Volunteers bring fun and laughter back into park
By Maurice Garvey
AN OUTDOOR cinema screening of the comedy flick Hocus Pocus (1993), is set to take place in a Clondalkin park on Friday night, September 20.
Volunteers involved with Friends of St Cuthbert’s are behind the novel idea, which weather permitting, will begin at 8.06pm in the park.
An outdoor cinema will screen the comedy Hocus Pocus in St Cuthbert’s Park on Friday
It is a free family friendly and strictly no alcohol event.
However, there will be an ice-cream vendor and coffee dock available for residents, according to Lisa Kinsella-Colman, a member of Friends of St Cuthbert’s.
“People can bring along their own deckchairs or blankets or chairs to enjoy the movie,” said Lisa.
“Friends of St Cuthbert’s always try to bring fun and laughter back into our local park, which has been misused for many years. We have a community fun day in July, but we wanted to try something else.”
Lisa continued: “One of our members asked about an outdoor movie, we looked into it and the price didn’t seem off the rails – over €1,000 for the screening rights from Outdoor Movies.ie. We do need support from volunteers, gardai, and local services to maintain safety, as it is firework season.”
In recent years, the park has suffered from serious issues such as joyriding, drug dealing and dumping, but strong community engagement and garda operations has led to improvements in that regard.
South West Clondalkin Community Safety Forum Development Worker, Richard Costello, said: “This is another brilliant event organised by local people who are continually trying to improve their community.
“The Forum welcomes and supports any initiative which makes the area a safer, healthier and stronger place to live and work in. So, grab a blanket, some eats, treats and bring the family out for a night at the movies.”
Ms Kinsella-Colman said: “South West Clondalkin has some of the best community activists living here and showing everyone what we can achieve. Hopefully the rain holds off for our first outdoor cinema experience right in the heart of our community.”
Organisers hope to hold another outdoor movie in the park at Christmas, and want to make this a regular feature night in the park.
Residents are encouraged to arrive at 7.30pm in order to secure seating arrangements, and the movie will start at 8.06pm – when dusk sets in to allow the appropriate screening light conditions.
