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NRH Sports Championships
September 2023
Paralympic Athletes Kerrie Leonard (Archery) former patient of the National Rehabilitation Hospital returned to the NRH to for the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Annual NRH Sports Championships this week. The NRH Championships enable participants with Spinal Cord Injury, Acquired Brain Injury including Stroke, and Limb Absence to take part in a range of competitive events, and also to try out other sports that may interest them.
This annual event, run by the NRH Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy, and Aquatic Physiotherapy Departments, continues to partner with external organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership, Spinal Injuries Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Swim Ireland, Table Tennis Ireland, Tennis Ireland and Archery Ireland for this event. These groups provide excellent opportunities for people of all abilities to begin or continue sports after their discharge from the NRH, that they may have been exposed to for the first time during their rehabilitation programme.
Head of Physiotherapy at the NRH, Rosie Kelly said ÒSports activities are hugely beneficial for people as part of their rehabilitation programme – from the physical activity and general wellbeing aspect to the social side of sport and getting to meet people with similar interests. the Annual Sports Championships here at the NRH are focused on patientsÕ abilities, and trying new activities that they may continue after leaving the NRH.Ó
The event was formally opened by Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Cllr Denis OÕCallaghan and Paul McNeive, Motivational Speaker and Author, and former patient of the NRH. The event was held over four days and over 90 patients participated in the wide range of sports available, whether competitively, or just to try them out. Some great role models who are past patients of the NRH and have gone on to become Paralympic athletes include: Kerrie Leonard, Gary OÕReilly, Kate Kerr-Horan, Britney Arendse, Patrick Monahan and Colin Judge.
Alex Malone, ParalympicÕs Ireland, Philip Tackaberry, from Finglas Dublin, and Daniel Stack, ParalympicÕs Ireland after competing at the 10th Annual National Rehabilitation Centre Sports Day Picture credit; Damien Eagers / Lorraine OÕSullivan Photography