Another Irish rugby side bids to take on the world
GRAND Slam fever gripped the country after Ireland’s Six Nations Championship triumph against England at Twickenham on Saturday, and now another Irish rugby side is busy preparing to take to the world stage.
The Irish wheelchair rugby team is travelling to Switzerland next week to take part in the World Wheelchair Rugby Championship qualifiers - and they are hoping to draw inspiration from the success of the Irish rugby heroes in their pursuit of glory.
The Gaelic Warriors Wheelchair Rugby Club, founded in Clontarf in Dublin in 1997, was the first of its kind in Ireland and has since been joined by Laois Lions, Munster Crusaders and Ulster Barbarians. Two of the clubs, and the national side, have received National Lottery Good Causes funding which has allowed them buy specially adapted wheelchairs – and to chase their dreams!
Gaelic Warriors’ club captain and chairman is Tallanstown native Alan Lynch, who lost the use of his legs aged just 14, and he said the sport has been a hugely important outlet for him, and has helped him cope with his disability.
He explained: ‘Wheelchair rugby is good for both the body and the mind. It is helping many Irish men and women put their lives back together and gives them a focus for the future.
‘The sport gets people active again, it keeps them fit, and instead of focusing on their disability players concentrate on doing well in a game with their teammates.
‘I had an accident when I was 14 when I fell from a tree and broke two vertebrae in my neck. Through rehab I came across wheelchair rugby and have really embraced it, as have the others in the club. We take our sport seriously, but we also enjoying the social aspect and everyone gets game-time on court.’
The club has both male and female members and takes part in a national league. A number of the Clontarf players, including Alan, are part of the Irish national squad which are travelling to Switzerland to contest the World Championship qualifiers. Teams from Ireland, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, New Zealand and Korea will compete to secure the final four available spots at the 2018 IWRF World Championship in Sydney this August, so the stakes are high.
Specially designed offensive and defensive chairs imported from the US and New Zealand at a cost of around €5,000 each are needed for the sport.
‘The slogan on the Irish Wheelchair Rugby website says ‘Wrecking Wheelchairs in Ireland since 1997’, so as you can imagine these wheelchairs need constant upkeep. National Lottery funding has allowed us to buy some chairs for players and to get essential maintenance for others.
‘Because of the physical nature of the sport there are often a few broken parts, so the lottery funding meant we could get those fixed,’ said Alan. Soccer final
THE St Mary’s DS senior soccer team have a big date this Thursday when they face Chanel College of Coolock in the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Leinster Cup Final. Kick-off is 12 noon at the AUL Complex.
Ireland’s call DROGHEDA United first-team squad member James Carroll, representing St Oliver’s CC, was an unused sub on the Republic of Ireland Schools team who held England to a scoreless draw in the Centenary Shield competition at Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road last Friday.
Lotto winners NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Seneschalstown GAA Club lotto for a jackpot of €4,000 were 5, 19, 21, 28 and the five €25 prizes went to John McPhilips, Noeleen Concannon, Francis Dunne, Finian O’Dea and Fergus Moore.
Duleek prizes NUMBERS drawn in last week’s Duleek AFC/SBG FC lotto were 2, 5, 15, 26 and the €20 prizes went to M Kavanagh, A Murray, C McLoughlan, H McGreechan, M Donnelly/D Leddy (POB/EG).
The draw takes place every Thursday at 8.30pm, tickets are available from committee members and this week’s jackpot remains at €8,000.