Greg Commins, Brian O' Reilly, Patricia Morrisey , Alan Wynne, and Darren Goodman at the abseil event

Pals abseil from summit of Croke Park in Special Olympics fundraiser

Noelle Finegan

Published: Mon 15 May 2023, 5:09 PM

Friends Darren Goodman from Johnstown, Navan, and Greg Commins from Longwood, were among 106 people who abseiled from the summit of Croke Park last Friday to raise funds for Special Olympics Ireland.

Both Greg and Darren will volunteer at the Special Olympics World Games taking place in Berlin from 17th-25th June.

"I always wanted to volunteer for a worthy cause and after I took part in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge with my friend Greg last year, I joined as a volunteer with Special Olympics Ireland and I’m volunteering at the World Games in Berlin in June 2023 which I’m looking forward to. There is a target €3,800 that needs to be raised for a volunteer to attend the World Games," said Darren.

"To fundraise, I did the Croke Park Abseil Challenge on Friday 12th May which raised over €800. It was a lovely calm morning to do the abseil. I’m not fond of heights so I was very nervous but the abseiling staff were very reassuring which helped. The hardest part was climbing out over the railing at the top before you abseil down. It was a great thrill overcoming the fear and you are buzzing when you get to the bottom.

"I would like to thank Patricia Morrisey, Alan Wynn and Brian O’Reilly from Boroimhe Willows, St Michaels House and Gillian Ryan and Grace Crosby who came along and cheered us on for the abseil and made it very enjoyable".

Darren also organised a three-ball scramble at Navan Pitch and Putt club on Saturday, 13th May with a raffle in the club house afterwards.

He said there was a great response with 18 teams taking part. Fiona Brady from the Navan Arch Club who is participating in the World Games in June 2023, blew the whistle to start the event.

"The sun and fun was plenty and the talent shined for the day and well done to Paddy Smyth who got a hole-in-one. There was stiff competition out on the course and four teams were tied at the end with the best Back-9 score deciding the winners. Congratulations to the winning team, Cliff O’Brien, Barry Dunphy and Paul Nolan who got 13 birdies on their way around," said Darren.

Shane Crosby, Barry Dunphy and Paul Nolan, Cliff O’Brien and Darren Goodman after Saturday's pitch and putt event.

He thanked Shane Crosby for organising the event, and also Cliff O'Brien, as well as Paul Callan and Navan’s Pitch & Putt Club who hosted the event, Mary Crosby and Joanne Brennan for providing sandwiches, and the Kildalkey Parents Association who provided cake and buns. There was a raffle in the clubhouse afterwards with lots of great prizes donated from very generous local businesses throughout Meath, followed by live music kindly provided by Mick Cunningham and Ronan McGuinness that rounded off the night. The day was a huge success and and raised €2,200.

Fiona Brady, who blew the whistle to start the pitch and putt event with Darren Goodman.

"Next week we are having another fundraiser with a 12hr Team Spinathon at 121 Fitness Navan from 6am – 6pm. I would like to thank Aoife Bradley Fitness and Wellbeing and Darrel Smith of 121 Fitness who are supporting this fundraising event. Between the two gyms 23 people have put themselves forward to keep 5 spin bikes going for 12hrs and help fundraise for the event. I’d like to thank all the spinners taking part Elaine Dunne, Karen Conaty, Maria McCoy, Eleanor Bent O'Neill, Shane Flannery, Laura Boylan . Linda O'Brien , Kathleen Lally, Oisin Dixon, Tracey McCullagh, Debbie Serouti, Carol Dixon, Aoife Bradley, Derek Coogan, Mandy Walsh, Brenda Greally, Sharon Gavillet, Leah Hughes, Sabrina Purtill, Gina Doherty, Paula Ward, Caroline Walsh and Ann Hoey. Please come down and say hi and cheer on the super spinners throughout the day," said Darren.

If you can’t make it down on the day and would like to make a donation you can visit Darren's JustGiving fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dgoodman-12hrteamspinathon

The Special Olympics World Games are on in Berlin from 17th to 25th June 2023 and 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries will compete in 24 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers.

Navan is fortunate to have four athletes from two different clubs representing Ireland at the World Games. Emma Costello from Special Olympics Club, Navan, will be competing in athletics, while three athletes from Navan Arch Club are also taking part; Fiona Brady competing in table tennis, Jack Egan competing in swimming and Philomena O’Hare is going as a basketball table official for the games.

"I would like to congratulate all the athletes on getting this far and for being selected to represent Ireland and also wish them the very best of luck in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin where they will do us all proud," said Darren.