Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre officially opens for children with visual impairments
Pictured are Henry and Heather de Bromhead, along with their daughters Mia and Georgia, at the official opening of the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre located on the campus of ChildVision in Drumcondra. Photo: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
Henry and Heather de Bromhead, along with their daughters Mia and Georgia and surrounded by family, friends and supporters, officially opened the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre, located on the campus of ChildVision in Drumcondra, today (Friday), September 26.
The new 1,375sqm indoor equine therapeutic centre, named in memory of their beloved son and brother, was built as a result of a campaign spearheaded by Chris Jones, which drew generous donations from a group of family and close friends of the de Bromhead’s.
The new indoor facility at the ChildVision campus, which took 17 months to complete, is at the forefront of specialist therapy and education for children with visual impairments and will give children with visual impairments and additional disabilities access to the best global equine activities in a supportive and purpose designed environment.
The centre will allow the ChildVision equine team and volunteers to extend their services to reach more children over more hours, making a life-changing difference, especially through the winter months and in bad weather conditions.
The de Bromhead family said, “The equine centre at ChildVision is a wonderful legacy for our beloved Jack, a hugely missed son and brother.
"Horses are a huge part of our lives, and we know the physical experience of riding a horse offers so many potential benefits, especially helping address a host of physical, social and emotional issues.
"More so, the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre will be a place of learning and hope, full of laughter and joy, traits that were such a part of Jack, all facilitated by the much-treasured horses and ponies that call the ChildVision stables home. We are delighted to have been part of this journey and to see this vision become a reality.
"We are forever grateful to all the donors who came on board to support us – we know Jack would be really proud of what this life-changing generosity will enable for generations to come.”
Barry Sheridan, ChildVision CEO, added that the organisation was thrilled to be opening the doors of the Jack de Bromhead Equine Centre.
"At ChildVision, we strive to empower individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities to live as independently and confidently as possible, and this new centre is a shining example of that commitment in action.
"This incredible facility has been made possible thanks to the generosity and vision of Henry and Heather and their close friend Chris Jones, whose support has been instrumental in bringing this dream to life.
"In this Equine Centre we will ensure that Jack’s memory will live on in all those families that come through the doors, all those children who will sit up on one of our horses or ponies and we thank the de Bromhead family for entrusting Jack’s name with us."
Chris Jones added, “The vision for this equine centre was to create a space where even more children could benefit from equine assisted therapies. From the beginning of this journey, we wanted to find a fitting way to remember our wonderful friend Jack - who was a hugely talented horseman but also a kind, caring and joyful young man.
"Now Jack’s name will be forever associated not only with the equine world but with creating joy and hope for so many children."
