Multi-sports club launched

A NEW multi-sports club for children with physical disabilities, and their siblings, was recently launched in Our Lady’s School in Terenure.

The club is a joint initiative by the South Dublin County and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown sports partnerships, which saw 29 children with disabilities in attendance at the launch on March 6.

The club meets every Sunday morning for an hour, and allows the children and their siblings to take part in a variety of sports.

Lucy Cush, the South Dublin County Sports Partnership’s sports inclusion disability officer, told The Echo: “This multi-sport club is for children with physical disabilities – it is their club.

“For most of the children attending, they will be very used to going to drop or watch their siblings attend and play at whatever their chosen sport or activity is.

“By inviting siblings to attend, we are providing the opportunity for them all to play together and be on a team together, or play against each other.”

The launch this month was actually the second time the club was launched, as its initial launch was held just before the pandemic struck, which meant the club had to be suspended shortly thereafter.

The idea for the club came from the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and demand for the club has been high, according to Ms Cush.

“Brian O’Donnell from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sport Partnership and myself, both being sport inclusion disability officers, discussed setting up a joint club,” she explained.

“We both identified that there was a lack of participation opportunities for children with disabilities in our areas so we approached Sam Jablansky from IWA Sport about it.

“Sam could not have been more eager and enthusiastic about launching a new club.

“We initially launched in February 2020 but Covid struck after our third session. The demand and need for the club has only continued to grow and now we are back, bigger and better than in 2020!

“The children that were returning after the two-year gap were buzzing with excitement and so were their siblings – a lot of them did not even wait for their parents to walk into the hall with them.”

The launch this month was a celebratory occasion, which also had local Fine Gael councillor David McManus and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown councillor Lettie McCarthy in attendance.

Describing the atmosphere at the launch, Ms Cush said: “A buzz of excitement, fun and so much energy remained throughout the hour. It was just electric.

“I spoke to numerous parents throughout the session and every single one thanked me for organising the set-up of the club.

“It just highlighted how needed and important the club is. These children have a right to have access to sport and physical activity.

“One of the parents who was attending for the first time couldn’t believe the turnout of children and said, ‘This is unbelievable, this is the first time my little boy is seeing other children just like him in a PE setting’.”

The club meets on Sunday mornings from 11am to midday in Our Lady’s School in Terenure. Each week there will be different activities led by sport development officers, parents, and volunteers.

If you would like to get involved to help coach, volunteer, or register your child to attend the session, please email Lucy Cush at lcush@sdublincoco.ie