Wheelchair Accessible Areas for Home of Dublin GAA

Dublin GAA, in partnership with Variety Ireland, the HSE, The Department of Children, Disability & Equality and The Department of Transport are delighted to announce the official opening of two new wheelchair accessible areas and improved toilet facilities at Parnell Park.

Variety Ireland has been working closely with Dublin GAA on several projects over the last 18 months and most recently opened Ireland’s very first GAA All-Star Children’s Inclusion Campus at Whitehall Colmcille GAA Club in Dublin.

The ribbon on the two new wheelchair accessible areas was officially cut at the PTSB Senior Hurling Final by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Mick Seaver from Dublin GAA and Dublin supporter and wheelchair user Cathal Briscoe.

Chairperson of Dublin GAA, Ken O‘Sullivan said, “The vision for this project is to make Parnell Park more accessible to all and while we did have facilities already, the upgrade of one and the addition of a third area, plus improved toilet facilities is a huge plus for all our patrons with additional needs.

“I must put on record my thanks to everyone involved in the project but in particular to Mick Seavers, former Chair of  Dublin GAA, for being such a driving force for the changes.

“To all in Variety Ireland, and to Lorcan Construction and our good friends in the HSE, The Department of Children, Disability & Equality and The Department of Transport, thank you for your support and for working with us in Dublin GAA to enable these changes.

“There is more to do, and we look forward to working with Variety into the future around other projects.”

The locations of the two new areas are in the Donnycarney Church terrace end and in the Main Stand at Parnell Park, while the improved toilet facilities are next to the Parnell Park players’ dressing room.

“A key piece for us in Variety Ireland in helping Dublin GAA with this project” said Kevin O’Brien from Variety Ireland, “was that the new area in the Terrace would have space for wheelchair users and their companions to sit and enjoy the games, while also being close to amenities and crucially, having an excellent sightline of the pitch.

“We have achieved that I feel, while improving the toilet facilities nearby. The additional improvement and changes to the sightlines in the Main Stand wheelchair area is another step in the right direction.

“To echo Ken’s sentiments, we couldn’t have done this alone and we are indebted to, Aoife and Mary at the HSE, The Department of Children, Disability & Equality and The Department of Transport and Lorcan Construction who all share the same passion and vision as ourselves in supporting and promoting inclusion for people with additional needs. Having Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill here today for the unveiling shows her department’s and that of the government’s commitment to ensuring equality and inclusion for people with mobility issues and additional needs. We would also like to thank our  local Councillors and politicians for their help and support, and of course all at Dublin GAA especially Ken, Mick, Finbar and Marcus for their work and commitment in helping us get this across the line.

“Over the last few weekends, it has been brilliant to see supporters use these areas for what they were intended – to enjoy our national games. To see supporters like Cathal Briscoe, who travels up from Wexford for most matches with his dad Thomas, here and enjoying the hurling on Saturday was a real highlight for us all I think.”

Minister of State for Children, Disability and Equality, Emer Higgins, welcomed the new facilities, saying: “The opening of two new wheelchair accessible viewing areas and upgraded toilet facilities at Parnell Park is really welcome news for supporters, and in particular wheelchair users and their families. “Going to a match, cheering on your team and enjoying the atmosphere with family and friends is something everyone should be able to experience. “I want to commend Variety Ireland and Dublin GAA for the brilliant work they’re doing to make our national games more inclusive, alongside the HSE, Department of Transport and everyone who supported this project. These are welcome changes that will make a real difference to supporters, and it’s great to see that commitment to inclusion being put into action.”

This announcement is also the start of a more formal relationship between Variety Ireland and Dublin GAA, with Variety Ireland coming on board as official charity partner of Dublin GAA.

Speaking about the partnership, Chief Commercial Officer with Dublin GAA, Marcus Ó Buachalla explained, “It’s been brilliant to get to know Kevin and his team in Variety over the last year or so and to see what can be achieved together at the GAA All-Star Campus in Whitehall Colmcille’s and now these facilities in Parnell Park.

“By designating Variety Ireland as our official charity partner, it will hopefully bring benefits in terms of exposure and additional opportunities to celebrate what they do, while also allowing Variety access to tickets, signed merchandise and other collateral to help them with additional fundraising.

“I feel that this is just the start of something with Variety Ireland and I look forward to working with them and to announcing our second charity partner over the coming months.”