Jan23

Written by:
23/01/2012 15:41 

Name of Club: Lucan Hedgehogs Special Olympics Club Location: Lucan, Dublin Facilities: 2 Club Halls - Colaiste Padraig and Archbishop Ryan Senior Schools Club Colours: White & Red and Yellow & Black Sports: Basketball; Bocce Number of Athletes: 28 Number of Volunteers: 32 Number of Coaches: 8 Basketball; 6 Bocce

A litte bit about us....

Lucan Hedgehogs Special Olympics club formed following the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin. Lucan hosted Team Ireland. Some of the original Host Town committee remained on and formed the committee for Lucan Hedgehogs.  Hedgehogs came from the first letter of the housing estates in the Lucan Area.

We started the club playing basketball as we secured a basketball coach. Our athletes live in the greater Lucan area, or attend Services in the adjoining areas, e.g. Stewarts in Palmerstown or Kildare Services in Celbridge.  The age range of our athletes is from 9 to 43 yrs old.

In 2006 a founding committee member, Green party councillor Fintan McCarthy and his girlfriend were killed in China, the club was the beneficiary of monies from the funeral. The club decided to hold an Annual Basketball tournament in their memory. We invite local Special Olympics clubs to compete for the memorial trophy.

In 2007 one of our athletes Gerard O’Regan was a member of Team Ireland Basketball team for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shangai, he came home with a Silver medal.

In 2008 the club decided to add another sport to the club, we decided on Bocce as it was in contrast to the fast pace of Basketball. This has been a great success. In June 2011, we hosted Team Ireland Bocce team to a challenge match before they headed to Athens for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Our club holds Christmas parties and also End of Season discos which the athletes enjoy immensely. We have held Coffee Mornings in the local Parish Centre as a method of fundraising. We enter the Lucan St Patrick’s Day Parade and have been successful most years for our prize winning float. We have participated with Youth Venture Project, where 2 of our athletes took part in a day out on the Wicklow mountains. The club have accompanied a battalion from McKee barracks in a walk along the Grand Canal and also a Fun day at the barracks. Lucan Lions club sponsored a walk in Lucan Demesne for the athletes and a treat in McDonalds. 

Events and Games our club has participated in...

Lucan Hedgehog athletes have competed in:

Eastern Region Basketball league.
Bocce Development days.
Basketball Skills

Our Recent Achievements...

We have held Coffee Mornings in the local Parish Centre as a method of fundraising.

In June 2011 we hosted Team Ireland Bocce team to a challenge match before they headed to Athens for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Some of our volunteers have participated in Sponsored Walks raising funds for the club.

Mary Kneafsey, one of our volunteers has spoken in Colaiste Padraig about Down Syndrome.

People can support us by...

As with every club, we would like some ideas on fundraising. Coaches and volunteers are always welcome.

Contact Us...

Telephone: 086 8738195 

Email: lucanhedgehogs@gmail.com

Website: Lucan Hedgehogs