A CLONDALKIN man has received a Lord Mayor’s Award for his work with the homeless.
Sean Kavanagh said he was
“incredibly honoured and humbled
? to received the award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Naoise O Muiri, on behalf of the Homeless Street Leagues.
“To be among so many deserved winners, it’s a thrill to be part of such a fantastic evening,
? Sean said.
Sean, the founder of the Homeless Street Leagues/ Homeless World Cup team, was presented with his award at the Mansion House.
Sean, who is also the manager and editor of Ireland’s Big Issues Magazine, started the Dublin Street Leagues in 2004 having brought a team of homeless men to the Homeless Soccer World Cup in Austria the previous year.
After witnessing the benefits of participation in sport, he decided that instead of creating a team for a one-off annual tournament, it would be more beneficial for disadvantaged lads to participate in sport all year round.
At present there are 13 leagues established all over the country, with 500 players participating.
In his acceptance speech, Sean explained the motivation behind the street league program.
“Some years ago a lad who had spent most of his informative years in a care home came up to me and said
‘I always wanted to play football but I had no one to take me to games’. How sad I thought, but it is a fact that what many of us take for granted is often far removed from reality for many people.
“Even if just one person turns their life around, think of the benefits to that person, his family, community and society at large, it’s a ripple effect,
? he added.
“Investing in your community and society at large benefits all, so perhaps in the not too distant future no one will have to stand on the sidelines watching life pass them by.
?
The other Lord Mayor’s Award 2013 recipients included Mission Commander, Chris Hadfield; the Band of An Garda SÃochána; Roy O’Donnell, the National Women’s Rugby Squad; Pauline O’Regan and six Dublin Digital Champions.