Ray to captain Street leagues Ireland team
TALLAGHT man Ray Daly will captain the Republic of Ireland at an international tournament this weekend in Tallaght Stadium.
The Irish Street leagues celebrate their 20th anniversary by hosting a unique competition featuring male and female teams from Spain, England, Poland, Scotland, Finland, Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Wales, Romania and the Republic of Ireland.
Aylesbury native Ray (35) endured many hardships, including the loss of two infant children, the loss of his mother in 2012 and a battle with alcohol and mental health.
He first became homeless in 2007, was “on-off homeless” for three years, before he managed to secure a place back in Tallaght, via support services and South Dublin County Council.
Ray only really feels he has moved forward since 2019, when he joined the Beacon of Light Counselling Centre in Clondalkin.
In recent years, he has made remarkable progress up the corporate ladder in the retail world, and he is a mentor for young men at the Beacon of Light.
It was while playing an exhibition match for the Beacon of Light against the Oireachtas football team in Roadstone a couple of tears ago, that Ray met Irish Homeless World Cup team coach Thomas Morgan.
They got talking, Ray competed in the street leagues and was selected as captain for this tournament.
Joining Ray in green is Noel Gleeson (40), who spent many years in prison for drugs related offences.
Gleeson grew tired of getting in trouble for the same old things and made the decision to seek help and break the chain of addiction.
Out of prison since October, Noel goes to NA meetings, does volunteer work on Sundays, and is working fulltime in the construction industry.
Like Ray, Noel’s involvement in the street leagues put him in contention for an international cap, which he will proudly wear this week.
A number of players who featured in the Tallaght street leagues over the years, will be among those representing their country in this tournament.
Sean Kavanagh founder of the Irish Homeless Street leagues (IHSL) is delighted with the response of all involved in helping to put this tournament together although it has been far from plain sailing. Originally the international teams were to be introduced to the spectators at half time at the Rovers versus Bohemians match at Tallaght stadium, but unfortunately the match was postponed.
However Shelbourne agreed to fill the void so IHSL will bus all the teams to Tolka Park where they will be introduced to the crowd at half time.
“We were determined not to let the players down and miss out on what will be a memorable occasion,” said Kavanagh.
On Saturday morning at 9am, the teams will be led by the Crumlin marching band and accompanied by SDCC Mayor Alan Edge and former Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn – marching from the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght to Sean Walsh Astro.
Matches will take place on Saturday and Sunday with finals on Sunday afternoon.
The tournament is supported AWS in communities who along with IHSL will also provide volunteers over the weekend.
