Meet Maeve Long

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Maeve Long, Mallow,Co Cork

Golf

 

Maeve Long from Mallow in Co. Cork was first entered in Special Olympics Ireland thirteen years ago by Vivian Buckley. Maeve is a member of North Cork Special Olympics Club, Mallow Marlins Special Olympics Club, Copstown Special Olympics Golf Society, Doneraile Rockets Special Olympics Club and Duhallow Riders Special Olympics Equestrian Club - she is a very busy lady! Maeve is currently training extremely hard in preparation for the Special Olympics Ireland Games which are due to take place in Limerick from 9th to 13th June 2010.

 

Maeve first decided to become involved with Special Olympics Ireland for a number of reasons. She loves sport and being active and she also likes a challenge. The combination of these factors makes Special Olympics Ireland the perfect organisation for Maeve to be involved with. The sports in which Maeve takes part include golf, swimming, basketball and horse riding, the variety of which she very much enjoys.

 

Maeve is no stanger to success with Special Olympics. She participated in the World Games in North Carolina in 1999 and won a bronze medal for basketball skills. She also travelled to the World Games which took place in China in 2007 and won a gold medal for golf skills. Maeve has won numerous medals down the years in Special Olympics Munster competitions and hopes to continue with her winning ways as she takes part in the 2010 Games.  

 

Maeve received the accolade of Best Athlete in the 2000 Mallow Sports Awards, a very special moment for her and an achievement of which she is rightly very proud. Her visits to China and North Carolina, places where many people can only dream of travelling to, to participate in the Special Olympics World Games were also very special experiences for Maeve. Maeve volunteered at the Special Olympics World Games which were held in Ireland in 2003. This was the first time these Games were held outside of America. It was a fabulous event and Maeve loved the whole experience.

 

Special Olympics Ireland aims to change the lives of people with an intellectual disability by giving them an opportunity to achieve in life through sport. Before Maeve joined Special Olympics Ireland she says she did not have many friends and spent a lot of time watching television. Since becoming involved with Special Olympics Ireland her life has changed. She says “Special Olympics has brought me into contact with so many new friends and I have got to know lots of people. I have travelled to many places in Ireland and the world competing in different sports”. In the future Maeve hopes to continue playing her sports and she hopes that her mum will be able to bring her to the various events.

 

When Maeve isn’t busy training in her various sports she loves dancing and music. She is a popular member of Kaleidoscope, which is a drama group. She also likes playing her Nintendo DS and reading the Beano Comic. Maeve’s favourite song is ‘Pokerface’ and her favourite actor is ‘Mr.Bean’. Ryan Giggs is her favourite sporting hero. Maeve really enjoys her part time jobs in a nursing home and a café.

 

The 2010 Special Olympics Games will take place over four days from Wednesday June 9th to Sunday June 13th. In what will be one of the largest and most prestigious sporting events to take place in Ireland this year, 1,900 Special Olympics athletes from throughout the island of Ireland will travel to Limerick. They will be accompanied by 650 coaches and official delegates as well as a contingent of over 4,000 family members. The Games will be supported by a team of 3,500 volunteers. If you have been inspired by Maeve’s story and would like to get involved with the Special Olympics Ireland Games and contribute to the life changing work of Special Olympics Ireland then please contact: limerick2010@specialolympics.ie.