It’s summer time in St. Joseph’s and the boys are soaking up the sun.

May has been an eventful month for the boys in Room 8. There was much excitement when Noel began cycling classes with the boys. The excitement grew as Corey and Alex M got on a bike for the very first time.

Sinead from Junior Achievement finished up with the class this month. The boys were taught all about starting up a business which stirred the creativity of the 3rd and 4th class boys. They received certificates to mark the tremendous work they had  done throughout the weeks.

Yesterday, the boys of Room 8 enjoyed the sunshine with ice-creams in Fairview park.

StartBox Summer Programme

Where?         Ballybough Community Centre

When?       Tuesdays 5, 12, 19, 26 July

Thursdays 7, 14, 21 July

Fridays 8, 15, 22, 29 July

Time:                1pm – 3pm

Who?               Community Groups (10-21 year olds)

What?             Non-Contact Boxing Session followed by a short trip to Croke Park to witness the Olympic medal and memorabilia collection.

By:                       Boxing in the Community Development team.

Cost:                  Free

To book please contact Paul Quinn on 0876748928 or paulquinn999@gmail.com or any of the other Boxing in the Community Development Officers.

Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis. Up to 40 young people per session. Your group may be paired with other groups. We will try our best to match all groups/sessions in accordance to age profile.

6th Class boy, David Popa will lead out the Irish soccer team in the Aviva tonight. See you TV David!

The trip to the Aviva Stadium, where Ireland play their home International Soccer and Rugby Matches. (Unfortunately, we did not get on to the pitch this time).

The boys got a birds-eye view of the pitch and stadium.

Some of the boys trying on the Irish Rugby gear

Press conference centre in the Aviva Stadium, stars such as Lionel Messi sat in these very seats. The boys watched a video and listened to one of our boxing hosts explain the history of the old stadium (Landsdown Road) and how it came to become the Aviva.

The boys got to see some rare memorabilia belonging to some sporting legends such as Pele! Amazing collection!

Olympic Gold Medal Champion Michael Carruth gave the boys a tour of the Irish home dressing rooms. It was a thrilling experience to sit in the dressing rooms just days before the Irish National soccer team were due to play Holland in an international soccer match.

The boys entered the internal warm up area that sporting  and music stars like ACDC and Madonna use before going on to the pitch or on stage.

As part of the tour the boys got to sit in the Irish soccer teams home bench, which would have been home to many Irish sporting stars over the past number of years!To finish off the tour the boys got to spar in one of the training areas on the upper levels with some of their boxing heroes, whom have been very kind and helpful to the Joeys boys! Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir!