Rousing World Cup Send Off for Sean O’Brien
European Rugby Player of the Year, Sean O’Brien was given a rousing send off to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, when he visited the RehabCare resource centre in Graiguecullen this week. Sean took time out of his busy schedule to meet with clients and staff at the centre, posing for photographs, signing autographs and even joining in a game of boccia! Everyone at the centre was delighted to meet their local rugby hero and wished him the best of luck ahead of his trip.
Sean is a member of the Leinster Rugby team that won the Heineken Cup earlier this year. Following a series of outstanding performances across the season’s games, Sean was named the ERC European Player of the Year. He was also named Sports Person of the Year at the 2010 Carlow People of the Year Awards, which are organised by Rehab.
Eamonn McSteen, Community Services Manager, RehabCare in Carlow, said, ‘We were delighted to welcome Sean O’Brien to our resource centre. We are all big rugby fans and have been following Sean’s career. It’s great to see a local man reaching the top of his game on a world stage. Despite his hectic schedule, Sean made time to come and meet some of the 35 people who attend the centre and who were thrilled to meet their rugby hero. He spent a lot of time talking to everyone and got a rousing send off when he left’.
RehabCare is the health and social care division of the Rehab Group and service users at the Graiguecullen centre get to participate in a wide range of activities including music, drama, cooking, computers, crafts, bowling, horticulture, swimming and self-advocacy. They also have the opportunity to participate in back to education and literacy courses run in conjunction with the VEC and a community access programme run with the support of local employers.