We have some fantastic news to share today following a meeting between our school, represented by Ms Marian Carey and Mr Pat Curran, Mr Fergal Conlon of West Cork Development, Mr Tim Burke of Cork Sports Partnership, Ms Cliona Horan, Sports Inclusion disability Officer of Cork Sports Partnership and Mr Colin McCleverty of Healthcare 21.
Colaiste Pobail Bheanntraí are delighted to announce that in collaboration with Healtcare 21, West Cork Development Partnership and Bantry Community Sports Hub, we have secured funding from Cork Sports Partnership through the Dormant Accounts Fund towards the purchase of ten Sports wheelchairs for sporting participation.
Colaiste Pobail Bheanntraí will be the first school in Ireland to provide wheelchair sports as an integral part of our PE curriculum for Junior and Senior Cycle students in the school.
The chairs will be used to roll out Wheelchair Basketball as part of our extra-curricular Programme.
The chairs have been heavily supported by Health Care 21 (HC21) and will be made available by Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí to sporting groups and schools throughout West Cork to enhance delivery of wheelchair sport in the region.
We would also like to thank Mr Kieran McCarthy, Sports editor of The Southern Star for allowing Mr Pat Curran a platform to float the idea to the Southern Star Podcast listenership which effectively created the link between Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí and Mr Jim Hughes of Healthcare 21 which resulted in the partnership between our school and the associating bodies.
Bantry Community Sports Hub is a consortium of 7 sports clubs in Bantry town who have come together to improve sports facilities in Bantry town.
Our order will be submitted shortly and we expect delivery of the wheelchairs for the final term of the current school year.
Cork Sports Partnership will also be providing coaching training for wheelchair sports for clubs and schools in the area to ensure the best quality of participation for all involved.