Ireland Gives Back to The Physically Challenged Irish & American Youth Team Charity

On Friday 13th June 2008, Adare Golf Resort, home to the Irish Open, provided the spectacular setting for the Phil Coulter Physically Challenged Irish & American Youth Team Charity Fundraising event. 

Golfers tee’d off on this prestigious course recently voted the No 1 Golf Resort in Ireland by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine.  A fitting finale to the day’s activities was a Gala Dinner held in the Manor.

The event was organised by a committee comprising of The Ireland Funds’ Board Member Jim Barry, Declan O’Connor, Bernard Brogan, Cathal O’Sullivan and PCIAYTC member Brian Geraghty with assistance from The Ireland Funds.

David McWilliams, leading Irish economist and broadcaster was Master of Ceremonies on the evening while distinguished composer, Phil Coulter and artists from New York City’s Broadway performed an array of Broadways most popular hits.

Founded in 1987 this charity helps physically challenged children both in Ireland and America develop more confidence in their abilities, cultivate positive attitudes about themselves, and build strong self-images.
              
Each year, the charity selects a group of approximately 25 Irish children to travel to New York and participate in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. It also brings an American Team to Ireland for specially organised games in Dublin. Often, this is the first time a disabled child is away from home, their families, and friends. It’s a challenge for many, but by competing in the games and completing the trip, the children return home with a new confidence in their individual abilities.

The charity also provides a Career Development Programme and operates a Medical Programme in response to the needs of particular children. Through the work of The Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team, young patients have been brought to top New York hospitals for treatment. Most recently a pioneering operation in microsurgical facial reconstruction was successfully performed on a Donegal teenager at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Proceeds from this evening will go directly to help this wonderful charity.  More information on the charity can be obtained from www.pcirishteam.org

Photos

1 - Adare Manor
2 - Mark McVey
3 - Dr Elliott Rose
4 - Phil Coulter
5 - David McWilliams and Bill Broderick
6 - David McWilliams
7 - Cathal O’Sullivan, Tim O’Connor
8 - Shane McLoughlin, Seamus Curtin, Declan O Connor,Brendan Harrington
9 - Jody O Connor, Ross Curran, Bernard Brogan, Jim O Connor, Paudie Fitzmaurice
10 - Jim Barry, Tim O’Connor
11 - Michael McSweeney
12 - Jody O Connor