THERE is an actual village in West Cork where 50 teenagers meet every week to do things that are of interest to them.

Some readers of The Southern Star may be disbelieving, thinking such gatherings are unprecedented in this technological, multi-screen age.

But Marie Wiseman, who is one of the ten group leaders with the Muintir Bháire Foróige club on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, can confirm that the secret of its success is, in fact, its success.

In other words: the more young people who join, the more interesting and varied the gatherings at the community hall in Durrus become, and this, in turn, generates more enthusiasm amongst those predominantly in the 12 to 16 age group.

‘The members are responsible themselves for coming up with an agenda for what they do throughout the year. And they have their own committee, which is voted in, that is responsible for planning such events – everything from what needs to be done, when, and who does what,’ said Marie.

‘The leaders are just there to guide them,’ she added.

‘Another reason it’s popular is because the members really get behind it, they feel empowered, to the extent that the club is run by themselves for themselves.’

Between 7pm and 9pm on Friday November 28th next the doors of the community hall in Durrus will be open to welcome people in the community who’d like to meet these young people on their own patch.

The members are hoping that everyone in the community, including business owners, members of the clergy, teachers, volunteers, and the members of other community groups, will take the time to join them for tea, cakes and some conversation.

When one considers that the population of Durrus and Kilcrohane alone is just over 500, the club members are a sizeable demographic.

But they are already well-known locally because they are all about giving back to the community and organising projects and events that are fun and educational.

They have done everything from regular beach cleans, to an Eircode project for local amenities, as well as volunteering at local charity shops, organising fundraising cake sales, face painting at regattas and local fetes, dispensing water during local athletic events. and they have even worked with Santa, just like his real elves.

Each one of these communal connections empowers the members of Muintir Bháire Foróige: it gives them organisational and entrepreneurial skills, but more than that it gives them a deep understanding of what goes into forming the foundations of a community.

As part of that foundational work, they would love the opportunity to extend their hospitality to anyone who’d like to come along between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, November 28th next.