Celebrating 35 years of service…
On Tuesday, August 6th, the County Roscommon Disability Support Group CLG, commonly known as RSG, welcomed stakeholders, staff, friends, and neighbours to celebrate their 35th anniversary and the official opening of their new training room, The Oak Room.
Jim Ganly, Chairperson of the Board, recounted RSG’s history, noting its establishment in 1989. As a Health Service Executive (HSE) approved provider, RSG offers a broad range of person-centred care and support services, primarily to people with physical and sensory disabilities, older persons and children throughout County Roscommon and the surrounding areas.
RSG, a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity, has grown significantly over the years. Its community services are largely funded by HSE Section 39, with additional support from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) Community Employment (CE) Scheme.
Since 2010, RSG has been an officially recognised Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training Awards Council accredited training provider, offering full Level 5 healthcare qualifications and other mandatory training modules.
In 2012, RSG opened the DALE Resource Centre, which provides daily activities for service users under the age of 65 with physical and sensory disabilities.
Finance and Resource Centre Manager Alison Neary opened the proceedings, expressing gratitude to all attendees for celebrating RSG’s remarkable 35-year journey. She highlighted the dedication, hard work, and resilience of the entire RSG team, both past and present, and marked the occasion as particularly special due to the opening of The Oak Room, a refurbishment made possible through Pobal funding.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joan Dowd spoke about the significance of The Oak Room, dedicated to the memory of Deirdre Hussey, a beloved former colleague and friend who passed away in October 2022. Joan described Deirdre as an inspirational individual whose contributions to RSG have left a lasting impact. The RSG team believes The Oak Room will serve as a constant reminder of Deirdre’s legacy and the values she embodied.
The event was graced by the presence of Deirdre’s family, including her husband Declan, and sons Ethan and Luke. Also in attendance were RSG service users, staff, learners, Board Trustees, and members of their service partners from the HSE.
Joan extended her thanks to stakeholders for their unwavering support and gave a special mention to those staff members who could not attend due to work commitments.
Fr Donal Morris, in blessing the building, remarked on the fitting tribute of the name ‘Oak Room,’ symbolising strength and refuge in times of sickness and need. He noted that the title aligns perfectly with RSG’s mission to improve the quality of life and standard of services for all people with disabilities, older persons and children.
This celebration marks a significant milestone for RSG, as they continue their commitment to providing exceptional care and support within the community.
