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Sat 18 February 12

TOP STORIES

The Walk in Dundalk 2012, 18-20 May. Click Here

Jason and Catherine Awarded ISC Podium Awards – 10.5 million euro high performance package announced by Irish Sports Council. See homepage below …

Get Set-Go Yoga – Sessions start early March. See homepage below …

New Diary Dates for Soccer, Archery and Yoga. See homepage below …

Public consultation on European Accessibility Act 2012 – Have Your Say Before Leap Year Day! Click Here

Catherine and Fran Add Bronze to Gold at World Track Paralcycling Championships in LA – James Takes Silver As Ireland Now Ranked 7th in World. ee homepage above … Above photo of Catherine and Fran competing in LA.

Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan – Queens of the Road
Click Here

A Sensational Weekend for Irish Tandem Cycling – Irish Team Manager Denis Twoomey reports from LA.
Click here

IBS Bowlers 3rd in Blackpool 4 Nations Click Here

Launch of Irish Paralympians Club Latest Update – Calling all of you who have represented Ireland at Paralympic Games
Click Here

First We Take Arsenal Youth, Then We Take New Players Click Here. See Photo above as IBS Youth take on Arsenal Youth in London on 29th January.

Latest Walking News including Baldoyle Next Sunday and Westport Mid-April (booking now). Click Here

Missed Colm on TV? Watch Our President, Colm Murray – MND The Inside Trackollow Colm’s journey with MND. See homepage below.

Eugene, Sarah and Roisin Join IBS Board – AGM Set for 21st April. See homepage below …

Breaking News – New e-news bulletin hot off the shelf. See homepage below …

This Site is Your Site, This Site is Our Site – send us news, reviews, reports, blog as this site is made for you and we. See homepage below to sing with us from the same songsheet…

Goodbye St. Joseph’s, Hello ChildVision. St. Joseph’s in Drumcondra gets new name Click here for full story

The Video to Enable Swimming – Irish Blind Sports launch new swimming video. See homepage below…

New Nationlal Leauge of the Blind website. Click here for full story

MORE LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES TICKETS NOW ON SALE Click Here

Opportunity Knocks for VI Soccer Children – Football for All Coaching Kicks Off. Click Here



Fri 17 February 12

Your Diary Dates

Yoga – Sessions start early March TBC – Central Dublin Venue (close to public transport) with qualified insturctor. Book your place now/ register your interest. pam@ibsports.ie or 085 850 0193

Soccer Session – Saturday 3rd March – 2-5pm, Selta Soccer Dome, Limerick. For players aged 910 to 1718 for young males with a visual impairment. For any queries please contact via email or phone.Warren 0858279920
Email….wmcdb1b2b3@yahoo.co.uk

Archery – Monday 5th March – 7.50 pm, Dublin. 6 WEEK COURSE Monday 7.5 €60 for adults (25% discount for IBS Members* ) €40 for Juniors (25% discount for IBS Members*) Contact Pat McLoughlin on 0861029315 to book. Please pay Pat the full amount and send a receipt into the office to be reimbursed

Soccer Session – Saturday 31st March – 2-4pm, Portlaoise Leisure Centre, Laois. For players aged 910 to 1718 for young males with a visual impairment.
For any queries please contact via email or phone.Warren 0858279920
Email….wmcdb1b2b3@yahoo.co.uk

Walking – Friday 13th to Sunday 15th April – Westport.
Click Here

Canoeing – Saturday, 14th April, Leixlip Lakes, Kildare.. Email: info@ibsports.ie

Soccer Session – Saturday 14th April – 2-5pm, North West TBC. For players aged 910 to 1718 for young males with a visual impairment. For any queries please contact via email or phone.Warren 0858279920
Email….wmcdb1b2b3@yahoo.co.uk

Irish Blind Sports AGM – Saturday 21st April, Dublin. Details to follow.

Soccer Session – Saturday 28th April – 2.5pm. Selta Soccer Dome, Limerick. For players aged 910 to 1718 for young males with a visual impairment.
For any queries please contact via email or phone.Warren 0858279920
Email….wmcdb1b2b3@yahoo.co.uk

European Congress of Adapted Physical Activity – 6-8 May – Kerry. www.eucapa2012.eu/

Walking – Friday 18th to Sunday 20th May – Dundalk, Co Louth. further enquiries can be made through Pat Kelly on 087 7708200 or Maureen Madden on 087 2715211. Also Click Here

Paralympics Ireland- 28/06/2012 – Official Announcement of 2012 Irish Paralympic Team
TBC, Dublin

Paralympics Ireland- 15/08/2012 – Irish Paralympic Team – Departure Celebration
Bewleys Dublin Airport Hotel, Dublin

Paralympics Ireland- 23/08/2012 – 24/08/2012 – Irish Paralympic Team – Arrival in London
Olympic Park , London

Paralympics Ireland- 29/08/2012 London 2012 Paralympic Games
Various venues, London

Paralympics Ireland- 10/09/2012 Irish Paralympic Team – Return Reception Dublin Airport, Dublin



Wed 15 February 12

Follow Us On Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and through our new E-Newsletter

Follow Irish Blind Sports on Facebook …Click Here

Like Irish Blind Sports on Twitter … https://twitter.com/ and find ibsportsireland

Checkout our new video on YouTube. In one moment in time you can find out all you ever wanted to know about Irish Blind Sports but you were afraid to ask … Click Here

To receive a copy of the new Irish Blind Sports newsletter contact Pam at Email: info@ibsports.ie



Wed 15 February 12

Get Set-Go Yoga

Instruction starting early March

Yoga is our first oGet Set-Go event.

A truly relaxing experience for mind and body – with the benefits of gently toning exercise.

We have secured:
A Central Dublin Venue (close to public transport)
An instructor
A suggested start date of early March

Now all we need is YOU!!
Cost of €7.50 per person per session

Book your place now/ register your interest. pam@ibsports.ie or 085 850 0193



Wed 15 February 12

Catherine and Fran Add Bronze to Gold at World Track Paralcycling Championships in LA

Some useful links with this report

It’s been a sensational weekend for Irish Blind Sports, a sensational weekend for Irish Paralympics.

Long time supporters Catherine Walsh from North Dublin and James Brown from Derry have taken the world of Paracycling by storm with gold. silver and bronze medal performances.

On their return from the Championships in LA today Catherine and Fran heeaded straight for teh RTE studios where they recorded a fine interview with Damien O’Meara for RTE’s Sport At 7. To listen to podcast Click Here

Last Sunday evening in LA, where the outside world was mourning Whitney Houston and preparing for the Grammies, true grit and spirit saw |rish tandem cycling reached a new level. Catherine Walsh and pilot Fran Meehan added tandem sprint bronze to their gold three days ago in the 3km Tandem Pursuit.

In yesterday morning’s qualification round, the pair set a new Irish record of 12.259 to leave them in fourth place and secure the last available place in the afternoon’s sprint finals.

The Irish girls were drawn against favourites GB in the first two heats. Catherine and Fran rode very shrewdly but the experience of the British duo shone through and they took both heats. This result ensured a “best of 3″ series against Germany for the bronze medal.

The plan was to lead out and maintain pressure on the straights to prevent the Germans passing. This worked well in the first heat and the Irish pair (pictured above) triumphed narrowly. Similar tactics were employed in the second heat and by the bell, the Irish pair had pulled away to win comfortably.

The mens tandem pairing of Andrew Fitzgerald and Con Collis put in a good performance to record a time of 11.631. This left them in 17th place.

The Irish team got off to a sensational start last Thursday with gold and silver medals at the 2012 Paracycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.

In the final of the 3km Female Tandem Pursuit, qualifiers Catherine Walsh and pilot Francine Meehan beat the British pairing of Aileen McGlynn and Helen Scott by almost three seconds, coming from behind to claim gold and the World title.

Earlier on, in the semi-final, Walsh and Meehan set a new Irish record of 3:37.392 to finish in first place, and book a place in the ride off for the gold medal in the afternoon’s finals.

Not to be outdone, the male tandem pairing of James Brown and pilot Damien Shaw also qualified for a gold medal ride off when their new Irish record time of 4:26.778 secured them second place in the 4km Pursuit qualifiers.

Unfortunately for the Irish duo they faced a formidable Australian pairing of Bryce Lindores and Scott McPhee who powered home and Brown and Shaw had to be content with silver.

Other members of the Irish team competing at the Home Depot Velodrome included tandem newcomers Katie-George Dunlevy and Pilot Sandra Fitzgerald who posted a PB time of 3:48.767 to secure a credible seventh in the qualifiers.

Andrew Fitzgerald and pilot Con Collis also posted a PB of 4:33.334 in the Men’s Tandem which left them sixth in the overall standings.

Yesterdays bonus of a sprint medal by Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan crowned Ireland’s best ever Track World Championships. Ireland finished an impressive seventh in the medal tally out of 31 countries.

The tremendous performances by the squad will likely ensure that Ireland secures its target of at least six places for London 2012 (to be decided shortly). Many congratulations to the athletes, manager Denis Toomey, coaches and support staff – there’s a lot to look forward to!

Above photo of Andrew and Con in action in LA.

Source inforamtion courtessy of Paralympics Ireland Photos courtessy of Denis Twoomey former IBS coach and now cycling team manager for the Irish team and the London Paralympics.



Wed 15 February 12

Eugune, Sarah and Roisin Join Irish Blind Sports

Latest News From the Board Room

A very warm welcome to our new Irish Blind Sports Board members Eugene Delaney. Sarah McLoughlin and Roisin Dermody. While our Board is growing there are still some spare chairs there. Interested?

The 2012 AGM will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 21st April in central Dublin. Formal notifications and full details to follow in early spring. Meanwhile, put the date in your diary. Aside from the necessary formalities our AGMs are usually very sociable affairs. When the sun goes down on our AGM the members come out to play!

To join, or renew membership, of Irish Blind Sports clinc on the “Join Irish Blind Sports” button at top of this page for instant registration and payment.

NEW!!!! – PAY BY STANDING ORDER! – Standing order forms available from the office – this would cover your membership and give us your support annually without you having to remember.

NEW!!! – Associate / Friend of Irish Blind Sports Membership : – Ideal for family, friends and past participants who want to continue to support the work of Irish Blind Sports. Set up a Standing Order or pay on line.

Annual Fee: adult €10 Junior (under 18yrs) €5

The IBS Board of Directors is now as follows:

Michael Clarke (Chairperson),
Eugene Delaney,
Roisin Dermody,
Robert Dobbyn (Assistant Chairperson),
George Hellis,
Ann Lyster,
Tony Lyster,
Sarah McLoughlin,
Fintan O’Donnell..

Please follow the links below to download last year’s Financial Statements and Chairmans Annual report as well as the Management Information Report (Accounts Summary).

Click here to download Annual Report >>

Click here to download Draft Financial Statements >>

Click here to download Management Financial Breakdown - 2011 AGM >>



Tue 14 February 12

Jason and Catherine Awarded ISC Podium Grants

10.5 million euro high performance package announced by Irish Sports Council

More great news for our elite golden athletes Catherine Walsh and Jason Smyth today. Gold comes in more than medals as both Jason and Catherine have been awarded the maximum 40,000 grant by the Irish Sports Council today.

This is really great news for Catherine as she returns from LA haveing won gold and bronze at last weekend’s World Paracycling Championships. It is equally good news for Jason as he finishes up on his winter training to prepare for Olympic as well as Paralympic qualification.

Now, let’s look at the overall good news from the Irish Sports Council…

■20 sports bodies will receive €6.68 million for their high performance plans
■This includes support for the OCI & Paralympics Ireland performance programmes
■118 senior athletes and 3 teams will receive €2.34 million under the Carding Scheme
■Institute of Sport total budget is €1.5 million

Ireland’s Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls received a boost with the announcement of an Irish Sports Council €10 million package of support for 2012. This includes €2.34 million under the International Carding Scheme which is the funding that goes directly to athletes. This compares with the 2011 final year figure of €2.32 million. Among the 27 recipients of the top “podium” grant of €40,000 are established major championship performers Olive Loughane, Derval O’Rourke, Jason Smyth, Mark Rohan, Grainne Murphy, Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin and Annalise Murphy.

This total funding package of investment is on a par with 2011which had a final year total of €10.3 million. It means €40 million will be invested by the Council over the four year cycle of 2009 to 2012. In the three years of this cycle to date 102 medals have been won at international championship level in supported programmes. This compares with 70 medals won in the four year cycle to 2008 on the basis of an investment of €40.5 million. In 2011 it was significant that 58 of the 59 medals won were by Irish athletes based at home in domestic programmes.

Mr. Michael Ring TD, Minister for Tourism & Sport made the announcement in Dublin today (February 14); “2012 is a critically important year for Irish sport and it is vital that financial support is made available to athletes to ensure the best possible preparation for London 2012. Everyone knows that we are going through some difficult economic times but I was determined to ensure our top athletes were protected in the run up to the most important event of their sporting careers. The level of success of Irish sports people has been incredible over the past few years and it is a source of pride that the Irish public has been supporting them all the way”.

The Chairman of the Irish Sports Council Mr Kieran Mulvey commented; “I made a commitment in December 2010 that there would be no reduction in high performance funding up to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. That promise has been honoured and the Council is providing a very significant investment package for our top athletes. It has been a remarkably successful few years for Irish sport and there is a real return on taxpayers’ investment by our elite sportspeople. We wish them the very best for the exciting year ahead”.

In 2012 €6.68 million will be invested in Performance Plans; the equivalent figure in 2011 was €6.86 million. The Institute of Sport will be providing significant support services to all of the sports from its base at the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

The package includes funding of €440,000 for the Olympic Council of Ireland in 2012. The OCI is responsible for managing the Irish team at the London 2012 Camps. The funding this year will support the provision of pre-London camps, based at St. Mary’s in Twickenham, and other sports services and administration costs.

It brings to more than €1.5 million the total amount of support provided to the OCI in the 4-year London cycle. There is an operational agreement in place between the Irish Sports Council and the OCI which has ensured cooperation between the agencies in the build up to the Games. Of particular note is the London Technical Group which coordinates all athlete service support leading into and at the Games. All relevant agencies, North and South, are represented on that Group.

John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, speaking at the event, said “2010 and 2011 have been very successful years for Irish sport. We hope 2012 will be as successful. However we know how difficult it is to win any medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games and a repeat of the success of Beijing would be a reasonable target.”

High performance sport is planned and implemented on an all island basis. Sport NI and SINI (Sports Institute Northern Ireland) are fully part of the planning and operational elements of the system. Sport NI is a funding partner and provides resources in addition to those announced today.

The International Carding Scheme will support athletes, teams and junior & developmental squads in 23 sports. This year it includes 118 senior level athletes including 27 at “podium” level and 19 at “world class”. The Performance Directors, who are the key individuals within the system, ensure that the Carding Scheme and Performance Plans are complementary and that elite athletes are supported in the financial and non-financial aspects of their programmes.

In March the details will be announced of the Council’s support for key high performance events to be hosted in Ireland in 2012 such as the FIH Men’s Olympic Qualifier, the ISAF World Youths and the Men’s European Golf Championships.

“Podium” Athletes 2012
■Olive Loughnane Athletics Ireland
■Derval O’Rourke Athletics Ireland
■Robert Heffernan Athletics Ireland
■David Gillick Athletics Ireland
■Catherine Walsh Cycling Ireland
■Mark Rohan Cycling Ireland
■Colin Lynch Cycling Ireland
■Daniel Martin Cycling Ireland
■Joe Ward Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Darren O’Neill Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Ray Moylette Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Katie Taylor Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Paddy Barnes Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■John Joe Nevin Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■John Joe Joyce Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Eric Donovan Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Kenneth Egan Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Tyrone McCullagh Irish Amateur Boxing Association
■Eoin Rheinisch Irish Canoe Union
■Derek Burnett Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
■Peter O’Leary Irish Sailing Association
■David Burrows Irish Sailing Association
■Annalise Murphy Irish Sailing Association
■Catherine O’Neill Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Michael McKillop Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Jason Smyth Paralympic Athletics Ireland
■Grainne Murphy Swim Ireland



Mon 30 January 12

Reasons To Be Cheerful

A Head Casey?

At ibsports.ie we love the fun and achievemtns in Irish sport, even when the excitement falls outside our governing scope.

Maybe you haven’t heard of Flemenstar? Well, Fleminstar is a race horse which ran out a very easy winner of the Grade One Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown this weekend.

A first win, a first win for trainer Peter Casey, aged 70 plus.

RTE racing reporter Tracey Piggort interviewed Peter Casey after the win and asked him how he intended to celebrate? Peter’s reply …. well, let’s just say was a little off-coarse!

While we can’t print his words here the exact reply is all across the internet and formed the subject matter of many a radio programme on Monday 30th January including interviews with John Murray, Hector, Ian Dempsey, Ray Darcy and many more.

Ride on, Peter!



Tue 24 January 12

Missed Colm on TV?

Watch Our President, Colm Murray - MND The Inside Track

On Monday 23rd January RTE1 TV broadcast an excellent documentary on Colm Murray, the much loved broadcaster and president of Irish Blind Sports.

To view the braodcast on the RTE Player Click Here

Colm is an inspiration to all as he battles with Motor Neuron Disease. During the hour long documtary Colm tells us of how the cards he now chooses to play are to be postive and assist research into MND. We all benefit from watching Colm, from Colm’s positive actions.

RTE Player has many Colm Murray broadcasts available at present. Why not cheer yourself up and listen to Colm’s most recent radio interview? On Monday 2nd January last Colm was interviewed by Colm O’Rourke in front of a live audience. The interview is inspiring and very, very funny. Colm gives us the inside story on how a Coalition Government was formed (a lot to do with whiskey and Cheltenham). He also tells us of the magic of horses eating silvermints (WADA, World Anti Doping Agency, should turn a deaf ear here). Irish Blind Sports member, former Board member, Tom Quinn also get honourable mention.

The RTE Radio One programme was produced by Colm’s great friend Robbie Irwin. Treat Yourself and Click Here



Tue 10 January 12

Breaking News from Irish Blind Sports

New e-news bulletin hot off the shelf

Be the first to know what’s happening at Irish Blind Sports and register for our new E-News newsletter.

Edited by our office administrator Pam Robinson the January edition tells us of our Top Ten for Paralympics 2012. Also in this edition details of Ireland’s hosting of a major internatioal disabled conference, the re-branding of St. Joseph’s School for VI as well as news on football, ski-ing and canoeing.

We can all join Pam’s People. Contact Pam by
Email: info@ibsports.ie



Mon 09 January 12

Our Website Mantra

This Site Is Your Site

Let’s all join in with our brand new ibsports.ie signature song …

Chorus:

This site is your site, this site is our site
From tandem cycling, to tenpin bowling
From archery and chess to goalball rolling
This site was made for you and we

As we go into a brand new year
We see Paralympics and lots to cheer
We saw ahead of us a golden summer/fall
This site was made for us all

Chorus

This site is your site, this site is our site
From futsal and football, to water skiing
From running and jumping to some golf teeing
This site was made for you and we

We’ve roamed and rambled from Beijing to the UK
To the sparkling sands of the Canary Islands
And all around us a voice was sounding
This site was made for you and we

Chorus

This site is your site, this site is our site
From canoeing and angling, to climbing walls
From riding horses to judo halls
This site was made for you and we

All toghether now for the final chorus …

This site is your site, this site is our site
It’s up you head to send us reports and info
We don’t give a damn whether you write to Joe or Pam
As this site was made for you and we



Sun 18 December 11

The Final May Games Replay

Michael Lavin remembers

The May Games – our annual multi-sports centrepiece – is out for the count. Is it the final whistle? Extra time? How about a replay? Yes, we have a May Games Replay here …but this is the last one! Michael Lavin recalls…

MICHAEL LAVIN – Founding member and organiser of National League of the Blind Walking Group. Current Chariman of the National League of the Blind, the body who organised and sponsored the first games in 1981

“Not being very actively involved in sport, I don’t have many May Games memories but I do have a related anecdote concerning Pat Kelly. In the late ‘70s Pat worked as a darkroom technician out in Finglas. Pat and a group of lads with poor vision, used go up to St. Joseph’s School in Drumcondra to practise on their running track. This training usually occurred in the late evening and the lads had difficulty seeing, and staying, on the track. Pat got a brainwave! In his job they had hundreds of photographs which were being discarded. Pat took these and laid them down with the white side upwards and formed a white line along the length of the track. No excuse now for not towing the line. Ingenious wasn’t it?
“.

In the event that we return to this series you can share a memory with us too. Have a chat with Pam Robinson – contact details below and elsewhere on this site – or talk to Joe at 0876181235 or click WriteToJoe

Click here to download Only Yesterday - The First May Games >>

Click here to download Remembering those no longer with us >>

Click here to download 1981 What's Another Year >>



Tue 13 December 11

The Video to Enable Swimming

IBS launch new swimming video

Today we officially launch our last 2011 sports video featuring our core sport of swimming.

It’s over 50 years now since the Variety Club of Ireland built swimming pools at St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s Schools for the Blind in Dublin. While the St. Mary’s pool is no longer in operation the St. Joseph’s one – albeit under a new name in the new year – is still actively used.

Our first organised adult leisure swim sessions began in Dublin in 1979 and have been ongoing ever since, despite the high economic costs.

To test the waters with our swimm video Click Swim Here. You can also view the full version at Click More Swimming Here

While you’re there you might also like to checkout our athletics video. Athletics was so popular in the early days of organised sport for visually impaired here that they say we could run before we could walk! Yes, athletics was the rock on which Irish Blind Sports was founded.

Irish Blind Sports have more than the vision to enable sports, we have the video to enable the sport of running too!

Today, Irish Blind Sports launch the second of several videos demonstrating how blind and visually impaired people perform various sports.

In this video we see blind and visually impaired runners perform solo sprints and guided middle distance running.

To go to the start line for the quick view Click Here For The Short Run. If you wish to see the longer version Click Here For The Long Run

In our first video, launched on 16 November IBS Director Fintan O’Donnell meets the members of the Irish Blind Golf Society who demonstrate the basics.

Go on, get into the swing and take a moment or two to view:
Click Here for IBS GOLF VIDEO
ew.

Well, do you think its above par? Please let us know what you think.



Sat 08 October 11

Our Site Insight

New Features on ibsports.ie

We are delighted to announce yet more new features on ibsports.ie – the site that never sleeps!

• MEMBERSHIP: From today you can now Join Irish Blind Sports online. For a tenner, or a fiver for juniors, you can join us now, or renew you membership now. You may use your PaypPal account now, setup a PayPal account now, or just fill in standard payment details now. Sure what better way to spend a fiver or two? Checkout the link box “Join Irish Blind Sports” tab at top of this page.

• DONATIONS: From today you can now donate to Irish Blind Sports online. You may use your PaypPal account, setup a PayPal account, or just fill in standard payment details. Every cent donated to Irish Blins Sports will go directly into the development of sports and recreational activities for blind and visually impaired people in Ireland. Checkout the link box “Donate to Irish Blind Sports” tab at top of this page.

• IBS VIDEO LAUNCH: Today we launch our new “All About Irish Blind Sports” video on YouTube. Written, narrated, edited and produced by our Director Fintan O’Donnell this video is a must see. Click Here . Also, checkout our updated links tab at top of page to see a new section especially setup up for top blind/vi video links.

Coming soon to this site we have a new series called “Outasight!” where we ask: where are they now? We track down old friends from yesteryear. We can already tell you, we have some intriguing stories!

Also, coming soon, is our new “No Stamp Required” series where we re-print emails and feedback from our post-box. We get some really good mail, why not join in and post us a comment? Series to start very soon. Lookup the Contact Us tab at top of page.

Don’t forget our regular sports updates, our May Games Replay series as well as out Dublin Marathon blog (now in its final weeks). Click on our Gallery tab at top of page to see who we snapped lately.

Finally, to cheer you up, we have a new feature on this news page to celebrate all that is good in Irish sport. We dip into our fellow national governing bodys’ sites to find the latest Irish sporting success. We started this last month by celebrating the Dubs. We moved on to Europe’s Sondheim Cup victory and then to Ireland rugby success against Italy. Now, we have moved on to John Joe Nevin’s World Boxing medal. Who’s next?

Finally, finally, you can find, follow and like Irish Blind Sports on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.



Thu 06 October 11

3rd CampAbilities Programme Set for Spring 2012

The CARA Centre in Tralee are lining up to run the 3rd CampAbilities programme in the Spring of 2012. They are currently seeking ‘expressions of interest’ from 8 – 18 year olds. This is a residential camp for Blind and visually impaired children with a variety of sporting activities.
To express your interest to CARA directly (NOT IBS). For more information contact Niamh Daffy on 0667145646 /“cara@ittralee.ie(cara)”:mailto:cara@ittralee.ie or Ursula Barrett IT Tralee on 0667144201 / (Ursula.barrett@staff.ittralee.ieurs)



Wed 18 May 11

IBS Feedback Survey

Follow this link to go to an online survey to give us some anonymous feedback on how we are doing and to tell us what you would like us to do for you or to see more of. Follow this link by clicking here



Wed 18 May 11

Cara Focus - a 5 Star Read

So, you would like to read about disabled sport and leisure in Ireland but, you’re not sure where to begin? Well, by clicking on to this website page – www.ibsports.ie – you have made an excellent start! Now, here’s more good news: at the bottom of this new item you can download the excellent CARA FOCUS newsletter – a brilliant read – which will tell you all you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!

CARA emerged 8 years ago from the Institute of Technology Tralee. It focuses on creating awareness, publicising and encouraging sports and leisure participation for people in Ireland with disabilities. It is directly supported by the Irish Sports Council as well as the associated national sports governing bodies and sports partnerships.

Last May the CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre was officially launched by Minister for Sport Jimmy Denehan TD and Irish Sports Council CEO John Tracey.

The CARA Focus newsletter contains 24 pages of solid nationwide reporting on activities for all groups of disability. Of specific interest to those interested in the blind and visually impaired there are three areas of note: page 12 focuses on Camp Abilities Ireland (25 visually impaired children on a break); Sports Organisations features our water skiing and football (page 14) while on page 21 you can read up on St. Joseph’s School in Druncondra.

Read all about it, it absolutely FREE! Just download from below.

Click here to download Cara Focus Newsletter >>