Back row, from left: Eamonn Kenny, President Athlone GC, Margaret Dunican, David Collins, Ruth Fitzgerald and Michael Evans, President Elect, GUI.Front Row, from left: Willie Brady, Golf Classic Organiser, Yvonne Walsh, Lady Captain, Athlone GC, Sheila Buckley Byrne, CEO St Hilda’s Services and Eamonn Farrell, Captain, Athlone GC. Photo: Padraig Devaney

Golf classic to help fundraise for new St Hilda's community home

Athlone Golf Club will host Friends of St Hilda's Services Golf Classic on Friday, May 17. This is key fundraising event which takes place every three years.

The Golf Classic was launched on Thursday, April 11, by Michael Evans, President Elect of Golf Ireland, in support of St Hilda’s Services at the fantastic location of Athlone Golf Club, Hodson Bay.

“As President Elect of Golf Ireland, I am delighted to be able to assist St. Hilda’s in the launch of its fundraising golf classic here at Athlone Golf Club. St Hilda’s is a great local organisation that provides such an essential service to many families in our area. It has prospered and grown from a small voluntary group in the 1960s to a service that has over 120 individuals using its many services.”

Mr Evans went on to say that fundraising is essential to St Hilda's Services and this year St Hilda’s are raising monies for a new Community Home.

“I am delighted to say that they are well advanced in reaching their targeted amount. This Golf Classic, being run by Willie Brady and his team, with the help of our friends here in Athlone Golf Club will be a major contributor to the project and I would encourage as many golfers to play and other organisations to support with sponsorship.”

St Hilda’s Services is a voluntary organisation and registered charity. It provides a range of day, respite and residential services to children and adults with moderate, severe, profound intellectual disability and other complex medical needs. It supports 134 individuals in the wider community.(plus 50 children in its Special School)

St Hilda’s Services will mark its 60th anniversary in 2024. To mark this significant milestone, it is embarking on a new purpose built residential community home. Currently St Hilda’s has a site and planning for a high-quality community house to provide a home for individuals that they can live in dignity and respect with health care supports that meet their needs.

This new home will cater for adult service users with an intellectual disability along with complex medical needs.

This new residential community home will allow St Hilda’s to continue to implement person centred planning that is relevant and effective whilst meeting not only the individual's social goals but also their medical needs.

A spokesperson for St Hilda's said: “Along with our existing suite of services, it will be a wonderful addition for our community in Athlone and its hinterland.”

This year the golf event will be a competition with teams of four persons - €200 (including meal).

St Hilda’s Services is seeking sponsors for Tees and Greens and is asking companies to consider supporting this worthy cause.

Entry Forms are available at Central Office, St. Hilda’s Services, Grace Park Road, Athlone N37 YR62, (090) 6475825, or Willie Brady (087-2251115). Email info@sthildas.ie or donations to www.idonate.ie/cause/sthildasie80054