Tell us a little about yourself?
I own and run, along with Sally Madden, a Home Care Company called Bluebird Care for the past 10 years now. We have offices in Cork City & in Mallow. We employ approximately 100 Health Care Assistants. Our work involves caring for the older person and people with intellectual & physical disabilities. We work closely with the HSE as an Approved Provider together with Disability Organisations for example Cope Foundation, Cork Association of Autism, Abode, Enable Ireland, ABI, etc. Bluebird Care is the leading Home Care company in Ireland with offices throughout the country a status that we are very proud of.
Tell us about your first experience of Rugby?
I started playing rugby at the age of seven with Cork Constitution FC. After I finished playing I coached at Juvenile & Youth level together with holding many organisational roles within the Club down the years. I must say it’s the camaraderie and respect that Rugby Union prides itself on towards fellow players, referees, spectators gives it a special place in sport like no other.
Who inspires you in the sport?
The first inspiration had to be the greats from Cork Con eg. Noel Murphy & Tom Kiernan together with my own peers eg Donal Lenihan, Moss Finn, Michael Kiernan, Brian Spillane.
What is your link to Sundays Well?
As rugby is such an all-inclusive game I have many friends that I played against in Sundays Well over the years.
What inspired you to get involved in IMART?
As we do a lot of work with people with disabilities, a number of them were involved with “The Sundays Well Rebels”, a mixed ability rugby team. I was approached to organised a game between the Cork Con Thirds (a fully able bodied team) and the Rebels (a mixed ability team). To see the joy on the faces of these lads that participation and involvement brings was absolutely fantastic. The Cork Con lads were also taken aback by the skill levels shown together with the spirited performance of the Rebels. And in true rugby fashion a great evening was had in the bar after the game. The inclusivity and camaraderie was brilliant. The sing song wasn’t bad either. I was subsequently approached by Liam Maker to get involved which we did. I can say that I am very proud and humbled to have our company logo on the “The Sundays Well Rebels” jersey.
What does it mean to you that it is held in Cork this year?
What a coup for Cork holding this event. The work that has been put in by so many people (too many to mention) from Sundays Well RFC and the wider community will ensure that the event will be huge success for all the players involved together with their families. To see a person, male or female with a disability playing rugby is a wonderful thing…a joy to behold. Hopefully the general public will support the IMART Rugby World Cup in the numbers it deserves.
Finally, congratulations to Liam Maher and Alan Craughwell for their doggedness in making this event a reality.
Up the Rebels
