Declan Hannon encourages everyone to “get out of your comfort zone” and support abseil challenge

• Declan Hannon, five-time Hurling All-Ireland winner with Limerick, is calling on us all to take on the Croke Park Abseil Challenge in support of Special OIympics Ireland athletes.
• Five-time Hurling All-Ireland winner Declan Hannon, together with Special Olympics gold medallists Emma Costello and Anita Forde are calling on companies across Ireland to “reach new heights in support of Special Olympics”, by signing-up to the Croke Park Abseil.
• Proudly sponsored by eir, the Special Olympics Croke Park Abseil will see participants raise vital, life-changing funds for athletes with an intellectual disability, while pushing themselves to abseil down 150ft from the roof of one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting landmarks.
• Eir and Special Olympics Ireland are celebrating 40-years of continuous charity partnership in 2025, making it one of the longest running charity partnerships in Europe.

Declan Hannon has teamed up with eir and Special Olympics Ireland to launch this exciting new fundraising challenge, which will see participants from across the country bravely abseil 150ft from the top of Croke Park’s iconic Hogan Stand to raise vital, life-changing funds for Special Olympics Ireland.

The event will take place on Friday June 20th and will provide participants an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting venues. Participants can sign-up at l1nq.com/soiabseil. Declan Hannon, together with Special Olympics World Summer Games medallists Anita Forde and Emma Costello, are encouraging companies and individuals from across the country to get involved and encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to take on this challenge.

Funds raised from the Croke Park Abseil Challenge will be used to support the delivery of sports, health, wellbeing and leadership programmes to over 230 Special Olympics clubs across the island of Ireland. Within these clubs, over 6,800 dedicated athletes with an intellectual disability come together to experience the joy of sport in an inclusive, fun, and friendly environment.

Speaking at the launch of the Croke Park Abseil Challenge recently, Declan Hannon said: “I’m delighted to be able to team up with eir and Special Olympics Ireland to help spread the word about this year’s Croke Park Abseil Challenge. Sport is something that everyone should be able to enjoy and experience and by taking part in this event, you’ll be helping to promote inclusive sport for people with an intellectual disability right across the country. I would encourage everyone to get out of your comfort zone and take on this challenge for a great cause.”

This event is proudly supported by eir, who are celebrating 40 years of continuous partnership with Special Olympics Ireland in 2025 – making it one of the longest running charity partnerships in Europe.

Speaking at the recent launch of this event in Croke Park, Special Olympics Ireland Head of Corporate Partnerships, Denis Maher said: “Taking part in the Croke Park Abseil Challenge is a fantastic way to raise funds and support Special Olympics athletes, while also enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We want to say a massive thank you eir and Declan Hannon for teaming up with us to help launch this event, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of our truly incredible charity partnership with eir. By taking part in this challenge, you will be helping to transform the lives of countless athletes with an intellectual disability, and promoting inclusive sport.”