Grant and Brendan Deeney have recently returned from South Africa after a successful week with the Nial Mellon Township Trust. They travelled with two other local men, Joe Mc Cormac and Tom Frain, as part of a two thousand strong group of volunteers to build two hundred fifty three houses in the township of Khayelitsha in Capetown.

The Deeneys would like to thank the people of Ballaghaderreen and Lisacul and the surrounding areas for their kind support and generosity. Particular thanks to St Attracta’s NS, St. Nathy’s college and Lisacul choir for their fundraising efforts. Thanks also to all their neighbours, friends and clients and to the local shops and businesses for their support. It was a fantastic and very rewarding experience to be part of the Mellon Building Blitz and to know that each volunteer is responsible for putting a secure roof over the heads of so many people who would otherwise be still living tin shacks.

Almost one thousand eight hundred people were housed as a result of the efforts of the volunteers this week. It was a tough week’s work but the reaction of the people and their unending gratitude makes the whole experience worthwhile and we would like to think that this would not be the last time that we would be a part of it.