"Irish Sumo" Fundraiser Will Benefit Aisling Irish Community Center

Rory Dolan's will be the site of a most unusual sporting event: the first-ever "New York Irish Sumo Wrestling Championship" on Sunday, September 23rd at 4:00 p.m.

Unlike Japanese sumo wrestling, most combatants will weigh significantly less than 400 lbs. In fact, the participants will be local members of New York's Irish community who will don these hilarious looking foam-filled body suits, complete with miwashi (sumo wrestling diaper) and a sumo wig/helmet.

Participants include men and women who will face off in actual bouts. Competitors push, pull, and shove their opponents to the floor or out of the ring. The top wrestler will receive a $1,000 prize and, of course, bragging rights. However, the real winner of the evening's sporting competition will be the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Center's many social service programs.

"Our goal is to present a fun-filled event that would be enjoyable and also be relatively easy on the pocketbook," said Agnes Delaney, the Chair of Aisling's Board of Directors. "In addition to the Sumo wrestling bouts, there will also be a cow-milking contest, great food, live music, and face-painting for the kids. It's going to be a terrific day at Rory Dolan's."

Founded in 1997, the Aisling Irish Community Center offers a wide range of services, including confidential counseling for addiction, depression, domestic violence, relationship and family issues.

The Center also provides help with insurance forms, housing and employment, and legal referrals and a range of educational opportunities.

Classes include computer training, Irish dance, music and language instruction, art and yoga. Aisling's community space is utilized by a wide variety of groups, including a Moms and Tots playgroup, Young at Heart Seniors, Internet Café, Irish

Volunteers for the Homeless, football clubs, and local support groups. In 2005, the organization launched Mind Yourself, a successful preventative mental health campaign. The Center recently published While Mem'ry Brings Us Back Again, a well received collection of immigrant memories from 1927-1864.

Irish Sumo will take place in the Killeshandra Room and the outdoor area of Rory Dolan's (890 McLean Avenue in Yonkers). Admission is $20 per person with all proceeds going to support the Aisling Center. For tickets and further information, call (914) 237-5121 or visit aislingcenter.org.