Navan Arch Club is appealing for help to find a new premises, having lost its home of 37 years in Beaufort College

SOCIAL Organisation caters for 120 people with intellectual disabilities

Navan Arch Club is appealing for help to find a new premises, having lost its home of 37 years in Beaufort College.

The club, which caters for over 120 people with intellectual disabilities, was asked to remove all its equipent from the school, which can no longer facilitate them.

“We are heartbroken. Over the past year we have hoped against hope that we would be allowed back in, but it’s not to be. So many of our members, who need structure and consistency will struggle with this, but we can only do our best now to find a meeting place that will give us this security,” said Mary Davitt, secretary of the club.

The social club was set up over 37 years ago.

"It was thanks to the late Brugha McDevitt, principal of Beaufort at the time, who allowed us the use of the college. The members could meet, play sport, do arts and crafts, play games, music, dance and finish the evening off with a cup of tea. Even after Bru retired he ensured that the club was catered for at the school, and the club grew from strength to strength," Mary recalls.

"It was ideal for us. We had the use of the gym for those interested in sport and classrooms where members could take part in arts and crafts or bingo. There was also a communal area where we had a cup of tea afterwards."

She thanked Navan Pitch & Putt Club who have opened their doors to the Arch Club on Thursdays and to Claremont Stadium where they meet on Sundays for sports.

"They have been so generous to us, but it would be better if we could all be together like we were in Beaufort. We have been contacting other schools to see if they can accommodate us.

"Ideally we would love to have our own premises that would be ours and we could use whenever we want it. Unfortunately it would be extremely difficult for us financially to have our own place."

Mary explained that like many clubs and organisations things came to a halt during Covid. "When restrictions were lifted the club made several attempts to get back into the college but to no avail. We were recently told that evening classes will no longer take place there, so it is not viable for the college to open up just for the Arch Club.

"I got a call to tell us that they wanted all of our belongings out of the storeroom where we kept them. We are heartbroken."

She praised and thanked all the volunteers who are working so hard to help make Thursday nights and Sunday mornings fun and fulfilling for all their members and hopes some day the club’s dream of owning their own place will come to pass.

"In the meantime we are looking for the use of a premises where there will be sports facilities and a number of other rooms for other activities."

Two of the clubs members have qualified for the Special Olympic World Games which take place in Berlin this year.

Fiona Brady will compete in table tennis while Jack Egan will compete in swimming and a small group from the club going over to support them.

The club got a great reception when they took part in the recent St Patrick' Day parade and Fiona was Grand Marshall.

Beaufort College was approached for comment.