Free community and family fun day will showcase the greatness of D24

By Mary Dennehy

THE Tallaght community is invited to celebrate its hometown by attending a free, fun, business and community expo this Saturday, May 27, in Tallaght Stadium – where more than 50 local groups and businesses are exhibiting, and special guests – including Paddy Houlihan and Dragon Gavin Duffy – are attending.

Led by Bank of Ireland Tallaght, with support from local organisations, Tallaght Enterprise Community Expo is open to everybody living and working in the area, with the event showcasing all that is great about Dublin 24 and the people, businesses, groups, sports clubs and schools that call the area home.

Tallaght Enterprise Community will be officially opened by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, at 1pm, with more than 50 local groups, charities, sports clubs and businesses setting up stands on the day.

Over the course of the lively event, entertainment will be provided by the Tallaght Youth Band, Exquisite Dance and the Ojemba Super Band.

Celebrity guest Gavin Duffy, from the Dragon’s Den, will also roam through the event with a mic, meeting local businesses, while The Echo’s Sports Editor Stephen Leonard will chair a sports panel of local athletes, including Mick Dowling, Kenny Egan and Paddy Houlihan.

Jobstown education centre An Cosán will deliver a session on mindfulness techniques, Rua Red is staging a crafts workshop, Tallaght Red Cross will do a CPR demo and there will be lots of fun, face-painting, food and tours of Tallaght Stadium – with Hooperman flying in to meet families.

Arwel Buckland, Commercial Branch Manager at Bank of Ireland Tallaght, said: The local community has embraced this initiative wholeheartedly, and working together we have organised a very exciting programme of activity.

The event will be free to attend and is open to all ages. It is a fantastic opportunity for the community to be involved.
“It’s all about bringing people together, the community, businesses and local schools.

“It’s turning into a very vibrant event and I think that the Tallaght community is a really good example of what can happen when different sectors of the community work together.”

He added: “Alongside bringing the community together, the aim of the event is to help people grow their local economy and to foster a sense of identity for all within the area.”

Tallaght Person of the Year Simon Sweeney is the event’s special guest and there will be a monster raffle held that boasts a number of impressive prizes from local businesses including Westpark Gym, The Square and Lidl.

Tallaght Enterprise Town will run in Tallaght Stadium this Saturday, May 27, from 1pm to 5pm, all welcome.