Dundalk's Councillor Yore attends Ablevision film festival

Independent Councillor Maeve Yore attended Ablevision Ireland Short Film Festival 2018, with Independent Alliance friend and colleague Minister Finian McGrath, at Droichead Arts Centre last Friday night.

Ablevision Ireland is a media, production and training company for people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of Ablevision is to challenge attitudes, open minds and change people's perceptions of disabilities.

Cllr Yore, in praising the finalists in Ablevision's third film festival, said that they certainly fulfilled the aims of the organisation. 

Her colleague Minister McGrath said the positive energy from the Arts needs to be valued and he congratulated the worldwide nominees on their inspiring entries.

Cllr Yore said she was delighted when Encore Productions - a theatre company based in Rehab Care in Dundalk, won the best documentary for their production of "The Tempest".

Encore have been devising and performing original shows and adaptations for over 16 years with performances in DCU, Queens Belfast  and NUI Galway.

She also congratulated the other category winners including, "A Bridge Between Us" from UK's Shropshire Inclusive Dance Company, winners of the foreign entry award; Shimmering Light Award Winners, Abacas Youth Group for their production of "Radiohead Trauma", and "Different Kind of Day" by Mermaid Productions for Best Drama and Best Overall Film 2018.

The Independent councillor for Louth said it is vital that people with disabilities are supported, included and valued in the Arts and our communities and thanked Ablevision saying its films challenge all of our expectations about what people with disabilities can achieve.

_{Minister Finian McGrath with Dundalk Independent Alliance Cllr Maeve Yore}

She concluded by saying Finian McGrath has been a lifelong advocate for disabilities and since elected minister he has followed through on his commitments by reforming, investing and progressing disability services nationally and she looks forward to continuing to work closely with him on all issues including respite, education and employment for people with disabilities in Ireland.

Minister Finian McGrath commended Cllr Yore for her "great work on disability."

"I have worked very hard with Maeve", said the minister, "on day and respite services, housing and the U. N. Convention for the rights of persons with a disability. 

"These wouldn't have happened without Maeve's support and dedication", he concluded.