Sixty years of Nenagh World Aid

Society to hold street collection on May 23

Nenagh World Aid Society is celebrating 60 years since its foundation.

John Darmody, a selfless and generous Nenagh native, from Silver Street, dreamed of a world where poverty and deprivation would be but a distant memory. He and like-minded people set about building the dream and the Nenagh World Aid Society was born in 1966.

John tirelessly began cajoling his friends, acquaintances and even strangers, gathering money. He also collected aluminium pots, pans and other assorted articles that would make life in distant developing lands more bearable for their less fortunate inhabitants. In the early days containers were filled with non-perishable foodstuffs and everything useful Nenagh had to offer.

Now, 60 years later, the abundant fruits of John’s dream continue to deliver help and hope to vulnerable people in the form of cash grants. The grants, as is regularly attested to by our recipients, though small, have added value in many developing countries. Doubtlessly, the Society could not function without the continued wonderful support of the people of our town and its hinterland. We the Society’s members are, as always, very grateful for the ongoing generosity of our donors and friends.

DECLINING VOCATIONS

Today, our aid consists mainly of cheques presented by our local contacts to religious and lay people from the Nenagh area, who are living and working in poor and developing countries. However, as religious vocations are declining, we now diversify, giving grants to local students and other young people, volunteering in areas of need. On occasion we have included some reputable national and international charities, for example, Mary’s Meals and MSF, working in Gaza.

Generally, we hold a public presentation of cheques in February/March each year and to date in 2026, we have presented 24 cheques amounting to some €12,000.

As we receive no state grants or aid of any kind, we are, as stated, totally dependent on the generosity of the people of Nenagh and its surrounds, and we raise our funds through two street collections each year, through bequests, private donations, and other endeavours from time to time.

SUMMER COLLECTION

Our summer collection will again be a cash and cheque collection, taking place on the streets of Nenagh on Saturday, May 23 next, coupled with a churchyard collection before all Masses on that weekend also. As always, no donation will be considered too small and all will be gratefully received.

Alternatively, donations can be lodged at any time to the Society’s Bank of Ireland, account number – 21322682.

Nenagh World Aid Society incurs no administration costs and all people involved with the Society give their time and effort voluntarily and without any material gain. If you or any of your friends would be interested in joining our 12 committee members, we meet once each month from September to June. For information contact: nenaghworldaid@gmail.com.

The following accounts outline the experiences and stories of some of our beneficiaries

KENYA

Tim tells us that the Society’s donations are used for nutrition and feeding for street connected youth and families in Kitale town. As the weather has got colder for those living on the streets there are many more colds and chest problems. The recipients also ensure that pregnant and lactating mothers have food for themselves and their children. They have also started a support group for commercial sex workers where they feed up to 60 women. The rains have now begun so the farmers are happy. However, flooding has now become an issue.

MALAWI

Gemma advocates for the Likulezi Project. She writes that in 2025, though an election year, life managed to continue with few interruptions. Although the rains were better, the harvest for most only lasted for six months, so many had to take out loans, which are difficult to repay.

In order to assist families, the project bought fertilizer, as the risk of a poor 2026 harvest and the consequent lack of food would force orphan girls to drop out of school and enter into early marriages. The project also assists those orphans who are selected for third level (tech college/university) to continue their education. It encourages and supports 14 Leadership Trainings Groups, which have a vital role important on the long road to sustainability.

The Likulezi Project lives in a poor rural area of Malawi. The people live on the edge of survival but resilience is their great gift; a gift to inspire the more affluent peoples of our world. Love, laugh and be joyful is their song… the song of the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.

UGANDA

The Coloma Primary School is a girls boarding school in Mbarara, sponsored by Fr Lorcan. It is supported by Nenagh World Aid Society and helps poor, promising students such as Sylvia to advance to further third level education. When Sylvia began her studies all she possessed was a plastic bag containing all of her belongings. She had to buy a computer and mobile phone as well as furnishing her bare room with a bed, mattress and blanket. Sylvia will become a teacher, but without this help she would remain at home in her village, just waiting to get married. She is studying geography at university and even though she finds it hard, she is determined to get her degree.

TANZANIA

The Society has helped the people of Katesh in Manyara region after a mudslide that claimed the lives of 120 people and damaged properties, farmlands and livestock. Many people were trapped and the wounded survivors were taken to nearby hospitals where they received emergency treatment.

A new estate has been constructed for those whose homes were destroyed and located in a safe location far from the base of the mountain, which was the site of the mudslide.

Eileen, our local contact, sent our cheques to the Medical Missionaries of Mary, who have helped support the survivors. They supplied food such as corn, beans and rice, as well as items of clothing, soaps, gas, etc.

The Sisters also provide antenatal, postnatal and under-five clinics to people in six other remote villages, and also care for other patients who come to them with various diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, etc.

Sr Maria Borda, MMM, identifies and follows up women with actual or expected complications of pregnancy and sadly, many of the women who come to her have had three, four or more miscarriages; other mothers have been lost because of severe haemorrhage.

Contributing factors could be, that they were unable to get to a health facility to be assessed during their pregnancy, and unable to get to hospital in time because the roads were impassable in the rainy season.

LESSONS FROM OUR BENEFICIARIES

We, the members of Nenagh World Aid Society, following deliberation on the above, and on the many other experiences of our beneficiaries, have reached a number of conclusions:

Many of the world’s people are enduring severe deprivation, neglect and hardship in their daily lives.

Though, a small organisation, we in Nenagh World Aid Society, with the continuing generosity of the Nenagh area, are privileged to be able to bring some hope and comfort to people in the direst of conditions.

Finally, we wish to commend all our local contacts who connect with those on the ground, helping the needy.

Particularly creditworthy is the fact that all involved with the Society give of their own time and effort on a voluntary basis.