THE same spirit of giving freely of time and effort that helped save Bohemian Football Club is now being used by a band of club supporters to improve Northside communities.
The Bohemian Foundation can be traced back to 2013 when Bohs’ Public Relations Officer, Tommy Hynes, began to bring school groups to Dalymount Park so they could see how a top Irish soccer club was run.
The youngsters really enjoyed and benefited from the experience and Tommy was keen for the club to embrace the local community in other ways.
Talkative Tommy is well known for his powers of persuasion and a chance meeting in a local coffee shop with Deputy Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Donnacha Walsh, led to an unlikely, remarkable football tournament between prisoners, local soccer teams and Bohs players.
Last year the foundation invited the Irish Special Olympics soccer squad to Dalymount for a pre-match VIP tour and introduced a Walking Football initiative in local communities to help older men socialise and increase wellbeing.
Now Tommy and his team of volunteers are ready to spread more community love to schools across the city with a new project announced recently at the official launch of the Bohemian Foundation in the Mansion House.
“We’re going to schools to talk to kids about nutrition, give them some fitness training and coaching and then invite them to Dalymount to experience a Premier Division match and meet the players who can talk to them about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.”
Representatives from the Foundation are now meeting with local school principals to discuss the programme, which is being provided free-of-charge.
The Foundation is also planning drama workshops, further local mental and physical health initiatives and partnerships with community groups.
“The foundation exists because the work it does is needed,” said Tommy, who is quick to acknowledge the great support he receives from everybody at Bohs and out in the local community.
Supporters Tommy counts on include the Bohemian FC soccer family, Dublin Lord Mayor, Críona Ní Dhálaigh, who officially launched the Foundation, Sinn Fein councillor and Bohs fan, Larry O’Toole and local politicians including Mary Lou McDonald (SF) Paschal Donohoe (FG), Joe Costello (Lab) and Maureen O’Sullivan (Ind).
At the launch Tommy also expressed gratitude to the Foundation’s board of directors; Chris Brien (treasurer), Jeff Conway (social inclusion), Barbara Conway (nutrition and wellbeing), John Colleary (arts) and Stephen Burke (publications).
So far, much of the Foundation’s work has been funded by board members and other volunteers from their own pockets along with donations from individuals and local businesses, but a new initiative has now been launched to allow anybody to help out.
The Board is appealing to the public to become a ‘Friend’ of the Bohemian Foundation for €10 a year, or whatever can be afforded.
Friends will be updated on the Foundation’s plans and progress.
To become a friend, just post a cheque, bank draft or postal order made payable to The Bohemian Foundation to Bohemian Foundation, Dalymount Park, Dublin 7, D07 YXWO.
Bank transfers can also be made to Bank of Ireland, Phibsborough, Dublin 7. Transfer details are BIC – BOFI IE2D and IBAN – IE80 BOFI 9006 2356 1616 55. You can email the foundation at thebohemianfoundation@hotmail.com after making a donation to receive updates.