Local Tipperary Lions Club welcomes addition of new wheelchair-friendly bus

Members of Cashel Lions Club and the management committee and staff of Cashel Day Care Centre gathered in the Day Care Centre to celebrate the delivery of a new wheelchair friendly minibus on Tuesday, June 24.

The arrival of the new minibus is the culmination of over two years of planning, meetings and fundraising by Cashel Lions Club and the Day Care Centre Committee.

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The minibus will be of enormous value to the Cashel Day Care Centre and all who avail of the range of services and activities provided by the team in the Day Care Centre.

The Day Care Centre Committee Chairperson, Marie Devitt welcomed everyone to the event and to the centre and thanked the members of Cashel Lions Club for their support and generosity which made the purchase of the new wheelchair friendly minibus possible.

Tom Horan, Cashel Lions Club President, spoke about how delighted Cashel Lions Club was to be able to assist and support Cashel Day Centre.

Tom detailed the process involved in the purchase of the bus and thanked all those who contributed to Cashel Lions Club fundraisers such as hillwalking challenges and collections which allowed the club to consider such a deserving community service project.

Willie Fahey, Cashel Lions Club Treasurer and club coordinator of the project outlined the challenges involved in the fundraising and in the purchase and delivery of the bus.

Kevin Muldoon, speaking on behalf of the St Patrick’s Dwellings for the Elderly (SPADE), expressed his delight at having the Day Care Centre based in St. Patrick’s Gardens.

He congratulated both the Day Care Centre and the Lions Club on acquiring the new minibus that will help secure the future of the Day Care Centre and facilitate the inclusive nature of the invaluable service and activities programme offered at the centre.

All speakers paid tribute to the late Mary Fleetwood Ryan, who made an enormous contribution to the Day Care Centre and to a range of community activities.

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Mary’s husband, Jimmy, was one of the invited guests at the event.

Mary was central to the early stages of the discussions and meetings between the Lions Club and the Day Care Centre and all speakers agreed that Mary would have been delighted to see the new minibus chapter come to a successful conclusion.

Fr Bobby Fletcher blessed the bus and was joined by all those present in wishing all those who travel on the minibus a ‘safe journey’ in the years ahead.

The evening concluded with light refreshments which were followed by music and song courtesy of Fr Bobby Fletcher, Jimmy O’Farrell, Philomena Morrissey and Orla Hickey.

The final act of the evening was a ‘spin’ around the town in the new minibus for some very proud members of Cashel Lions Club and the officers of the Cashel Day Care Centre.

The financial support provided to the Cashel Day Care Centre by Cashel Lions Club was made possible due to the generosity of local people.

Cashel Lions Club thanks the people of Cashel and surrounding areas for their generosity in supporting recent fundraising events, all those who made donations to the club, and all the local businesses who also gave generous sponsorship to club fundraisers in recent years.