RESPECT, the fundraising arm of the Daughters of Charity Service for People with an Intellectual Disability, were honoured to have Anne, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, in her role as the Royal Patron of the Charity Wooden Spoon, visit their new Bungalow Project at Holy Angels, Glenmaroon, Chapelizod.

HRH The Princess Royal was welcomed by the Chairman of RESPECT, Mr. Dermot Desmond, to unveil a plaque to mark the occasion of the Wooden Spoon’s contribution to the new Bungalow Project.

This newly built and specially designed project consisting of nine bungalows, day care centre and restaurant for 54 people with moderate-severe physical and intellectual disabilities is one of the most modern projects of its kind here in Ireland. This long-awaited facility is welcomed by all and marks the transition of moving from old and unsuitable institutional type buildings.

Fred Hucker, a trustee of Wooden Spoon and one of its founders, commented: ‘It’s particularly appropriate that, in our 25th anniversary year, a project we have helped to fund is opened in the very city in which the seeds of Wooden Spoon were first planted. Dublin was the scene of England’s final defeat in the then Five Nations 1983 rugby series, making the team the recipients of the Wooden Spoon. A number of us were given a real wooden spoon in Dublin by friends and we decided to form the Wooden Spoon charity to raise money for socially, physically and mentally disadvantaged children. In those 25 years we have raised over £13 million for a huge range of projects all over the British Isles. On this occasion we are thrilled that our Royal Patron has come to Dublin to open this project at the start of our anniversary year.’

Sister Martha Hegarty, Director of RESPECT said, ‘ We are very privileged to have HRH the Princess Royal visit our new campus. This is a real sense of encouragement to all of us who strive daily to raise funds for people less fortunate than ourselves, as we now embark on another Capital project for our special people. I would like to thank the Wooden Spoon for being instrumental in honouring us with a visit from their Royal Patron, HRH (The Princess Royal), offer a sincere Thank You to the Wooden Spoon for their contribution, and congratulate them on their 25 years of good work for supporting many great causes’.

NOTES

Wooden Spoon - or ‘Spoon’ to its members’ was formed in 1983 by five friends on the flight back from Dublin following England’s defeat against Ireland in the Five Nations, when England found themselves recipients of the Wooden Spoon.

To date, over £13 million has been committed to causes that help socially, physically and mentally disadvantaged children and young people. The funds are principally raised from dinners, lunches, golf days, balls, sporting challenges and other events, all designed to ‘have fun while fundraising’.

This level of commitment would not be possible without its 10,000 members, its 43 regional fund-raising committees and their honorary presidents (mainly current or ex-international players), its Patrons (RFU, WRU, SRU and IRFU) and its Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

This year, Wooden Spoon celebrates its 25th anniversary, during which a host of additional activities and initiatives will be launched.

RESPECT - The fundraising arm of the Daughters of Charity Service for People with an Intellectual Disability, based in Dublin. The service provides care, education and training for people with an intellectual disability. RESPECT raises necessary funds for Capital projects within the Dublin Service.

RESPECT, under its Chairman, Mr. Dermot Desmond, its fundraising board of business people and its many committees, continue to build a better and brighter future for people with intellectual disabilities. To date, RESPECT has two very successful Capital projects that they can be proud of:

• Bethal House, St. Joseph’s, Clonsilla – a 12-bed hospice for the very ill and dying with physical and intellectual disabilities (€1 million raised)
• Glenmaroon, Bungalow Project – nine specially designed Bungalows for 54 people with physical and intellectual disabilities, day care centre and restaurant (€5.3 million raised - this was matched by government funding).

Currently RESPECT has been asked to raise €9 million for twelve specially designed bungalows, a dementia centre and an Alzheimer’s unit at St. Joseph’s, Clonsilla. For further information on RESPECT fundraising events and how you can support this project: Contact 01-8245420 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .