"WHAT hope have they got?" is often queried of children growing up in the run-down, disadvantaged estates across the city, from Moyross and Southill to Ballinacurra Weston and beyond. Given the frequency of juveniles who appear before Limerick District Court on firearms, public order and drugs charges, is a future that looks far from bright, even with the much lauded regeneration on the horizon.

Some claim that children from these areas are disadvantaged from the get-go but solicitor John Devane, who has defended many of these children before the courts, said "every child has a chance in life if given the chance to get on."

However, a number of factors prevail in preventing them from starting life on a equal footing with their middle and upper class peers. "Number one their address will mitigate against them and secondly they don't see a good example within the home," said Mr Devane.

The local branch of Saint Vincent de Paul too said the importance of family cannot be underestimated in regenerating society. A spokesperson said that such is the breakdown of the traditional family unit in many areas across the city, that "you can't even call them families."

Instead, he said they are "dysfunctional units with children in the middle."

Furthermore, the problem is that criminality has become so deep-rooted within certain areas that three and four generations of families becoming embroiled in a life of crime, and for the child, who visits their parent in prison on a weekly basis, crime becomes "normalised."
With the absence of a strong family life, Mr Devane said, teenagers look up to other figures - drug dealers who drive around in blacked-out BMWs and give the appearance of living a glamorous, "untouchable" lifestyle.

Like the individuals he regularly represents, Mr Devane said he too came from a tough background and while he was "saved" by the courts in his youth, others may not be so lucky.

He has most recently defended a juvenile from St Mary's Park, who has appeared before the Children's Court charged with possession of a double barrel sawn-off shot gun and ammunition, as well as two counts of criminal damage to a vehicle and a property. Other young offenders, he said, "are coked off their heads committing crimes."

"All of it is about image, peer pressure and street credibility for these kids. They want to be one of the lads and many are lost before they even come to the notice of State authorities. Try to tell them that there is another life out there for them and they'll say 'Ah, f*** that. What would I want an education for?'"

But last week the Irish Chamber Orchestra and MBNA vouched their support for the children of the regeneration, and these children didn't seem too interested in image, or appear to be succumbing to peer pressure.

Last Tuesday 25 pupils from four schools - St Munchins Boys National School, St Munchins Girls National School, Corpus Christi National school and Salesian National School - were gearing up for the chance to perform alongside the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University Concert Hall next month.

At the musical workshop at the Learning Hub in Moyross, Caroline O'Reilly, who teaches music to pupils at St Munchins Girls National School, said this is a great opportunity for children for disadvantaged areas and more such initiatives would be welcome.

"This is fantastic for them, because they're getting to play a range of instruments. They love performing and showing off their talent. When they left the school to come here they were very proud of themselves and hopefully this could be a stepping stone to something else," said Ms O'Reilly.

Asked what they thought of the initiative, many pupils replied: "It's cool and really fun. We've never done anything as big as this." Fifth class student Mary Anne from Thomondgate said when she grows up she wants to teach music to other children, but being a popstar is also on the cards.

The orchestra has also worked with schools in Killaloe, Castleconnell, Caherconlish/Caherline national schools. Students aged eight to 11 years from these schools are also hoping to be selected for the concert on Friday, July 4, for the finale of the MBNA Shannon International Music Festival 2008, which runs from Monday, June 30 at the Irish Chamber Orchestra's new residence on northside of the University of Limerick campus.

See the full article in this weekend's Limerick Leader