Hip hop group in All-Ireland final

KILRUSH Youth Project hip-hop group, The Real Slim Ricks, from the John Paul Estate, will represent Clare in the All-Ireland finals in Donegal on Saturday week. The event is being hosted by Donegal Youth Service, on behalf of Youth Work Ireland.
The Kilrush hip hop group is made up of seven girls aged between 13 and 18. They will represent the county after winning the Clare heat held in Lissycasey last March. This is the group’s third year participating in the games, in which they claimed third place last year.
The hip hop group have been together now for three years and with the help and guidance of their dance teacher, Laura Jane Allis of Breakthrough Dance Company, they have improved their performances year on year.
“The progression the group have made is excellent.  I’m very proud of them,” Laura explained.
The Kilrush Youth Project was established by the Clare Youth Service in the John Paul Estate seven years ago. It is one of two Clare Youth Service initiatives operating in the estate.
The most recent initiative is the Sustainable Communities project, which has been in existence for approximately two years. Full-time Clare Youth Service worker, Louise McMahon co-ordinates both projects, along with part-time youth workers, Cyril Killeen and Shane Mulvey.
“We work with all teenagers between the ages of 12 to 19 from the John Paul Estate. We set up different activities and programmes designed to meet the needs of the young people both on an individual and small group basis,” Louise McMahon explained.
“A taste of some of the programmes we have run this year include hip hop, art and fishing. We also provide a chill-out space for groups of young people on an ongoing weekly basis on the estate. There is also a drop-in facility at specific times where young people can pop in to access specific information and have informal chats,” Louise added.