After a successful summer of games, the Dublin GAA Under 15’s Football Talent Academy 2025 is ready to show off their incredible skills to raise money for special mobility trikes for children and young adults with mobility issues in Dublin.
This Sunday 31st August from 2-4pm, the cream of Dublin GAA Under 15’s Football Talent Academy will take part in a fundraiser at Whitehall Colmcille GAA Club on Collins Avenue, Dublin 9 where 78 members of the Dublin Under 15’s Football Academy aim to hit over 60,000 kicks over a 2 hour period where 100% of all money raised will go directly to buying 2 special mobility trikes, so children with mobility issues both north and south of the city of Dublin can be included in cycling activities with their family and friends.
Not only will the young men of Dublin hope to raise enough money for these special mobility trikes, but they will also get to present and meet the recipients who will be able to thank them in person for their kind efforts and learn how the special mobility trikes will help support inclusion and equal access to cycling for these.
Anto Holly, who is part of the Dublin GAA Under 15’s Football Talent Academy along with fellow coaches, Joe Lyons, Gavin Burke, Niall Byrne, Paul Wilde Sean Cleary, Tony O’Sullivan, Alan O’Neill, Aidan Mulligan, John Bridgeman, and Gary Woods, said “We are all proud of the hard work and commitment that each and every player has showed this year in representing their county. It’s great to see so much talent in this year’s academy. My colleagues, coaches along with the lads in the academy now want to give something back to children and young adults with additional needs and we are delighted to be teaming up with Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland to raise money to buy special adaptive bikes. This will allow them to take part in cycling activities with their family and friends which is great for their physical and mental well-being. The fact that the lads will get to meet and present the trikes in person to the children and families is fantastic as giving back to the community is an important part of what we do. Sunday will be great fun as we will have 78 lads from the academy kicking over 60,000 kicks with even the opportunity for parents and members of the public to join in. We are inviting everyone to come along to Whitehall Colmcille GAA Indoor Area at Puck Lane, Collins Avenue, Whitehall, Dublin 9 for an afternoon of fund and craic and see the future of Dublin GAA Football stars doing their bit to help children with additional needs.”
Kevin O’Brien from Variety Ireland said “We would like to thank all involved at Dublin GAA Under 15’s Football Talent Academy for getting involved where we are going to be able to provide the power of mobility to a minimum of 2 children/young adults with mobility issues living in Dublin. These special adaptive trikes open a new world of cycling opportunity for children and young adults who cannot ride mainstream bikes. These trikes support inclusion and equal access to cycling which allows these children and young adults to be included in outdoor activities with their family and friends. The fact that the management and players get to meet and present the trikes is great and they each be thanked personally for their kind efforts. Our Recycle Mobility Programme provides special mobility trikes to children and young adults with mobility issues across Ireland. When a child outgrows their old trike, it is then handed back to the charity who after an important NCT, is then passed onto a special school where children with mobility issues can enjoy cycling with the class colleagues. Thanks to the important support of Ministers Norma Foley and Minister Hildegarde Naughton from The Department of Children, Disability and Equality and Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Sean Canney from The Department of Transport along with corporate and fundraising initiatives like Dublin GAA Football Talent Academy, we have managed to deliver over 800 new and upcycled special mobility trikes to children with mobility issues in Ireland. Research conducted by our friends at The Royal College of Surgeons Dublin (RCSI) shows that our Recycle Mobility Programme improves the mental and physical well-being of both the child/young adult and other family members by up to 87.5%.
As a charity with a non-paid CEO and board members who all dedicate their time to the charity for free and without expense, we appreciate and thank the management and squad members of Dublin GAA Under 15’s Football Talent Academy 2025 giving up their Sunday to ensure children with mobility issues have access to cycling. On behalf of the families, we are grateful to them all and this Sunday is going to be a bit of fund and craic and encourage everyone who wants to see the future of Dublin GAA Football on show to come along and join in the fun.”
You can donate here with all funds received by the charity going to provide special mobility trikes for children with mobility issues in Dublin & County.
On behalf of Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ireland, we would like to thank all involved at Dublin GAA Football Talent Academy 2025. Your efforts will change and improve the lives for children/young adults with mobility issues and their families in Dublin!
