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GAA For All
On June 17th an East Down Team will be competing at half time in the Ulster Football Semi Final. The team initiated from a pilot project set up alongside last summers VHI cool camp in St. John’ s County Down. The 25 strong panel is made up of mixed learning ability needs athletes from the SE Services trust. The group are aged 16yrs and over and are both male and female.
With ex- County Down star, Mal O’Hare and Gerard McNulty as managers, the East Down Gaels have grown from strength to strength and training has changed from monthly to twice weekly due to popularity.
Mal explains;
“The GAA team has evolved as a result of a health and activity strategy within the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. This aimed to work in partnership with other agencies and organisations to enhance the physical health and social wellbeing of people with a disability and to promote social inclusion through participation. Gaelic games are at the heart of our communities and therefore provide an excellent opportunity and vehicle with which to include and involve all those who have an interest in the sport regardless of ability”
These young people have only recently been introduced to the skills of Gaelic football and have been training on a monthly basis since January 2007 using a variety of club grounds around the County of Down. The application, commitment, dedication and attitude of this group to learning the skills of the game would be an example to follow by any team. Gaelic Football provides great opportunity for overall fundamental movement skills to be improved.
“The emphasis has always been on “ability” and not “dis” and the group are both grateful and honoured to be given the opportunity to participate and demonstrate their skills to date on such a wonderful occasion. We hope that you as seasoned supporters will recognise this and enjoy our half-time games as much as we will. A special word of thanks to Una McKay and the Ulster Council for making this occasion possible and to the Down County Board GAA Clubs in Down and to Ross Carr and the Down Senior Team for all their support to date”
We would be interested in making contact with any other group or organisation that is involved in the development of GAA for individuals with special needs.
Mal O’Hare Gerard McNulty
Disability Services St.Johns GFC
SHE&SCTrust Co.Down
Tel. 44513938 Tel.07771732594
Any other counties wanting to develop this initiative please contact Ulster disability and special needs co-ordinator, Una Mc Kay at umckay@ulster.gaa.ie / 07920528793
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