Eunice Kennedy Shriver

History

Over 50 years ago, Eunice Kennedy Shriver established Special Olympics in her own backyard - n organisation that has grown into the global movement it is today and continues to change the lives of millions. Today, 5 million athletes around the world benefit from being involved with Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Ireland was formed in 1978, and over the past 40+ years, we have grown significantly. Many key moments have shaped our journey — here, we highlight some of the most significant events in our history.

1978-1989

1978           

  • Special Olympics Ireland founded

1985           

  • European Games took place in Dublin with 2000 athletes from 17 countries participating.
  • Telecom Eireann become official sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland

1986           

  • Special Olympics Ireland Games held in Belfast 

1987           

  • Team Ireland, sponsored by Telecom Eireann participate at Special Olympics World Summer Games, South Bend, Indiana

1988/89 

  • 1st Special Olympics Clubs formed

1989           

  • Mary Davis appointed Regional Director of Special Olympics Ireland.
  • First Irish Torch Run in association with An Garda  Siochana - raised £97,000. This money provided grants for setting up first Special Olympics clubs

1990-1999

1991           

  • Team Ireland attend Special Olympics World Summer Games, Minneapolis

1995           

  • First Regional Offices  are set up – Munster 
  • Connaught Team Ireland attend the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut

1997           

  • Team Ireland participate for the first time at Special Olympics World Winter Games in Toronto.  

1999         

  • Team Ireland participate in Special Olympics World Summer Games, North Carolina                                             
  • 2003 World Games bid was successful

2000-2009

2001           

  • Team Ireland participate in Special Olympics World Winter Games, Anchorage, Alaska

2003           

  • Special Olympics World Summer Games, Dublin. 

2006           

  • Special Olympics Ireland Games, Belfast.

2007           

  • Team Ireland participate in 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Shanghai, China

2008             

  • 30th Anniversary of Special Olympics Ireland with celebratory events held throughout Ireland

2009             

  • Team Ireland attend Special Olympics World Winter Games, Idaho  

 

2010-2019

2010             

  • 25th Anniversary of eir (formerly eircom) sponsorship. 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games, Limerick     
  • Special Olympics European Summer Games, Warsaw

2011             

  • 126 Team Ireland athletes travel to the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Athens, Greece

2013             

  • Special Olympics celebrates the 10th anniversary of the  2003  World Games 

2014             

  • The Special Olympics Ireland Games take place in Limerick . 1,500 athletes from all over Ireland took part in these Games  which were supported by 3,000 volunteers.
  • The Special Olympics Summer European Games take place in Antwerp, Belgium. 46 athletes represented Team Ireland at   European level.

2015             

  • The Special Olympics World Summer Games take place in Los Angeles . 88 athletes formed Team Ireland to take part in  these Games.

2017             

  • The Special Olympics World Winter Games take place in Austria. 26 Irish athletes took part in these Games.

2018             

  • The Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games took place in Dublin. 1,600 athletes from all over Ireland took part in these  Games. This was the first time in 16 years that the Ireland Games returned to Dublin.

2019             

  • 91 athletes traveled to the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi and competed in 12 sports, winning an incredible 86  medals.  This was the first Games to be held in the MENA Region.