Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

SF soccer tournament highlights drug abuse

Sinn Féin is organising a soccer tournament for young people in the Farranree area of Cork this Saturday. One hundred and fifty young people are registered to take place in the one-day tournament in Pophams Field in Farranree, on the north side of Cork City.

"Much is talked about the lack of services for young people," said local councillor Jonathan O'Brien. "We feel that the best place to organise events for young people is in their own community. With all the interest in the World Cup, it seemed an obvious idea to hold a soccer tournament. We have been overwhelmed with the response.

"All young people will get a medal for participating. The best player of the tournament will be presented with the Alan O Connor memorial cup by Alan's sister Gillian."

Pophams Field used be the centre of the community in Farranree, with soccer and football played there and a playground for the younger children, said O'Brien, "but it has been misused in recent years".

Alan O'Connor was a young man from Corks North Side. He was a keen athlete who tragically died when he abused solvents for the first time on Easter Saturday night 1983. "The circumstances of his death should act as a timely reminder to young people of the dangers of drug abuse," said O'Brien