News

An interclub football blitz day in Salthill on 28 September was a storming success featuring 41 athletes across seven teams from three clubs, with great skills and camaraderie on show throughout.

Eleven athletes from across the Connaught region attended the All Ireland Athlete Leadership Forum on Saturday 21 September in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise.

Friday 20 September became the highlight of the year for Roscommon Special Olympics Club when they took on the local Garda Síochána in their much-anticipated annual football match.

Special Olympics is all about our athletes and volunteers, so it’s important to hear directly from the athletes themselves!

The Eastern Region Athlete Leadership Committee is a group of passionate athletes with an ambition to grow and develop the athlete leadership programme. Each athlete comes from a different club, with a variety of experiences and ideas!

The 2024 Special Olympics Ireland Volunteer Awards was a celebration of the beating heart of Special Olympics. Without the contributions of volunteers in clubs and at events year-round, our mission to transform lives through sport wouldn’t be possible.

The All-Ireland Athlete Leadership Forum brought 115 athletes from across the five Special Olympics Ireland regions together at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday 21st September to learn new skills, improve their leadership capabilities, benefit from each other’s experiences, make new friends and connect with old ones.

Dundalk Special Olympics Club is the proud winner of September 2024’s Gala Retail’s Gifts for Clubs Cash prize!

Dundalk Special Olympics Club was set up to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sport for children and adults with a learning disability.

Badminton Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote inclusivity. This creates a pathway and further opportunities for badminton players with an intellectual disability to join Badminton Ireland clubs and take part in Special Olympics activity.

Rugby Players Ireland and Mental Health Ireland teamed up on Saturday to support the Special Olympics Team Ireland Athletes to prepare for the excitement, pressure, and emotional highs and lows of the the up coming World Winter Games in Turin.

Just when you thought the excitement of the Olympics and Paralympics was over, think again! Get ready for another world-class event: the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025!

As excitement builds for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, Special Olympics Ireland is thrilled to announce the official selection of Team Ireland, comprising 14 exceptional athletes who will represent the nation on the world stage. Taking place from March 8th – 16th 2025, the games will see over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries compete in eight winter sports, showcasing the dedication, talent, and unbreakable spirit of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Read all about these athletes and follow their journey to #Turin 2025

FAI Hosts Inspiring Pre-Match Celebration Honouring Special Olympics Ireland Football Team’s Triumph

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) brought together a heart-warming Pre-Match Celebration last night in the Green Room of the Aviva Stadium, ahead of the Republic of Ireland vs. Greece match. What was the occasion? A tribute to the skill, determination, and extraordinary achievements of a truly inspiring team.

This special team was none other than Ireland’s Special Olympics Football Team, who proudly brought home Gold from last year’s Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. In honor of their remarkable success, the team received the prestigious distinction of being awarded their International Caps—a coveted recognition reserved for those who have represented Ireland on the international stage.