Comedians lend support to Ratoath youth project

Some of Ireland's top comedians performed in Ratoath's Venue Theatre last Thursday in a fundraising comedy showcase in aid of the Ratoath Pulse youth project. The show featured Jason Byrne, Joe Rooney, Greg Marks, John Henderson and other guests and was well-supported by local residents. The Pulse committee's efforts to raise funds to build a dedicated youth activity centre are well advanced, having so far raised €30,000. Their objective is to raise another €25,000 in coming months so that the first building block can be put in place this spring. Deputy Regina Doherty said that, after the last census, it became obvious that Ratoath had the largest population of under-14s in the country, but there was nowhere in the village for those who weren't interest in sport to go. "There was a growing trend of youngsters hanging around outside supermarkets and while the vast majority were doing nothing wrong, they were getting tarred with the same brush as a handful of troublemakers," she added. She said that, in conjunction with Ratoath Community Centre, there are now plans build a youth club in the grounds of the community centre. "It will be an alcohol and drug-free youth centre, slap bang in the centre of the village, within walking distance of all the estates. It will be kitted out with X-Boxes and Playstations, pool tables and televisions, and will be for members only," the Fine Gael TD said. The next fundraising venture will be a Battle of the Bands at The Venue later this month. Once the facility is built, the Pulse committee will be relying on the community's continued generosity in furnishing the centre, as well as sustaining its viability for the long-term.