Local Authority Gives Patrickswell Club A Lift

Patrickswell Powerlifting Club has been officially recognised at a ceremony in Limerick County Hall.

The Bruff Area Committee of Limerick County Council hosted the event in recognition of the club’s successful participation in the European and World Championships. Players and members were presented with individual ‘Recognition of Achievement Certificates’.

Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. The sport resembles Olympic weightlifting because it involves lifting heavy weights in three attempts.

The call to honour Patrickswell Powerlifting Club was made at a recent meeting of Limerick County Council by Patrickswell native and Fianna Fail Deputy Niall Collins. According to Councillor John Clifford, Chairman of the Bruff Electoral Area Committee, “The achievements of Patrickswell Powerlifting Club are nothing short of outstanding when you consider the short length of time that the club has been in existence. The Patrickswell Powerlifters have not lost in any competition since their beginnings in 2004.”

He added, “Patrickswell Powerlifting Club continues to go from strength to strength, quite literally, under the watchful eye of their Coach, President and leading member, Gerard McNamara. I am delighted that this competitive and hugely successful sporting organisation is now being officially recognised by its own county.”

Patrickswell Powerlifting Club acquired their existing premises at Main Street, Patrickswell four years ago. The club consists of nine senior members, fourteen junior members and two ladies members. All members train four times a week, each session lasting approximately 90 minutes. Club members recently returned from the European Championships in the Czech Republic, having already achieved numerous successes at the World Championships in Canada.

Picture by Dave Gaynor: Members of the Patrickswell Powerlifting Club, front from left; Ger McNamara, Pat Slattery, Eoin O'Neill, Petra Stumpfova and Christy Moore who received scrolls in recognition of their achievement from Bruff area committee members Cllr James Cavanagh, Cllr Richard Butler, Cllr Deirdre Ní Chinneide, Cllr Rose Brennan, Cllr Cormac Hurley and Cllr John Clifford. Also in the picture are Paula McNamara and Mary Moore (DG). Missing from picture is Cllr Leonard Enright

Fuel Inflation To Leave Thousands Out In The Cold

The Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council has warned that low-income families and elderly people living alone could face severe hardships this winter unless the Government increases the fuel allowance.

Cllr. Kevin Sheahan said that many people would not be able to adequately heat their homes due the continued fuel hikes, shrinking purchasing power and an inadequate fuel allowance scheme.
The National Fuel Scheme is intended to help households in Ireland who are dependant on long-term social welfare or Health Service Executive (HSE) payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. The Scheme operates for 30 weeks from September to April.
“As Ireland basks in sunshine you would be forgiven for forgetting about the long cold winter months that lay ahead of us. However, such a thought is firmly on the minds of hundreds of thousands of people across Ireland”, explained Councillor Sheahan.

The Cathaoirleach continued, “It is greatly disappointing to see that despite the recent years of significant economic growth, many people are still struggling to heat their own homes. The existing fuel allowance of EUR18 a week would just about cover the cost of a bag of coal, which would not even keep the smallest of homes heated for a week. Predicted increases in the price of natural gas and oil will only serve to further compound the problem.”

Councillor Sheahan commented, “Coupled with inadequate insulation, which makes homes extremely difficult to heat, these people will suffer from health problems. Therefore, it is incumbent on the Government to do all it can to ensure that vulnerable sections of the community are provided with as much assistance as possible.”

“While I acknowledge that the Government has doubled the fuel allowance since 2006, I would ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to consider further increases to help alleviate the effects of fuel poverty on the elderly and low income households”, concluded Councillor Sheahan.

Special Olympics Ireland 30th Anniversary To Be Marked At UL

Over 350 people will gather in the National University of Limerick Arena this Wednesday evening to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Special Olympics Ireland.

Special Olympics Ireland CEO Mary Davis will attend the event, which is being hosted by the County Limerick Sports Partnership and Limerick County Council. The event will feature a parade of athletes with the Olympic Torch, a DVD presentation entitled ‘30 Years of Special Olympics’, gymnastics routine by Special Olympics Lisnagry, a rendition of the Olympic anthem by the Limerick County Choir, and an exhibition hockey match between Special Olympics athletes and members of the Limerick Senior Hurling Team.

Special Olympics Ireland is a charity organisation with 11,000 athletes participating in 12 sports in 409 clubs across the island of Ireland. It is one of Ireland's largest community and voluntary organisations and reaches 33% of the 34,000 people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. In addition to providing sports training and competition, Special Olympics Ireland also incorporates the Athlete Leadership Programme (ALPs), the Family Support Programme, Healthy Athlete and Volunteer Programme.

Cllr. Kevin Sheahan, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, said that the upcoming ceremony would celebrate an organisation that continues to generate hope for thousands and inspiration for millions. “Special Olympics Ireland is much more than just a sporting organisation. It empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. In County Limerick alone, hundreds of individuals and their families have benefited from the organisation’s expansive support and training structure”, Cllr Sheahan stated.

The Cathaoirleach said that Special Olympics Ireland was also about engendering volunteerism and community spirit. He continued, “The organisation at local, national and international level would not exist today without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of its 18,000 volunteers. The hosting of the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Ireland created a wonderful sense of community spirit across Limerick. The town-hosting programme was a huge success because of the goodwill shown by local communities. The contribution of members of the public to the overall success of the 2003 Games is testament to the fact that the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in Ireland. It will go down in history as one of those very special occasions when all Irish people united for a common cause.”

Cllr. Sheahan commented that the organisation continued to bring hope to many thousands of individuals across Ireland. “Globally, the organisation supports 2.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 Programs in over 180 countries. This represents a phenomenal contribution to society. The Special Olympics organisation promotes the message that ‘anything is possible if you have hope’. The organisation instils a sense of hope in everyone it comes into contact with and helps replace stigma and rejection with an emphasis on potential, ability and acceptance. Such support is invaluable”, the Cathaoirleach said.

Cllr. Sheahan said the upcoming event would celebrate County Limerick’s contribution to the development of Special Olympics Ireland.
“Across County Limerick, support for the organisation has always existed and I am confident that it will continue well into the future. I also know that the County Limerick Sports Partnership, along with Limerick County Council, will continue to support Special Olympics Ireland”, the Cathaoirleach concluded.

--------------
For more on Special Olympics Ireland visit www.specialolympics.ie.