Ireland Diversity Award 2011

County Carlow Football Club Scoops Ireland Diversity Award 2011

On the 14th of December 2011 in the surroundings of the Mercantile Hotel on Dame Street, Dublin the Carlow County Football Club, better known as Carlow Rugby Club won a 2011 Diverse Ireland Award from the Integration Centre. This national award honours those who have made positive advancements around immigrant integration in Ireland in ten different categories and the Carlow Rugby Club won their award in the sporting organisation category in recognition of their key role as host to a very innovative and inclusive integration initiative that saw the re-establishment of one of Ireland’s oldest cricket clubs at the behest of Carlow’s newest residents – the Rohingya Community.

In 2009, 13 families originally from Burma were resettled in Carlow town under an UNHCR resettlement programme. An interagency process, under the Carlow County Development Board, was set up to support the families with their resettlement. As cricket is a national sport of the Rohingya community, the community was keen to play their sport in Carlow. Carlow Local Authorities, St. Catherine's Community Services Centre, Carlow Regional Youth Services and County Carlow Sports Partnership met with the Rugby Club to see if the club could facilitate cricket on their grounds. The Rugby club was very open and put in place supports that saw the revitalisation of the cricket club in Carlow.

Carlow cricket had its first full season in 2011 with members of various nationalities, living in Carlow, joining the club. The club is currently in preparations for the 2012 season through the work of its very active committee. Anyone who is interested in taking part in cricket in 2012 please contact Thomas Farrell on 059-9138703 - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Sandra Corrigan on 059-9136205 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Diversity_Award_1

Left to Right: Mohammad Rafique (Carlow Cricket committee member) and Harry Sothern (President of County Carlow Football Club) receiving their Diversity Ireland Award 2011 from Asheesh Dewan.

Diversity_Award_2