Volleyball blitz brings Tullamore and Edenderry players together

A total of 48 participants took part in the first inter club volleyball event in Offaly, held in St Mary’s Youth Centre, Tullamore last Thursday night.

This initiative was designed, organised, and delivered by Offaly Sports Partnership and the Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) supported by St Mary’s Youth Centre and Edenderry Volleyball Club.

In what was a hugely successful night, the event brought Edenderry Volleyball Club (the only affiliated club in Offaly) and a group of social volleyball players in Tullamore together for a blitz tournament.

Through the Sport4Empowerment programme supported by LAIT, a number of international protection applicants were supported to join the Edenderry club last September. They have become active members since, playing twice per week, and given this success, the process was replicated in Tullamore in October.

Speaking at the event, David McCaffrey of Offaly Sports Partnership said: “It is planned to help the group in Tullamore become the second affiliated club in Offaly and to make the above meetings more regular and who knows maybe even dip into regional competitions where travel, games, and friendships will become an integral part of their new lives in Ireland.”

Any community groups interested in setting up similar sporting initiatives are asked to get in touch with David at dmccaffrey@offalycoco.ie