Headford News and Community Spotlight - Getting Things Done

For anyone who's interested in birds and also for those intrepid souls who are early risers, the Headford Environment Group will be sponsoring a Dawn Chorus Walk at 5:30 AM next Sunday, May 11th. Following the walk, author, artist and environmentalist, Gordon D’Arcy, will officially launch a Bird Identification Sign. All this early morning merriment will take place at Greenfields, on Lough Corrib, and will be followed by refreshments. For more information, visit: http://headfordenvironmentgroup.org/



COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Getting Things Done

Mother Teresa was once quoted as saying her work was 100% selfish. She did not do what she did out of altruism; she did it because it made her feel good.

According to a poll conducted by Fundraising 123, the main reasons people give to charity all revolve around the pronoun ‘I’. I want to feel I’m not powerless and can help. I want to be seen as a leader. I need a tax deduction. I want to memorialise someone (who is struggling with or died of a disease). Giving is basic human nature, and something most of us have been taught since childhood—in helping someone else, you help yourself.

In the Headford area, one man famous for philanthropic work is Michael Finnerty. Tall and tan, with a gentle smile and an easy manner, when Michael enters a room, he brings a positive feeling with him. And shares it. You can tell right away, this is a man who not only feels good in himself, but he likes to help others feel good too.

Charity work started for Michael over thirty-five years ago. He was down by the lake and had an ‘accident with a chainsaw.’ He credits a friend with helping him and getting him interested in helping others.

Michael Finnerty

‘Help those who can’t help themselves. That’s my motto,’ Michael says.

And so began his association with Ability West, a charity that provides services and supports to people with intellectual disabilities.

These days, thanks to the Central Remedial Clinic payoff scandal, and the €150,000 in cancer charity donations which made its way into the pockets of hospital chiefs of staff, people are understandably concerned about where their contributions end up. Maybe that’s why Michael is quick to assure me, ‘Every penny we collect goes to buy special computers for learning difficulties or fitness gear or to set up a room at Ability West. Not one penny goes into the day to day running of the association.’

For the past twenty-one years, Michael has helped aid the Galway Hospice by either participating as a cyclist or organising the Annaghdown cycling event. He’s also cycled for Ability West and helped accrue over a quarter of a million euro for that charity. So, of course he looks like a man who’s in pretty good shape. But Michael has dealt with some harrowing personal challenges. He’s a cancer survivor, having endured radiation every single day for two solid months ‘including Christmas Eve and St. Stephen’s’ he tells me. Then there were three heart attacks which happened one right after the other when he just happened to be in the hospital. Michael says this proved to him that ‘when you’re number is up, it’s up.’ Yet, he credits cycling and fitness for getting him through all these physical trials.

It was while taking the computer course at Solas that Michael was asked if he’d like to come to a committee meeting for the Centre. ‘I’ve always been interested in helping the community,’ he says. So he went. That one meeting progressed into Michael becoming Chairman of the eight member Solas Management Committee, a volunteer position that includes organising fundraising for the Meals on Wheels programme and the counselling programme. 

 

While volunteer work and fundraising do play a large part in Michael’s life, he also likes to play golf, and the card game ‘25.’ He mentions spending time with his four kids and eight grandkids. And ‘I love sheep!’ he says ‘I have a small farm, and I love it.’

When I ask Michael how he has time for all these things, and he says, ‘Oh, I’m not a fellow for waiting. I like to get things done.’ And he’d really like to see others ‘getting things done.’ ‘I’d love it if more young people would get involved in charities.’ Anyone eighteen and over can help organise events, including sponsorship for events. They might help with the barbeque at the end of a charity cycling event, or offer secretarial skills (for which they can be trained). And, of course, these are excellent things to add to a CV. The next event is a Vintage Rally on June 2^nd. Michael says anyone who’s interested in helping him ‘get things done’ is welcome to ring him: 087.2996956.