‘Aidan never says no to an ask, nothing is ever a problem’

A PAST board member and long-time volunteer with Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services, Aidan Weldon has been awarded the ‘Go Purple Community Champion Award’.

To mark Go Purple Day, Aidan Weldon was honoured by the organisation for his huge commitment to supporting women and children affected by domestic violence in Co Meath over many years.

A native of Lobinstown, he received the award in recognition of his tireless service as a board member and volunteer.

He was presented with the award and a gift hamper sponsored by Credit Union Plus by Meath Co Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tommy Reilly, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and Sinead Gogan, chairperson, Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services at a ceremony in Navan on Friday.

Sinead Gogan said Aidan had given his free time and endless energy to supporting the work of MWR in countless ways over many years, as a board member and volunteer.

“Aidan never says no to an ask - big or small and nothing is ever a problem. He has a wide range of connections in the community in Meath and has helped us build relationships, including our long-term partnership with Tara Mines. He has contributed huge efforts to fundraising for Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Service and encouraging others to support us. He is very persuasive and never gets daunted by the level of support needed - his optimism is infectious!

“Before he retired from Tara Mines, Aidan organised volunteers to come and do a garden and playground clean up and carry out essential maintenance in the refuge building. Today we want to take this opportunity to celebrate Aidan’s volunteerism and his quiet humble way of supporting our work. We know he is very committed to supporting families affected by domestic violence and we hope he will continue to be involved into the future.”

Aidan served as a volunteer director of Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services from 2016 until 2020 and worked for Tara Mines before his retirement in December 2022. Aidan is also a volunteer with Niall Mellon Trust and has travelled several times to South Africa to build houses.

Aidan explained that he got involved with the Refuge through his work for the Niall Mellon Foundation when a friend involved with both organisations asked him to help out. “I knew they were doing great work, so I was happy to get involved. I was involved in fundraising and then I was on the board. When Covid hit and the board were meeting by zoom, I decided I'd prefer to be hands on, so I was doing things like painting bedrooms, moving furniture, painting the playroom.

“I worked in Tara Mines and we were doing some team building so I suggested the group come to the refuge and clear out the garden, it was a great job.

“I am retired from Tara Mines, but I am not retired from Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services. They are a great organisation doing a great job.”

At last Friday morning's Go Purple coffee morning, Meath Co Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tommy Reilly spoke of the wonderful work of the Refuge. “The comfort they give to women and children is fantastic.”

He paid tribute to Minister Helen McEntee for the work she has been doing around domestic violence and coercive control.

Sinead Smith, CEO of Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services spoke of the two major flagship projects planned for next year, a pilot education programme and the development of their new refuge building.

Minister McEntee thanked the service for the work they do, which is a lifesaver for so many people.

She recalled that Garda Stacey Looby had organised the first Go Purple event when she realised something needed to be done to highlight the problem, especially during Covid when many women were trapped at home with their abusers.

“It has grown so much that now this is one of 1000s events all over the country,” she said.

Last year, the inaugural Community Champion Award was presented to Superintendent Martina Noonan for her long-standing commitment to supporting families affected by domestic violence in Co Meath.