Act of kindness makes for a memorable day

By Dara Bradley

The kindness and commonsense of two Galway Gardaí and a Connacht Rugby official combined to give an unforgettable experience to a young city man who suffers from severe autism.

Kieran Joyce of Newcastle decided on the spur of the moment last Saturday week to bring his autistic brother Brian (29) who lives in the John Paul Centre, Ballybane, to the Connacht versus Munster league rugby match at the Sportsground.

Brian’s behaviour just two years ago was “volatile and unpredictable”, and Kieran would not have countenanced even taking him to a rugby match. But since he has been taught by two teachers, John O'Connor and Larry Morgan, at the John Paul Centre, Kieran says Brian’s outlook on life has been revolutionised and he has come on leaps and bounds.

John O’Connor has been working with him for the last four years and Larry Morgan for one year and thanks to their help the siblings now regularly go for walks on the promenade in Salthill, walks through Shop Street, and Brian has even gone surfing in Lahinch, something Kieran could only dream of him doing over two years ago.

Kieran’s next outing with Brian, to the Sportsground, was taken on the spur of the moment. Brian had never been to a rugby match and it was a fine, balmy, sunny evening. The problem was he had no tickets and it was a sell-out inter-provincial clash but the duo headed for College Road anyway with the hope of picking up any returns.

“I decided with a little brazen self-confidence to ask the Gardaí outside the ground for spare tickets. Unfortunately they had nothing but they asked us to wait around until the game started. We waited outside the gates and remained positive at the prospect of sourcing two last minute tickets.

Suddenly, a Connacht official and a Garda appeared with two unused tickets and we made our way into the terrace,” said Kieran.

Brian loved the experience, but he never would have been able to attend a rugby match were it not for the hard work and dedication of the staff and teachers at the John Paul Centre, said Kieran.

“Two years ago it wouldn’t have been possible to entertain the thought of him standing contentedly at a Connacht Rugby game. Brian was in a different place back then,” said Kieran. Kieran also praised the Gardaí and Connacht Rugby for their kindness.

“They say commonsense isn’t common but the guards and the official from Connacht Rugby really were fantastic to get us the spare tickets. It’s refreshing to see them reaching out to a vulnerable member of the public. This act of kindness will not be forgotten,” Kieran told the Galway City Tribune.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune