were asked 2 months ago, if
have experience of mental health
excellent occasion. Conversation
members would allow this, we
challenges and this link between
flowed easily and hopefully the
agreed. It was decided to have the
them and members is a vital
visitors enjoyed their few hours
visitors attend on a day outside the element to the functioning of
here. Also, nice refreshments were
normal drop in space, thus enabling Gateway. Throughout this section
provided as well as a selection of
those who wished to participate in the students asked people various
printed material for the students to
the event to make that choice.
questions about what was being
take away with them.
The students are doing a part-time discussed.
Thanks to all Gateway members
course in Griffith College, Dublin
For me, it was great to see and hear who participated on the day and
which focuses on some of the
so many members of Gateway
best of luck to the students with
aspects of how a community based being involved and sharing their
their course and for the future.
mental health group functions. This voices. Later on, the students posed
course is newly established under
a range of other enquiries about
the auspices of UCC and Mental
different aspects of Gateway, such
Richard
Health Ireland.
On my arrival around 2pm, the front
room at Parker Hill was packed
with people from Gateway and
around 10 students. Ali, Gateways
Development Worker, opened
proceedings by giving a brief
overview of Gateway. Each person
in attendance gave their first name
and said where they were from.
Then members of Gateway shared
some of their experiences and
feelings around the Association.
These ranged from the first time
they came to Gateway, what they
enjoy, the support and friendship

Gateway being a peer-led space

as how it is funded, the

organisational structures and if
Gateway is active within the Local
Community and in trying to
improve policy in Mental Health.

he last time I wrote an article on the

Cheltenham races our esteemed editor fell
off his chair, and when I informed him of my article
titled Lidl versus Aldi, he fell off his editorial chair,
again and it took smelling salts and a half bottle of
cognac to revive him and I haven't seen him since.
I first heard of Lidl and Aldi in the white hot heat of
the Celtic tiger, and I wondered how people could
lower themselves to grace the doorstep of a cheap
German discount store. I was sure the food wasnt fit
for human consumption
Very soon I went broke, very broke and I knew I had
get over my shame of being seeing in Aldi or Lidl, so
I ventured in one day disguised with my aviator sun
glasses and a woolly hat pulled almost over my very
dark shades. In one of the aisles I recognised a high
court judge and his wife seemingly delighted on
getting a good few deals. I took off my aviators.

This was Lidl. I am now a loyal Lidlite and wondered

what the Aldiites were like. So I killed my curiosity
one day and ventured in and was shocked at the
difference I saw in Aldi..Not as good as Lidl I
thought. I found it hard to see any food between the
toasters, coffee machines and mop heads.
I thought the children of the Aldiites must be starving.
The mother brings home new lampshades, pots and
pans that their starving children could not eat. I
thought I could contact concern or Oxfam to help the
Aldiites children, but I thought that would be step to
far.
However smug we Lidlites feel toward our Aldiites
adversaries...they really are so similar in branding
colour, and location. Lidl has cool names such as
Ballymanor chickens, Coolree milk, and Aldi with its
brash sounding Paddy O Shamrock butter and
Leprechaun-Valley yogurts, how vulgar I thought.
However I still cant remember which is which and
before I go shopping I have to recite a nursery rhyme I
leant as I a child.Hey diddle diddle the cat shops in
Aldi..

The Creative Writing

Group
On April 1st (no joking ya) the
Gateway Creative Writing Group
held their annual Favourite Story
Competition.
This is the second year such a
competition was run within the
group and it was yet another
wonderful success.
Members of the Writing Group
wrote a single piece
and read their work of Art aloud
at the group class on Friday.
Wow! What a superb collection of
stories the ladies and gents had put
together.
We had joint runners up.

Tom (middle) overall winner

with Patrick and Gordon
They were...Patrick Clifford wrote
Somebody Up There Loves Me ,
and Gordon Watson wrote One
Brave Guy.

Tom O B.
The overall winner was Tom
OByrne with his story The
Nocturnal Mechanic.
The competition results were
decided by the members of the
C.W. Group.
The quality and enjoyment of the
competition was absolutely
fabulous..
A trophy for the Favourite Story
Competition was presented to the
winner, Tom.
Many congratulations Tom and
congratulations to all the writers
who contributed to the competition.
You are truly lovely, creative
writers. Keep up the good work.
Maria Jones CDETB.

Getting to know you, getting to

know all about you
1. What is the best thing that has
happened to you in the last 12
months? Coming to
Gateway.
2. If you had a super power, what
would it be? I would love to be
able to mind-read..
3. Can you tell us your 3 best traits? Honesty,
Trustworthiness, and Industrial strength
swearing.
4. What do you value most in life? My family and
friends...
5. Name one thing you would like to change about
yourself? I would like to shed a few pounds...
6. Where would you like to visit ? Broken Hill,
Australia...
7. Name something you miss about childhood ?
The total lack of responsibility...
8. Name your three wishes ? To be healthy, happy
and at peace with myself...
9. What is your favourite film ? Mad Max 2 : The
Road Warrior...
10. What is your favourite book ? This Is The
Way The World Ends by James Morrow...

MENTAL HEALTH REFORM

On Today Tonight program 21st April the panel
discussed the 12 million Euro claw back by the
government in Mental Health Reform. The main
points discussed were as follows.
1. No proper political support like a minister
allocated specially to Mental Health.
2. The Importance of Mental Health Reform for the
wellbeing of the Irish people.
3. One in ten school children self-harm in Ireland.
4. The General Practitioner on the panel indicated
that mental and physical health is interconnected.
5. The large sum of 12 million has been clawed back
by the government for Mental Health Reform.
6. Ireland has a high suicidal rate referred to as an
epidemic by the panel including Brassie from
Ireland the Voice.
7. The people want a twenty four hour crisis unit,
instead of being referred to A and E.
8. Family support needed.
9. Parents are the main educators and need support.
Anne M.

John Murray

health, sleep and

mental health,
This month in Gateway we had a everyday
visit from Nicole Paulie. She
mindfulness, the
talked about the book How to be power of
Happy and Healthy. It was
compassion and
complied by Maeve Halpin, with understanding meditation. It was
a foreword by Ivor Browne and
a very good talk. Nicole said you
contributions from many different can order it from the Library.
people. It has chapters about
-Mary Q
therapy, exercise and mental

HAPPY AND HEALTHY

Thanks and appreciation to all our supporters

PROTEST AGAINST MENTAL

HEALTH CUTS

MY MIND in Ranelagh is offering discounted

counselling services. Vouchers are available to
Gateway members at 10 per session for 5
sessions. Contact Gateway on 01-4977005. Thank you to
the ESB for supporting this service.