Shane Delaney

Biography

My name is Shane Delaney.  I am a c6 quadriplegic, I broke my neck at a festival in Australia when I was 26. I am nearly 6 years in a chair. There was a river close by and there was a few people jumping into it so I decided to join in. I dived in head first and hit a rock. I was paralyzed from the neck down straight away face down in the water. I was waiting for felt like ages for someone to get my face over water but I ran out of breath and started to inhale the water but then a girl came and lifted me by the shoulders and I told her my neck was broke. I got airlifted to royal north shore in Sydney where I found out I had a collapsed lung and I shattered my C6 which they had to remove and replace with a bone from my hip. I died a few times but I was too stubborn to remain dead!!!

What activities/sport/exercise do you do? 

Wheelchair rugby and working out in the gym

How did you get active? 

Then I had to stay in the spinE unit for 3 months until I was strong enough to go home and when I was there 1 of the nurses brought me in a dvd called murderball. When I watched it I was hooked straight away. When I got back to Dublin then I was only back a few weeks I met ger scully and I went over to Clontarf with him and I am playing ever since. 

What are some positive experiences/achievements?

Traveling with sport!!! I’ve been away several times with the Ulster barbarians wheelchair rugby team and I’ve been to two super series in England playing with the Gaelic Warriors wheelchair rugby team.

A major highlight to date was going to Australia to play for Ireland in the first wheelchair rugby World Championship. We traveled from London to  Australia where we competed against the best in the world. Something to build on for the future. Hopefully we can maintain the momentum.

All the staff who made it work for us, the effort everyone made to raise the funding and the donations was amazing. Without this, the Irish national team would not have been able to compete!!! It was so good to visit my sister and to catch up with friends while in Melbourne.my best to all down under. I was also lucky enough to stop off in a Singapore for a couple of days where I stayed with friends. 

I’m looking forward to the next adventure 😎☘️🇮🇪

Shortly after the trip to Australia, we went to Finland in September of this year to play for Ireland in the European wheelchair rugby championships. Without sport none of this travel or adventures would have been possible. Sport is simply amazing and all the avenues it opens up for a person.

Why do you take part?

 It’s good for fitness and makes your day to day easier aswell and it is also good for your mental health.

What do you enjoy about it? 

 The craic, travel, learning life skills from my teammates,etc.

If you could describe your experience in one word, what would it be?

Life-changing

If you met someone who had never taken part in anything before, what would you tell them, and why would you tell them they should start? 

I can only speak from my own experience but I think playing wheelchair rugby was the best thing I could have done.  Fact!

Tell me if you encountered any challenges in participating in sport or physical activity?

Getting lifts to training sessions was challenging at first but thats where help from a family member or friend comes in.

What makes participating in sport/physical activity difficult? 

Funding for trips and the cost of equipment can be pricey and travel expenses also.

To what extent are people with disabilities able to engage in physical activity and sports of their choice? 

It’s about your outlook, if you want to do something you’ll find a way.