Fota Hosts Special Olympics Golf
There was great excitement and no little skill in evidence when the Special Olympics Munster Regional Golf competition was held in the fantastic surrounds of Fota Golf Club on Monday 30th. May.127 Special Olympics golfers from clubs throughout Munster competed in a range of events from skills to 9 and 18 hole competitions.
Cork was well represented with golfers from the Cork Special Olympics group based in Cork Golf Club, Cope Foundation, Clonakilty Special Olympics Club, Coaction Bantry and Copstown Special Olympics Club competing. Speaking at the event, Special Olympics Munster Golf Coordinator, Micheal Forde said that he was delighted with the number of athletes taking part, the standard of the golf on view and the overall running of the event.
It was also the final opportunity for local athlete Gary Fleming and Micheal O’ Leary from Kerry to complete their preparations before heading to Greece to represent Ireland at the World Summer Games from the 25th. June to the 4th. July. Gary and Micheal will compete in the 18-hole singles event in Athens and both have been involved in intensive training for the last ten months. They will be accompanied by Micheal Forde from Doneraile who will act as Head Coach with the Ireland Golf team.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr.Micheal O’ Connell, attended and presented awards. He thanked Fota Golf Club and it’s members for the fantastic work they had done in organizing and running the event to such a high standard. Other V.I.P.’s who attended and presented awards included Ronan O’ Gara, Matt English, C.E.O. Special Olympics Ireland, Peter Coughlan, Captain Fota G.C.,Mary Mc Caffrey, Lady Captain Fota G.C and Jennifer Hickey from Junior Golf Ireland.
Initial planning for hosting this event in Fota G.C. started in September 2010 and over the past number of months golf club members have come on board and worked with volunteers and staff from Special Olympics Munster in planning and organising this event.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ger Deegan, Regional Director Special Olympics Munster, said that it was a measure of how far Special Olympics had come over the last number of years that athletes now had the opportunity to compete at a world-renowned venue such as Fota. He thanked the club for providing this opportunity and the members who volunteered to work on the event.
Representing Fota G.C., Captain, Peter Coughlan, said that it was a great pleasure and honour for the club to host the Special Olympics Munster golf. He thanked the many members who had volunteered and come on board to help with the organisation and running of the event. He also congratulated the golfers on their commitment, dedication and level of skill and said that the event had opened many people’s eyes to the abilities of Special Olympics athletes.