15.04.2013
Annual Service of Thanksgiving Celebrates Gift of Sport
Economics should never dictate whether or not a child can take part in the sport of his or her choosing, the congregation at the annual Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Sport was told. The CEO of Paralympics Ireland, Liam Harbinson, addressed the service, which took place in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, on Sunday April 14. He said that over the last few years our country had taken a battering but sport had been a great source of pride and enjoyment for the nation and must continue to be nurtured.
Mr Harbinson said sport had the capacity to unite people as nothing else could and highlighted the great joy the nation felt during Italia ‘90 and Katie Taylor’s Olympic Gold Medal win.
Having been involved in the paralympic movement for 17 years, he said one of the most important moments of his life was to be appointed Chef de Mission for the 2012 London Paralympics. He spoke about the four pillars of paralympics: courage, determination, equality and inspiration.
The collection from the service is traditionally donated to charity and this year’s chosen organisation was the Blackrock and Harold’s Cross Hospice. Mo Flynn spoke to the congregation about the service they provide and said that while many thought of the hospice as dealing with end of life, they focused on living life to the fullest, right up until the end whenever that might be.
The event was the 64th service of thanksgiving for the gift of sport to take place in Dublin. The idea arose following discussions between the Revd George Crummy and Bob Graves, the Irish Rugby internationl. It was decided to hold an annual church service and the first took place in St Peter’s Church, Aungier Street, in 1949 and was supported by the Association of Schools’ Unions.
The service continues to be the focus of thanksgiving for all men, women and young people whose lives have been enriched and blessed by the gift of sport, whether through active participation, patronage or through the medium of radio, television or attendance at sporting events. This year the Belvedere College Chamber Choir, directed by Ruaidhrí Ó Dalaigh, accompanied the service.