RESPECT is official Irish Open charity
From left, Lee Mallaghan, Director of both Carton House and RESPECT Ireland, Sr Marie Harte, Sr Zoe Killeen, Director of RESPECT, Roger Hynes, Director of Finance with the Daughters of Charity, and Peter Lawrie, European Tour champion, in attendance at the launch of the official charity of the Irish Open. RESPECT Ireland’s St Louise’s Centre, Glenmaroon, Chapelizod, Dublin. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILEEuropean Tour champion Peter Lawrie today visited St Louise’s Centre in Glenmaroon to help launch RESPECT Ireland as the Official Charity of the 2013 Irish Open, to be played at Carton House Golf Club in Co. Kildare from June 27-30.
RESPECT Ireland has been chosen by the Trustees of The European Tour charitable arm, the Tour Players Foundation (TPF), due to the sterling work it does for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities in the Dublin area and its strong association with the host venue Carton House and the venue owners, the Mallaghan Family.
The charity has two residential care projects in the Dublin area (within 20km of Carton House) – St Joseph’s, Consilla, and the other at St Louise’s Centre, Glenmaroon, both offering specially designed accommodation and hospice facilities, which were in evidence during today’s official launch.
RESPECT Ireland is an esteemed Registered Charity, responsible for fundraising projects for people with intellectual disabilities of all ages within the Daughters of Charity Service and well supported in the business and sports/entertainment sectors in Ireland.
RESPECT staff were joined by key stakeholders from this year’s Irish Open during the visit to St Louise’s Centre, the state-of-the-art second Centre opened by RESPECT Ireland which takes the form of nine specially-designed bungalows, a day care area and restaurant. The visiting party included members of the Mallaghan family and former Spanish Open champion Lawrie, who is a strong supporter of both RESPECT and the Tour Players Foundation.
The charity will benefit greatly from a number of fundraising activities which will take place during the Irish Open at Carton House, engaging sponsors, partners and spectators alike in support of the Official Charity.
Lawrie, one of the leading Irish players who will be bidding to capture the Irish Open title over the Montgomerie Course at Carton House next month, said: “I have supported RESPECT for a number of years, so its wonderful to see them benefit from the Irish Open’s return to the Dublin area, as this and their Centre in Consilla are key to the fabulous difference they make to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities.”
Dermot Desmond, Chairman of RESPECT Ireland, said: “The Irish Open Championship hosted at Carton House will bring together the top golfers from around the world. RESPECT is very pleased to be the chosen Charity for this year’s Irish Open, offering a wonderful opportunity to highlight the work of RESPECT as we look to the future for our people with an intellectual disability and securing a better and brighter future for all of our people.”
Lee Mallaghan, a Director of both Carton House and RESPECT Ireland, said: “The Mallaghan family has been involved with RESPECT for over 20 years and we feel honoured to have been able to assist in many fundraising activities during that period. We are very grateful that a cause so close to our hearts will be directly associated with Carton House and the Irish Open and we hope it will be a wonderful event for all concerned.”
Mark Roe, former European Tour player and Chairman of the Tour Players Foundation, commented: “RESPECT was the standout candidate for the Official Charity of this year’s Irish Open and we look forward to creating awareness of the great work that they do locally with Carton House and help them to raise much needed funds for their future projects.”