Take one; leave one!

- Republic’s biggest book exchange is in Ballymun, probably!

Ballymun Whitehall book exchange

On the first Thursday of every month, over 250 people file through the Ballymun Civic Centre as the monthly Book Exchange takes place, organised by Ballymun Whitehall Area Partnership (BWAP).

It might even be the biggest book exchange in the country – Rosemary Kinehan of BWAP can’t say for sure.

“It may be - there’s no central record of this,” said Ms Kinehan.

Yet it cost nothing to set up. Soon after it started, schoolteachers noticed an improvement in pupils’ reading ability, said Ms Kinehan.

The Book Exchange began life as one of the Partnership’s activities for AONTAS Adult Learners Festival in February 2009 and grew from there. 

11 BENEFITS TO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM LEARNING MUSIC

11 BENEFITS TO YOUNG PEOPLE

FROM LEARNING MUSIC - THE BALLUMUN EXPERIENCE
Children who play a musical instrument in a band develop improved:

- Ability to Focus- Patience- Self Confidence- Abilities to relax- Hand co-ordination- Discipline- Ability to learn languages- They find a means of self-expression. - They have fun.- They make new friends.-They experience achievement.

For more, read our feature on the Ballymun Music Programme which has seen over 1000 children learn music on page 21:http://www.changingireland.ie/ISSUE34.pdf

PHOTOS:

(1) Young musicians from the Ballymun Music Programme

(2) Ron Cooney, Ballymun Music Programme director