Shades Club, one of a series of youth development projects in a socially disadvantaged area of Limerick, was named after the gardai who became involved in the inter-agency initiative.
The selection of the name, a slang word in Limerick for gardai, met with unanimous approval from the youngsters of Moyross, in the north-west of the city. Now it is a youth club, housed in one of the units of a former factory built by Shannon Development.
Gardai are on first-name terms in the community - although they point out they are often called other names too. At the launch of the community-based Garda special project this week, local TD Willie O'Dea said that when the original scheme was launched in 1994, it was only the third such project in the State. Now, there are more than 25 similar projects.
The "Seven Factories", as it was formerly known, has one anchor commercial tenant, occupying two units. Another unit is used by a FAS jobs initiative scheme. The remainder, which had been vandalised, were given to the development group in a non-cash transfer. In return, the group refurbished them and provide security.
They now house a variety of activities including the Shades Club, a snooker club, an indoor football club, the award-winning Corpus Christi Pipe and Drum Band, and a boxing club. Shades also gives opportunities for members to participate in the President's Award programme.
Father John O'Shea, chairman of the umbrella organisation, the Corpus Christi Youth Development Group, and parish priest in Moyross, points to the economic argument that the cost of funding such projects is far less that the annual bill for keeping even one inmate in prison.
"I think the money is well spent because we have provided recreational facilities for young people in the area that are superb. The clubs are well attended. They have places to go, they no longer need to be at street corners," he says.
He is acutely aware of the area's media coverage, which tends to focus on crime. When the local church burnt down, it was reported as arson. In fact, it was due to an electrical fault.
After six years, crime is down in the area, which has a population of more than 5,000. Father O'Shea says there has been a turnaround from 1994, when 83 houses were boarded up in the area.
"I think it is bigger than we realise and it is also having a bigger effect on the community that we realise."
The five-year-old pipe and drum band is now in the secure position of turning applicants away who are not from the area. The band, which includes a community Garda member as a bass drummer, has won eleven prizes since 1998.