Related Stories

• Final tour of the year from Avondhu Blackwater Partnership
  
  
• Fermoy Camera Club goes snap happy for Cope
  
  
• Canon Sheehan Centenary exhibition at Nagle Rice Secondary School
  
  
• Locals involved in Kenya Project in Mitchelstown and Ballyporeen
  
  
• Mitchelstown Youth Achievement Awards seek nominations
  
  
• Our gut microbiota and how it can be programmed by food
  
  
• November to be a hairy month for Ballynoe businesses!
  
  
• Truck and car crash outside Mitchelstown
  
  
• ‘Trad for Trocaire’ event a resounding success in Watergrasshill
  
  
• DMSSG continue campaign with Dairygold
  
  
• Fermoy student joins Rathcairn colleague as top debating duo
  
  
• Novena to St Fanahan starts on Nov 17
  
  

Pictured at a talk on bullying in Mitchelstown Town Hall were local Girl Guides, Brownies and Ladybirds with speakers Elaine Murray (ISPCC) and Community Garda John Hennessy and Leaders Liz Downes, Mary Sheehan, Sarah Walsh, Triona Fitzgerald and Norma Connolly. Photo: Sandra Quinn

Bullying can come in many forms, whether it's excluding someone, calling someone mean names or making fun of someone and at a recent talk in Mitchelstown Town Hall, a spokesperson from the ISPCC and a member of the Gardai spoke to children about the issue.

The talk was organised by the girl guide leaders in Mitchelstown and Kilbehenny and was attended by young people, girl guides, brownies, ladybirds, their parents and leaders.

Community Fundraiser with the ISPCC Elaine Murray explained that the purpose of the ISPCC is to look out for children, speak up on their behalf and make sure that all children feel safe, happy and protected.

She also stressed that Childline is a service there for any young people who feel that they need someone to talk to and she said that even if they just feel lonely or sad, there will be someone at the end of the line to speak to them. She added that no problem is too big or too small and as the service is confidential, the child's identity is completely protected.

Elaine added that due to a lack of funding, unfortunately they cannot answer all of the calls that come in and last year, they got 850,000, but could only answer just over 500,000. 

She urged the young people present to do a kind deed for Powering Kindness week, which wrapped up on Friday and in return Electric Ireland would give a donation to the winning charity - on Friday last, Childline were awarded €60,000.

Elaine told the children that a lot of the calls they have been receiving lately have been about bullying, with children as young as four being made to feel sad, upset or unsafe by others.

In terms of cyber bullying, she advised children not to accept friend requests from anyone they don't know, to make sure that their privacy settings are at the maximum and she said that just like they wouldn't talk to a stranger in the street, they shouldn't add strangers to their Facebook network.

Mitchelstown Community Garda, John Hennessy, spoke about bullying and the effects it can have on young people, both for the victim and the bully.

He said that if someone is being bullied, they should tell someone they trust and be careful not to become a bully themselves, while he said that ignoring the bullying is often the most effective thing to do, as the bully is then failing to get a reaction to their actions.

Garda Hennessy also advised young people to only go online in a communal area, where their parents know what they are looking at and he said that they should never give out personal information online.

The number for Childline is 1800 666 666 and it is completely free and young people can also text 50101, if they feel that it is easier than ringing someone. Bullying information packs can also be found on www.ispcc.ie

blog comments powered by Disqus