Prosper Meath celebrates 40th year
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Aidan Gilsennan compiled a history of the organisation since its foundation in 1982.Image 2 of 7
A photography exhibition titled ‘My Favourite Place’ was held in Navan Library in conjunction with LMETB and tutor Paul Jones, when service users from the Kennedy Road day service in Navan explored the town and their own favourite places through the medium of photographs.Image 3 of 7
Michelle Dunne at her favourite place.Image 4 of 7
Service users from Prosper Meath’s Emmet Street Day Service in Trim, students from Boyne Community College, Trim Men’s Shed and Dave West Visual Artist joined together to produce a piece of mosaic artwork for the garden of Prosper’s day service inImage 5 of 7
Trim men’s Shed members were joined by Prosper directors, Mary Walsh and Pat Reen.Image 6 of 7
Adam Clarke at the photography exhibition.Image 7 of 7
Luke O’Daly’s favourite place in Navan’s NCBI charity shop.Prosper Meath has been celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, and among the initiatives to mark the anniversary is the publication of a book looking back on those four decades of the organisation in various guises.
Local historian Aidan Gilsenan detailed the history of the organisation since its foundation in 1982 to the present day, with some 150 people attending the launch in the Newgrange Hotel, Navan.
Past employees, founding members and some of the original board, including Tommy Darby, Pat McElhinney and Jimmy Dolan, were in attendance, as well as members of the current board of directors, the people supported and lots of families and friends.
It was a joyous occasion with stories shared and lots of laughter, and reflections on the successes and challenges of the past 40 years.
The book features portraits of each of the individuals supported by Prosper, many of which were taken by Marta Nash Photography.
Chair of Prosper Group’s Board of Directors, Paula Carey, and Prosper Group’s CEO, Pat Reen, expressed thanks and appreciation to the many people and organisations who have been a part of the 40-year history.
The biggest thank you off all was saved for the 204 people accessing the Prosper Meath services and their families.
The book also features a portrait of each of these individuals, many of which were taken by Marta Nash Photography.
The 40-year celebratory book is available to anyone who would like to take a trip down memory lane or learn more about the history of Prosper Meath. Contact (046) 908 9883 for further information.
A photography exhibition, titled 'My Favourite Place', was held in Navan Library in conjunction with LMETB and tutor Paul Jones.
Service users from the Kennedy Road day service in Navan explored the town and their own favourite places through the medium of photographs.
Jackie Breen and Sadie Ward McDermott from LMETB presented each participant with a personalised book containing their photographs which were taken as part of the photography course.
This was a fantastic celebration and the service users took great pride in sharing copies of the book with their families and friends.
In 2022, service users from Prosper Meath’s Emmet Street Day Service, transition year students from Boyne Community College, Trim Men’s Shed and Dave West Visual Artist joined together to produce a piece of mosaic artwork for the garden of Prosper’s newest day service in Trim.
As part of the anniversary celebrations last month, the groups came together to officially unveil the mosaic and celebrate this inclusive project, joined by a member of Prosper’s Board of Directors, Mary Walsh and Prosper’s CEO, Pat Reen.
The celebrations are not over yet as Prosper Meath has one last event to come, the official opening of Emmet Street, Trim, later this summer. Today, Prosper Meath supports 204 individuals with an intellectual disability across nine day services in Ashbourne, Kells, Trim and Navan.