OPEN TOP BUS ARRIVAL FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS CELEBRATION
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES GIVEN A HEROES WELCOME
The victorious Dundalk-based Special Olympics athletes, along with their coaches, friends and family were feted at County Hall last week at a civic reception hosted by the newly elected cathoirleach of the Dundalk Municipal District, Cllr. Conor Keelan.
But before the formalities got underway on Wednesday evening, the Dundalk and St Therese’s Special Olympics Clubs’ members enjoyed an open-top bus tour of the town.
The athletes had a heroes welcome, as local people applauded their achievements during their tour of the town’s streets.
Cllr. Keelan was joined by Dundalk councillors Mark Dearey, Marianne Butler, Anne Campbell, Emma Coffey, Maria Doyle and Ruairi O Murchu for the civic reception and he told the audience that the achievements of the athletes from both clubs in the recent national games were ‘significant’. The chairman congratulated the athletes on their ‘incredible success’ and went on to highlight how sport brought not just physical benefits to those who took part, but also emotional benefits, leading people to make friends and become more outgoing, building friendship through team sports and participation.
Cllr. Keelan said: ‘ They are goodwill ambassadors for Dundalk’ and added he was delighted to present specially-commissioned trophies to representatives of both clubs who told the audience that the teams had a ‘fantastic weekend’ and everyone involved was ‘very, very proud’ of those who took part.’ Dundalk Special Olympic Club came home from the all Ireland games with 10 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze, and a plethora of award ribbons. The club consists of 33 athletes of which 17 qualified for this years games.
‘It was said by the organisers that there were a lot of personal bests achieved by the Leinster team and that the Dundalk Special Olympics Club were a very sporting club that gave out handshakes, hugs and support for there fellow competitors,’ said Anthony Johnson, spokesman for Special Olympics Ireland.
He said that everyone who took part and supported the games were ‘immensely proud of each and everyone of them.’
Meanwhile Dundalk Special Olympics club and St Theresa’s Special Olympics posted a statement on Facebook saying: ‘We would just like to express our deepest gratitude for the civic event that was put on for the athletes. It was fantastic and greatly appreciated by athletes, coaches and families. Our attention has been brought to a negative comment on social media amidst a tide of positive feedback and well wishes. Please understand that the committee cannot be responsible for individual negative comments.
Futhermore, we wish to distance ourselves most robustly from such comments.’