BY JEROME HUGHES
KILMACRENNAN’S Conor McCormick has launched a fantastic new addition to Glenveagh National Park and is now the face of Mountain Trike, a modern electric wheelchair that will make the park much easier to explore.
At the launch last weekend, Conor’s mother, Deirdre McCormick, described the chair as “invaluable”.
She was just one of many who showed up to see this exciting new development.
“I can’t tell you how beneficial this chair is going to be, not only to Conor but all of his friends who are wheelchair users. We all want to be included. Now when there’s a day out, there’s no need for Conor to be at home,” said Deirdre.
“You just have to phone in advance to book the chair and it’s free. So, happy days! It lifted my heart to see Conor so relaxed in the chair. Sometimes he’s not at ease so to see him smiling was a great omen for the chair,” she added.
The Mountain Trike, costing more than €10,000, has been obtained by Grassroutes Bike Hire.
The company already boasts an impressive complement of 70 regular bikes, 20 electric bikes, and several Ability Bikes.
Deirdre explains that her family members have been visiting Glenveagh for years. She has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all those responsible for making the new chair available.
“It’s invaluable. Words fail me today. I’m just so happy. Conor is the guy he is today because of his brothers, Enda and Ciarán. They put up with a lot from Conor but for them to see him so relaxed today, it’s just so good,” she said.
Located near the bus stop in Glenveagh, the Mountain Trike will be available for free within Glenveagh National Park during opening hours.
Owen McFadden, Service Coordinator with Donegal Irish Wheelchair Association has also welcomed the arrival.
“It’s really great news all round. This chair opens up the park to people with limited mobility. You don’t have to be a full-time wheelchair user. If you have a problem with mobility then this can be a fabulous help,” he said.
“People can make their way up to the castle and take in the wonderful views rather than always using the buses. This is all about inclusivity and making the place available to as many people as possible. This is a unique chair because it’s all-terrain,” added Mr McFadden.
Home to mountains, woods and lakes, and stretching 24 kilometres, Glenveagh National Park is considered one of Donegal’s most popular natural treasures, attracting tens-of-thousands of visitors each year.
Majella Orr is Manager at Craoibhín Community & Enterprise Centre in Termon. Grassroutes Bike Hire operates under the auspices of the centre.
“It has been great to showcase the new addition to our Grassroutes fleet. There’s so much emphasis on inclusivity these days and rightly so. That’s why we’re delighted that we can now offer this service to people,” she said.
“This makes life so much easier for families and allows the person with additional needs to fully participate in the trip from the visitor centre to the castle, without the need to take a bus. Everyone can enjoy the stunning scenery,” she added.
Manager of Grassroutes Bike Hire, Mairéad Giles, has reiterated that Mountain Trike is available for free but it must be booked in advance.
“The bike itself is very light and, with the motor, it can reach a speed of 5.6 kilometres per hour. The engine won’t be needed all the time so hopefully it will go long distances,” she explained.
“This was made possible by the Donegal Sports Partnership. They approached us about funding this wheelchair. Of course, it made sense because we are a social enterprise with the aim of enriching the community.
“We are looking into the possibility of having a Disability Hub out here. We’ll just see if there is a demand for such a hub. It would be wonderful to try and expand the services to make Glenveagh as accessible as possible,” added Ms Giles.
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