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RECENT EVENT REPORTS             

Special Olympics Europe/ Eurasia Youth Training Seminar

Barry and Pat Olwill from Carlow Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programme travelled to Brussels to represent Special Olympics Ireland at a SOEE Youth Training Seminar, 28th-30th of November. The seminar focused on training athletes and mentors on how to create websites. On Barry’s return he was quizzed by fellow ALPs athlete PJ Nolan about the experience;

P.J.:                  “Hi Barry, what were you doing in Brussels”?
Barry:               “My dad, who was my mentor, and me were selected to take part in a Special Olympics Europe two day workshop to learn about wiki websites and to create a presentation for the European Parliament”.

P.J.:                  “What’s a wiki website?”
Barry:               “It’s a small website that can be created quickly and easily by an athlete. I learned how to create a wiki website in two days.  An athlete can use it to tell stories about themselves and their lives using images, videos, links, music and text, keeping the text to a minimum to allow viewers to understand it easily. I will show you the links later.”

P.J.:                  “Who else was in Brussels?”
Barry;               “There were athletes and partners/mentors from six other countries; Belgium, Great Britain, Austria, Romania, Italy and the Czech Republic. Our host was ‘Nolwen Grassen’ from Brussels and we had lots of help from Andy, Charlie and Ajay (the wiki wizard), from the RIX centre in the UK.”

P.J.:                  “What was the highlight of your trip”?
Barry:               “Making new friends from all those different countries was great. Also we had to make a presentation to the European Parliament. We had to wear suits and ties and the ladies had to wear their best dresses. Our host at the Parliament was MEP Liam Aylward from Kilkenny and I had to sit beside him up at the top table. Each country then made their presentation. I think they were all good and very well received”.

P.J.:                  “Thanks very much Barry that sounds really interesting”.


Liam Aylward (MEP) gets some advice from Barry Olwill (ALPs Athlete)

Navan Arch Win Basketball Perputual Cup

Navan Arch Basketball team recently competed in the National Basketball Cup on the 26th of November 2011 in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.  It was a sucessful trip for the team, they won back the perpetual trophy.  Congratulations to the team and their coaches.  Some pictures of the winning team.

from L to R (back)
Matt English(CEO) SO ireland, Jan Muyllaert(coach) Liam Brady, Andrew Byrne, John Blake, Francis Power
front row
Kieran Rattigan, Fiacra Englishby(captain), Robert McDonald, Brian Carpenter



backrow - Mary Davitt(asst coach), Phylomena O'Hare (table official), Judith Clarke(table official), Robert McDonald, Fiacra Englishby(captain), Kieran Rattigan

frontrow - Steven Brown(injured foot!), Liam Brady, Brian Carpenter, Francis Power, Andrew Byrne, John Blake

Aquatics Events

Three competitions have been held throughout the month of November our first in the Navan Aura Link Leisure Centre and two events in the Army Camp Pool Curragh.

Volunteer Stephen Hynes attended two of these events in the Navan Aura link Leisure and the Curragh Army Camp and he sent us to share his memories of the days.

I experienced these events from a different side this time, having not been involved in the run up to or the running of the events as I have in the past. Funny how you see things differently, I mean, how hard everyone works to bring an event together and then run it.

These events were made extra special, with so many new faces, it was brilliant to see the new, young and not so young, athletes along with the seasoned veterans all competing and having fun together. I really enjoyed seeing the new coaches learning the ropes, new athletes excited for their first event and the big family support willing their athletes on in the pool

You see, Special Olympics for me is not just for the athletes to show they have fantastic abilities; it’s for their families too. "It’s Not just about the competition, it’s about everything that grows from and around it!" It’s for us, the volunteers, the staff and coaches that work day in and day out with the athletes to help build their abilities and bump up their confidence no matter how they perform

At the Navan Aura event I met an old friend who celebrated his 50th birthday with a win in the pool. Alex fan club of supporters from the UK roared as he swam. Alex and other Special athletes like him have taught me so much over the years.  That every child when they are born receive a gift, but every child unwraps their gift in different ways.. Alex is an amazing guy!  So here's a huge happy birthday to a great guy and athlete.

It has to be said; a big big thank you has to given to the staff of the Aura in Navan , Commandant Kirby and the lads and ladies of the Curragh Army Camp and the scouts always their to help with our awards ceremonies

Highest Regards

Stephen Hynes.

 Volunteer

Here's some photos of our swimmers

 

Recognition of Athletes, Clubs and Volunteers by Offaly County Council

Offaly County Council hosted a most enjoyable Civic Reception at Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore last on Thursday December 1st to recognise

  • the Offaly based athletes who attended the 2012 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Greece earlier in the year
  • the  Special Olympics  Clubs – athletes, volunteers  and families in the county

Athletes Patrick Moore (Men’s 5-a-side football) Tullamore Special Olympics Club, Gary McCabe (Men’s Basketball)  Shooting Stars Mullingar and John Michael Gannon (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics) St Hilda’s School Athlone sit alongside Shane Lowry and the All-Ireland winning Offaly Camogie team as prestigious recipients of this civic award.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Danny Owens spoke of the achievement of these four athletes on the international sporting stage and the pride he and his fellow councillors felt on their return earlier in the year from Greece. He presented each of them with a silver engraved award to mark the occasion

The nine Special Olympics Clubs in the county were also recognised by the Council with each of them receiving a framed scroll recognising their ongoing commitment and dedication to Sport in the County.   The clubs that received Ballinamere School , Camcor Warriors Special Olympics Club , Killina Presentation Secondary School, St. Joseph's National School Tullamore , Tanyard Resource Centre, KARE Edenderry Local Service , Offaly School for Special Education , South Offaly Special Olympics Club , Tullamore Special Olympics Club

The large number of athletes, families and coaches from the clubs attending the evening were delighted with the honour bestowed on them by the council and both athletes and coaches acknowledged that the award would hold pride of place on their club walls.