Congratulations Special Olympics Ulster! A new Young Athletes Club has been launched!

There were great celebrations had at the launch of the new Young Athletes section of Ripples SOC in Craigavon on the 3rd of September at South Lakes Leisure Centre!

Congratulations to the 160 athletes from eight Ulster bowling clubs who recently participated in two Bowling Qualifying Competitions at Holywood Bowl and Dundonald Ice Bowl recently. We sincerely appreciate the incredible support from our clubs in making these events such a great success.

Hosted by Special Olympics Athlete Leader Anita Forde, the event brought together key voices, including Matt English (CEO), Karen Coventry (Director of Sport), Dr. Sarah Meegan (DCU), Declan O’Leary (Sport Ireland), and Dr. Hayley Kavanagh herself. Their insights highlighted the immense strides the programme has made.
Including the launch of the Young Athletes Activity Guide and some deeply moving stories from past participants like Anna Kilmartin and Elliot Higgins Porter, who exemplified the transformative power of the Young Athletes Programme.

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

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.

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

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.

400m Gold Medallist Emma Costello from Special Olympics Club Navan stars in The National Lottery Good Causes Awards advertisement 'You Made This Possible' which is being aired over the coming weeks on national television.

Prestigious horse-racing event the Irish Champions Festival played host to some Special Olympics Leinster champions on 14 September, as MEP Nina Carberry welcomed our Leinster equestrian athletes to the Curragh Racecourse as her special guests.

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!