The third annual Infinity Ball, hosted by Neurodiversity Ireland, took place in Dublin’s InterContinental Hotel today (19 October), with an audience of more than 400 people gathering to raise awareness of the need for a more neurodiverse-friendly society.
The centrepiece of the Infinity Ball was a high-profile auction with a spectacular array of exclusive and one-off items up for grabs including a private rugby training session with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, rare ‘Achtung Baby’ U2 signed vinyls, a signed Lionel Messi football kit and a VIP trip to Royal Ascot.
All proceeds from the auction, which was led by Goffs’ auctioneer Nick Nugent, will go towards the establishment of a permanent Sensory Centre for children in Dublin. The new centre will provide a range of badly-needed services for neurodiverse children and their families including occupational therapy, social connection, and speech and language support.
Up to now, Neurodiversity Ireland has been operating a Sensory Centre from a temporary base in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and has facilitated some 2,500 attendances in the past year alone.
“We are thrilled by the response to our third annual Infinity Ball and humbled by the generosity of our supporters, who have dug deep to bring us another step closer to establishing a permanent Sensory Centre in Dublin,” said Dairine Kennedy of the Neurodiversity Ireland committee.
“Making a difference for families and kids”
“All around Ireland, families are struggling to access much-needed support services for their neurodiverse children,” Dairine added. “We are proud to be standing up and making a difference for those families as we continue to highlight the need for a neurodiverse-friendly society where different brains and unique thinkers are welcomed.”
The event also featured the announcement of Neurodiversity Ireland’s Inclusive Educator and Sportsperson Awards, sponsored by Energia and presented by Lord Mayor James Geoghegan. The Inclusive Educator award went to Declan Clarke, Principal of Coláiste Ríoga in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, while the Sportsperson award went to Damaris Ayres of Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Among the high-profile celebrities attending the Infinity Ball were Ireland rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll and award-winning actress Amy Huberman, TV personality Brian Ormond and acclaimed author/influencer Pippa O’Connor, legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh, Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen, Westlife singer Mark Feehily, actress and former Miss World Rosanna Davison, and many more.