A supervised, alcohol-free Youth Disco takes place during the schools mid-term break period at The Bounty on this Thursday, February 18th with music by top DJ Paul Harte from 9 p.m. until midnight. These regular Discos are organised by Buccaneers Rugby Football Club and are the only official discos run in conjunction with the Athlone Drugs Awareness Group and with the support of Athlone Gardai. They cater primarily for Junior Cert students in the 15/16 year-old age brackets and have been running successfully for almost a decade.

Cllr. Frankie Keena believes that this is due mainly to the stringent supervision and control at these eagerly anticipated social events by the young teenagers. If teenagers have alcohol on them or are acting in any way that is a concern to others, then their parents are contacted to bring the teenagers home. The safety and enjoyment of those attending the Discos is paramount and, because of such commonsense practices, the Discos have proved hugely popular now over many years. John Henson of the Athlone Drugs Awareness Group emphasises that they are a wonderful alternative to the drinks culture that abounds elsewhere.

On behalf of the rugby club, Barry Reid thanks the agencies who support these Discos and also the volunteers who assist on each Disco night. Of course, more helpers are always welcome even if only to help at the start or end of the Disco. Parents are reminded to collect their children punctually at the end of each Disco and to drive carefully in the car park area. Buccaneers also thank Seamus Hayes and his staff at Musicworld who help sell tickets for these events. A limited number of tickets for the Valentine Disco are still on sale at time of writing.

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