KILKENNY -- The State of It is a website run by a staff of Kilkenny teenagers covering issues from shopping to activities. Its cop-on factor is higher than many other listening posts sourced from around Ireland. Recognising this attribute, government agencies should connect the dots and go directly to this credible voice for teenagers.
An interesting synergy appears in the 28 May 2004 edition of the Kilkenny People related to The State of It.
On page 4, Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick calls for a committee to promote facilities for young people. Fitzpatrick has identified skateboarding and bowling as activities mentioned by The State of It that could combat boredom and anti-social behaviour.
On page 25, the Kilkenny Community Forum announces "City youth forum up and running." According to the article, the Youth Forum is "made up of community representatives and youth service providers in the city." I wonder if any teenagers are directly involved at the strategic level.
On page 28, Stephen Kelly describes The State of It as "an exciting initiative that heightens the reality of life for Kilkenny's future." Kelly thinks local politicians should visit the web site and listen carefully.
On page 40, Jim Rhatigan was "delighted to get an e-mail from local lad Tadgh O'Dwyer." Rhatigan acknowledged that O'Dwyer's views about local facilities differ from his own. Rhatigan's quick survey found "three out of four people I spoke to thought that facilities for young people in the city were okay." A quick read of The State of It proves they're not up to scratch. O'Dwyer is a key player behind the Web site.
On page 39, Kilkenny City planners solicit inputs on their "review of retail strategy." I wonder if the planners intend to scrape the Internet for a global view of shopping in Kilkenny. Google finds 90 results.
I think it's informative to connect the dots between the items cited in the same edition of the local paper to glean an accurate pulse in the city. Moreover, it's possible to conclude that the youth touchstone is very much the focal point of The State of It. It's one of my bookmarks and in my blogroll because it's newsworthy.
The Kilkenny Community Forum is chaired by Nellie Brett, Teach Mhuire, Main Street, Gowran, County Kilkenny.
Irish Typepad -- "Christmas shopping in Kilkenny"
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