A group of young Portuguese taking part in a local community project found surprising common ground in exchanging stories and songs with elderly residents in a depopulated area of south Sligo over the past fortnight.
The 14 Portuguese, aged between 17 and 23 years, came to the Gleann area, adjacent to Lough Arrow, as part of their work to secure a Gold award in the Premio Infante D. Henrique - the Portuguese equivalent of Gaisce, the President's award.
They were accommodated in local homes and slotted into a local project which focuses on improving the quality of life for the elderly. The visitors undertook activities such as painting and decorating, housework and gardening at the homes of elderly residents in isolated areas.
The community project is co-ordinated by CLASP, the Community Lough Arrow Social Project. Ms Pamela Anderson, the administrator of CLASP, pointed out that there is a disproportionate number of elderly among the 2,500 people living in the 100 sq mile area of Gleann, and the age group between 18-25 years is severely depleted locally.
CLASP, which is also a job initiative programme, is attempting to involve young people in community work to support the elderly, enhance their safety and security, provide companionship and so on. "The aim is also to give older people a more positive image of young people," said Ms Anderson. "The Portuguese fitted in well because a lot of them were from rural backgrounds." The Portuguese expedition was hosted locally by Gaisce.
The visitors were entertained by Irish Gold Gaisce participants who will themselves undertake a venture expedition to Portugal next month.
This is the first time an intercountry exchange has taken place in the respective national award schemes. Mr Hugh MacConville, Gaisce development officer in the north-west, said one of the aims was to provide ways for young people to express themselves in isolated rural areas.
The Portuguese youth group also spent four days climbing Errigal and other mountains in Donegal. They missed, however, one of the activities planned as a completely novel experience for them - the saving of turf. "The turf was saved a week before they got there, because a spell of good weather arrived and the work couldn't wait," said Mr MacConville.