Special award for Avondale AllStars
A RATHDRUM club will receive the Cathaoirleach’s Special Recognition Award this evening ( Wednesday).
Cllr Pat Kennedy, chairman of the Arklow Municipal District, chose to give the award to the Avondale Allstars.
Cllr Kennedy said: ‘It wasn’t easy to pick one group over another but I am picking the Avondale Allstars as they represent all areas of the Arklow Municipal District and other areas beyond.
‘ The Avondale All Stars is a sports club for people with an intellectual disability which was started in 2007 and is based in the RDA Hall in Rathdrum.
‘As Rathdrum is home to residential houses for adults with Intellectual Disabilities they have a wide scope of athletes to cater for. Along with these older athletes, there are many children with Intellectual Disabilities competing who come from other areas such as Annacurra, Aughrim, Arklow, Avoca, and Glenealy.
‘ The first sport they started was Bocce, which is an Italian game similar to Bowls and in 2012 the Avondale Allstars had three athletes in the All Ireland Games in Limerick and returned to Wicklow with numerous medals across many categories.
‘In 2015 they started a second sport, Athletics, and at present there are 12 adult and ten children athletes who compete.
‘ The Avondale Allstars is currently run by a group of 12 volunteers who give their time every Thursday evening.’
Cllr Kennedy went on to say that he was touched by the amount of time and energy invested by both the volunteers and parents of the children involved.
‘It is a fantastic social outlet for those with Intellectual Disabilities. It is really something to go along and watch and see the enjoyment and happiness that the athletes get from being involved with the Avondale Allstars. They are extremely competitive and excel at whatever competition they compete in. I have first hand experience of this having been invited to play against them in Bocce one evening. To say that I was well beaten is an understatement. I was totally annihilated.
‘I am delighted to nominate Avondale Allstars for the first ever Cathaoirleach’s Special Recognition Award and I hope that they will continue to grow in the future and I wish them every success.’