These projects are taking place at specific dates between June and August in the following areas; Coolock (Supercool Summer Project), Artane, Raheny, Darndale (New Life Summer Project), Larkhill (the Larks Summer Project), Gaeltacht Park, Belmayne, Clontarf (CRC Summer Project), Newtown Court, and Clonshaugh (Dean Swift Summer Project). The local community development team have set up a networking group for summer projects and meet project members as a group a number of times throughout the year to share valuable ideas, information and feedback.

It's Summer Project time again!! Community Development Staff work very hard throughout the year attempting to set up new summer projects for kids of the area and progressing already established projects. In the North Central Area, ten summer projects are being supported this year by the Local Community Development Team.

Along with summer project representatives from Crosscare, the local community team members help to resource the projects through ongoing advice on Child Protection/Garda Vetting issues, funding issues, project ideas and capacity building support.

Supercool Summer Project is one of the best examples of a well run voluntary led project in the local area. This project has been running for over thirty years in St. Brendan’s Parish. It provides three weeks of activities for up to 180 young people each year. Helen Small has been co-ordinator on this project for a good number of years and is still volunteering ,despite retiring in recent years. She is a veritable guru on summer projects and provides advice to other projects in their infancy.

“The most important function of the local summer project is community building. Children walk to local events such as swimming and bowling and they interact and get to know each other on the way. They also get to know each other on the bus journeys to day trips. In essence, its about building friendships and relationships between children. In fact many of the local marriages here in Coolock Village take place between couples who originally met at Supercool Summer Project”, said Helen.

The C.R.C. Summer Project is based in the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf & has been running very successfully for many years. Each Summer it provides a programme of fun filled activities & entertainment for the young people that attend the clinic. This year’s project got off to a memorable start with a very special performance by the Garda Band on Tuesday 7th July & will continue for four weeks from 6th to 31st July. Dublin City Council has supported the C.R.C. Summer Project over the years and is delighted to support the Project again this year.

For any more information on these local projects or summer projects in general, contact the NCA Community Development Team as follows:

Ciaran Mahony 086 8150799, Aileen Doyle 086 8150649,

Madeleine Ebbs 086 8150286, Hugh Flanagan 086 8150292.