LIT Hosts Paralympic Sports Event

Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and Limerick City & County Sports Partnerships joined forces to run a Boccia Classic, in LIT.  Boccia is a target ball sport belonging to the same family as bowls and is a Paralympic sport for athletes with severe disabilities affecting motor skills.

The tournament was organised and coordinated by first year students from the BA in Business Studies with Sports Management course, with the guidance of Rosemary Ryan from Limerick City Sports Partnership. Participating teams came from across the city and county including Rathfredagh Cheshire Homes in Newcastle West, Brothers of Charity in Clonmore, Blackberry Park and Bawnmore and HSE Training Services in Dooradoyle.

Speaking about the success of the tournament Dr. Catriona Murphy, Head of the Department of Humanities in LIT said: “Through this competition, over 40 competitors and coaches, from 5 services across the City and County, came together to enjoy a fun filled day.  Our students proved themselves to be very competent in organising and delivering the event, under the mentorship of Rosemary Ryan from the Sports Partnership.  LIT has worked closely with the Limerick Sports Partnerships for some time, discussing methods to develop a mentor programme for students. Many of those discussions are now bearing fruit, such as this Boccia tournament”.

Rosemary Ryan from the Sports Partnerships commented that “In developing student’s capacity to deliver such an event, we are developing potential leaders of the future and hope that many more events, such as this can take place, as a partnership between Limerick Sports Partnerships and LIT.”

Dermot Maleney, course director for the BA in Business Studies with Sports Management said, “In keeping with LIT’s educational philosophy of Active Learning through a theory of fusion and practice events such as the Boccia classic are an integral part of the Sports Management programme. Organising and coordinating an event like this will help to create future leaders in the sports industry, thus ensuring that Limerick remains a City of Sport for many years to come”.

Pictured From left to right:
Dermot Maleney (LIT), Nicki Markham and Willy McAuliffe (athletes), Catriona Murphy (LIT), Grainne Joyce (athlete) and Rosemarie Ryan from the Limerick City Sports Partnership