Icy festive swim coming up at Youghal Quay
Final preparations are now being made for the annual Christmas Day Charity Swim in Youghal Quay on the shores of Lough Derg.
So, get ready for that dip into the icy waters of the lake and help raise funds for the three worthy causes that have been chosen by the organisers to benefit from the proceeds of the event this year.
The proceeds of this year’s swim will be split evenly between the Nenagh Unit of the Order of Malta; Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at Limerick University Maternity Hospital (NICU) and The A-Team – Youth Club for Autistic Community.
As has been the custom of the organisers, who are now hosting their 33rd annual event, a sum will also be presented to the Newtown-Youghalarra Senior Citizens.
SPONSORSHIP CARDS
Sponsorship cards are now available from Tony O’ Flaherty for intending swimmers and others willing to raise funds for these deserving causes. Tony can be contacted at, 087-2998634.
The swim is one of the highlights of the festive season in the community. It attracts hundreds of swimmers and spectators every year and has raised huge sums for deserving causes since its beginnings.
The following are short descriptions of the great work being done in our community by the groups that will benefit this year:
ORDER OF MALTA
The Order of Malta has been at work in Nenagh for the past 85 years offering first aid support at many community events and hosting first aid courses. We are currently working on fundraising for a new ambulance so we can continue to provide the services we do as well as continue our patient transport services. We are a team of 15 volunteers, trained at FAR, CFR, EMT, Paramedic level and wish for the unit to survive into the future. Our ambulance is a key element of us being able to continue to save lives, change lives and touch lives in Nenagh.
THE A-TEAM
The A-Team is a community-run initiative for autistic children and young people in North Tipperary. The club was set up in late 2021 by parents to create a safe, fun space for their children to be supported and understood. Autistic children often struggle in the social or sensory environment of mainstream clubs. Our aim is to shape the club to fit our children's needs. We now run weekly and fortnightly youth clubs and social activities for over 150 autistic club members aged from aged 3 to their 30s. We also provide an autism-positive network of support for parents and volunteers as together we can help each other to thrive.
We are kindly hosted by ReHab Nenagh, CBS primary school and other local venues for our activities. However, our club is growing faster than we can keep pace with, our younger members are energetic, and all of us thrive on routine and permanence. This is why we are committed to securing our own, autism-accessible and sensory-friendly premises in Nenagh. We hope by making a space that is safe, fun, and inclusive of our members we will create a space that serves the whole community. We have no staff and all our volunteers work for free - every penny we raise goes towards this goal.
For anyone who would like more information about what we do, how to join, or to make a donation, our website is: https://www.theateamnorthtipp.com.
NEONATAL UNIT
The Neonatal Unit is situated on the ground floor of the University Maternity Hospital Limerick.
It is a 19-cot unit comprising the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a High Dependency Unit and a Special Care Baby Unit.
This is where critically ill, premature and unwell newborn infants in the Midwest -many of whom are from North Tipperary - are cared for. This unit also functions at times as a referral centre for newborn babies from outside of the region.
The presentation of the proceeds of the swim to the groups will take place in in Reidy’s, Newtown, on Saturday, January 11, 2025.