Opening Up the Water: Accessible Equipment Coming to Bray Harbour
I have been trying to get a beach wheelchair to Bray since before I was elected, so this one feels particularly good to finally announce.
Keith Armstrong is a rower from Bray Rowing Club who recently received a specially adapted boat. The problem was that Keith had been relying on fellow club members to physically lift him into it every time he wanted to get out on the water. It wasn't a sustainable situation, and it wasn't good enough for someone who simply wants to enjoy his sport.
Working with the Wicklow Sports Partnership, two pieces of specialist equipment have now been secured for Bray Harbour. A beach wheelchair will allow Keith to reach his boat independently regardless of the tide level, and a portable hoist will enable him to be safely lowered into his boat from the pontoon, no manual lifting required.
Both pieces of equipment will be available for shared use across all the clubs at Bray Harbour, which means the benefit extends well beyond Keith to anyone with a disability who wants to get involved in water sports at the harbour.
Keith put it simply, he just wants to get out on the water like everyone else, and hopes this encourages other disabled people in Bray to give it a go. Bray Harbour should be accessible to everyone, and I'm glad we've taken a concrete step in that direction.
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