The people of Drogheda are very lucky to have a service such as the Red Door Project where there is always a warm welcome for everyone seeking help for addiction or just for a chat.
Red Door Manager Louise Mahony and her staff have created an atmosphere of friendship and caring in the somewhat austere buildings of the old St. Mary’s Girls School on the Dublin Road that has meant the difference between life and death, acceptance and rejection, to many, many people fighting addiction.
This sense of friendship and support is almost tangible is immediately apparent to the visitor – whether they are suffering issues of addiction or not.
So, last Friday’s open day at the Red Door was always going to be a good way to spend a few hours.
Their open days and are is always a good measure of how the Red Door Project is developing and this year it was apparent that things are moving along nicely with many innovative and interesting projects taking place simultaneously.
New this year are the four beehives which are up the end of the steep garden behind the buildings where we met Mark Bird and Dennis Farrelly suitably attired in special suits and masks essential for their safety.
Obviously then, there was honey for sale at the Open Day along with flowers and the produce of various sections of the Red door including plants, craft work, ceramics and wooden products for your garden such as benches and bisrd boxes,
As well as the cups of tea, sandwiches and buns that are customary at such gatherings the visitors were also serenaded by some beautiful music with Niall Pentony playing guitar and singing in the sunshine while Patrick Coyle playing the Uilleann Pipes in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bennetsbyrne and Orla Walsh were interviewing anyone that would talk to them for a video production of the occasion.
Louth County Council and Barry Mc Hugh from Mellifont both donated plants for the open day and any that remain unsold will be sold off for the blessing of the graves in St Mary’s and St Peter’s next week.
