News

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.

This weekend, the Aer Lingus American College Football Classic was a sold-out sensation, filling a total of 50,000 seats at the Aviva Stadium. The air buzzed with anticipation as everyone awaited the start of this momentous game. The opening ceremony did not disappoint, the crowd were treated to an unforgettable spectacle. The opening of the game was a dazzling display of marching bands, cheerleaders, and fireworks. But the most heartwarming moment came when Special Olympics Ireland Winter Games athlete Caolán McConville took centre stage, honoured with the privilege of presenting the game ball.

Caolán, who is no stranger to the spotlight after winning silver and bronze medals in skiing at the 2017 Winter Olympics, confidently waved to the cheering crowd, who responded with thunderous applause.

The All-Ireland Athlete Leadership Forum brings Special Olympics athletes together to learn about leadership, improve skills, make new friends and reconnect with old ones! It's all happening on Saturday 21st September from 10:30 am to 5pm. We are delighted to have 120 athletes registered to attend the Forum. We have capacity for some additional athlete places: if you wish to register for the forum, please email athlete.leadership@specialolympics.ie

Special Olympics Ireland is proud to announce a ground-breaking partnership with Golf Ireland, which offers support by means of funding and a renewed commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in the sport of golf.

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.

We've got multiple exciting events planned for European Week of Sport from 23rd to 30th September 2024. Read on to find out more!

Are you a Special Olympics athlete with a love of art? Perhaps you know an athlete who loves to create drawings, paintings, or visual designs. Read on to find out about a cool opportunity to have your designs featured on Special Olympics t-shirts!