Killarney Celtic Football For All are a soccer team within Killarney Celtic Football Club. They started in 2013 and offer players with intellectual, physical and sensory needs an opportunity to be part of the club. Not only does the club recognise the physical benefits of participation, but also the social skills that have been developed and the friendships that have been made. Having played at half time in a League of Ireland match, along with being a runner up in the Irish Times best sports club in Ireland in 2016, this has allowed the club to gain media coverage and attract new players. Participants have also taken part in blitzes in the Munster area, along with social activities such as regular trips to the cinema and trips with their families to Fota Wildlife Park.
The club signed the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter in 2018 and believe that it has impacted the club by improving the inclusion of people with disabilities.They can see the impacts of this through the enjoyment of players, but also note that previous players are now being welcomed back as coaches of the team.
“I would strongly advise clubs to sign the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter to give everyone, no matter their ability the opportunity to access the sport within their local club. It is extremely rewarding to see the smiles and friendships made.”
1. Openness
‘Be open to and understanding of all people with disabilities’
The team was originally set up to be run as a 6-week programme as part of the FAI Football For All programme. Roughly 5 children were attending these sessions each week, but it was evident that there were others in the community who also had interest in being part of the club for various reasons. Since their startup, the team has continue to grow year upon year, with many more participants joining the club.
2. People
‘Access training for our staff/volunteers to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities’
Killarney Celtic believe that it was incredibly easy to get coaches from the mainstream teams within the club, to begin to get involved in the Football For All team. This was down to witnessing the pure enjoyment on the childrens’ faces as they could now take part in the sport and be part of the club. Many parents also begin to get involved in coaching and so undertook training through Sport Ireland to become coaches. Players are also encouraged to become a coach for the team once they have reached the suitable age.
3. Activities
‘Develop and deliver inclusive activities’
Not only do the participants take part in weekly training sessions, matches and blitzes, they also attend social activities such as family trips with the team and monthly trips to the cinema.
4. Facilities
‘Review our facility/venues/equipment to make our organisation more accessible’
The clubhouse and pitches at Killarney Celtic are fully accessible to everyone. The dressing rooms, kitchen and toilet facilities are all located on the ground floor. Kerry Stars (Special Olympics) have begun to build an indoor hall beside the pitch, which the team will have access to for indoor training sessions, which will be particularly useful during the colder seasons.
5. Promotion
‘Promote the inclusive nature of our activities, in a variety of formats’
Promotion is an aspect of the Charter which the team have found successful in gaining more members. With the help of Kerry Sports Partnership, they have developed brochures which are distributed to local schools. Transition year students from schools in the area are given the opportunity to assist with training sessions as part of their Gaisce Award. Write ups in local papers and other forms of media have also helped to spread the word of the inclusivity of the club.
