Health News

As part of our Women in Sport programme, the Special Olympics Ireland HealthFest on 18th October brought together over 30 female athletes, for a great day focused on health, wellbeing and inclusion.

Special Olympics Ireland athlete leader and Health Messenger Jonathon Deering joined Health and Wellbeing Lead, Dr Kathy Fulcher at the International Association of Disability and Oral Health (IADH) Conference in Trinity College Business School last week. They participated in a panel discussion titled From a Sports Organization to a Health Organization: The Advocacy Journey in the US and Beyond.

A new resource that can help clubs get to know their athletes better – their likes, dislikes, needs and helpful accommodations – is now available for download from our website.

The Munster Region played host to this year’s Healthfest in MTU Cork on 28 September, offering a super programme of health-focussed workshops delivered in collaboration with our partner organisations to support athlete wellbeing.

June was a busy month for Healthy Athlete screenings, with Fun Fitness in action at regional basketball and football events incorporating screenings facilitated by two teams of physiotherapy students from RCSI.

Special Olympics Ireland HQ hosted a groundbreaking health inclusion event on 11 July, as the research team for the Rosemary Collaboratory project met with a group of Special Olympics Ireland athletes and family members to learn first-hand about their experiences accessing healthcare.

Special Olympics Ireland has partnered with Breast Cancer Ireland (BCI) to launch a pioneering Breast Health and Education Awareness Programme aimed at women with an intellectual disability (ID).

On Friday 19 May, Special Olympics Ireland had the pleasure of presenting some of our fantastic health partners with a Golisano Health Leadership award. Congratulations to Mental Health Ireland, safefood and University College Cork Audiology Department! 

‘Stronger Minds, Happier Lives,’ Ireland’s first mental health promotion programme for people with intellectual disabilities has commenced.  

The long-running programme has been shortlisted in the Health & Wellbeing category

Last week Special Olympics Ireland hosted the first Healthy Hearing screening since 2018 in collaboration with University College Cork