As you might imagine given personal circumstances, anything which promotes diversity and inclusivity in society is something which I would be very interested in and keen to promote. Mind you, at the outset here, in the interest of fairness and transparency here, it will be admitted that events such as the Paralympics and Special Olympics can be a difficult watch for yours truly.
For reasons that can’t really be explained, other than hazarding a guess that it’s something along the lines of a ‘so near, yet so far’ situation. As in, being confined to the use of one arm horrendously reduces mobility and thereby greatly inhibits the range of so-called ‘normal’ activities one can partake in.
Up to and including propulsion of a manual wheelchair. Which makes participation in sports structured for disabled patrons a non runner. However, when that encapsulates that which is one of the three central tenets which make life liveable, welcoming enthusiasm is the only reaction possible.
Thus, in the interest of honesty, it will be said that Navan O’Mahonys were the first club this writer became aware of with what we might call an inclusive GAA programme – which, if memory serves me correctly is called Peil4All (football for all). Now though, I am very proud and indeed slightly honoured that my own club, St Peter’s, Dunboyne have in recent months been running our highly successful ALL STARS sessions each Sunday morning.
Sinead Clince, who, along with sister Maeve and mother Teresa will be part of the Dunboyne entourage who will represent club, county and province in the All Ireland Junior Camogie semi final against St Dominic’s of Roscommon in Banagher, Co Offaly this weekend is the driving force behind the ALL STARS initiative within our club, and she tells me:
“Our ALL STARS squad finished up for the 2025 season with a presentation from Adult camogie Captain Sinead Hackett. This initiative commenced in March and has grown from strength to strength. This has been a huge inclusive milestone for our club here at St Peter’s Dunboyne”.
“The All Stars is also extremely beneficial to the parents who enjoyed a social hour of tea and chats while the kids trained. Finding Charlie’s voice Charity provided a communication board to aid us in delivering this programme. Thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors involved in this programme looking forward to the 2026 season”.
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