The sky’s the limit for Shane
Jumping 5,000 ft for the Holy Family School
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Teach Oscail Administration Team Leader, Martin McCaffrey; disability awareness speaker, Shane Loughlin; and Teach Oscail Family Support Worker Peter Donohue.Image 2 of 3
Shane Loughlin pictured with Rachel Moynagh, principal, Holy Family School Cootehill; and students from the school, who will all be supporting Shane when he makes his fundraising Skydive for the School on August 16. Alex Coleman.Image 3 of 3
Former student of the Holy Family School Cootehill Shane Loughlin with Rachel Moynagh (Principal) on his visit to the school on Friday last telllin them all about his tandem Skydive. Alex Coleman.“I’ve been thinking about it for the past couple of years and it’s on my bucket list to do it,” says Shane Loughlin, explaining why he has decided to jump out of an aircraft at 5000 ft above the ground.
The Cavan disability awareness speaker will do a charity sky dive on August 16 to raise funds for The Holy Family School in Cootehill, a place which is very close to his heart. Shane attended the school when he was younger and, despite leaving the school 22 years ago, he still goes back each year to visit the teachers and students.
“We were just talking about it one day and I said ‘Martin, if I do it, will you help me?’”
Teach Oscail Administration Team Leader, Martin McCaffrey, has been enlisted to help Shane with his ambitious fundraiser.
“At that stage I thought it would just be a bit of banter but now look what it has progressed to. I got a date for the sky dive.”
The 39-year-old reported that he feels “good” about taking the 5000ft leap.
Travelling at around 120mph, Shane will freefall over the scenery in Clonbullogue, Edenderry, before his tandem master opens the canopy.
He will do the skydive with the Irish Parachute Club.
“I’m looking forward to it. There are times when I think about it and think ‘oh my God I’m actually doing a sky dive’ but I can’t wait to do it.”
As a child, Shane attended The Holy Family School and still remembers the care shown to him in those days.
“It has a special place in my heart,” he explained, with his most recent visit back to the school two weeks ago when he shared the news of his latest venture.
“They were delighted,” he shared.
The current principal, Rachel Moynagh, was a teacher when Shane was there.
“It’s good for her to see me keep coming back.”
“I loved the school when I was in it and I still love the school, going back there. When I go back, I help out.
“It will always have a special place in my heart.”
Shane needed to raise £600 in order to do the skydive and has exceeded this figure already, telling the Celt he “can’t believe the response”. Folk band The Highstool Prophets have sponsored the initiative among other businesses and people in the town.
“Everybody has been very good at giving, it’s great to see.”
Meanwhile Martin explained that his role helping Shane has been very simple.
“He’s done all the work himself and he doing the hard part, doing the jump,” Martin explained.
“The sponsorship is coming in because Shane knows everybody and everybody knows Shane and everybody loves Shane.
“You can’t deny his determination, once Shane wants to do something and sets his mind to it, he’ll do it. He’s always been like that.”
Shane has been giving talks in Cavan Institute for the past 18 years on his life experiences studying and working with Cerebral Palsy.