Civic honour for Special Olympic heroes

CLARE’S Special Olympic athletes will be accorded a civic reception by Clare County Council in Arás an Chláir next Monday, to mark their achievements in the national games in Limerick last week.
The 36 athletes representing the county did outstanding in their fields over the four-day event.
A number of athletes excelled in gymnastics for St Claire’s School in Ennis with Conrad McCullough coming out on top in the men’s artistic competition with no less than seven gold medals. Joseph Linnane claimed five gold and two silver in the same competition, while Sam Woods took home two gold and one silver.
For the ladies, Emma Hoban, Shona Hargaden and Fiona Gavin were to the fore in the rhythmic gymnastics competition. Emma secured a gold, silver and two bronze medals; Shona claimed a gold, three silver and a bronze medal while Fiona took home a silver medal and three bronze.
In athletics, Gerard Hough took gold in the 100m run and silver in the 200m run, while Tomas Malone took gold in the tennis ball throw and silver in the 200m.
For the Brothers of Charity Club, Ennis there was fantastic success in table tennis. Sixmilebridge’s Ronan Keane teamed up with John Ryan of Ennis to win gold in the doubles competition. Ronan also picked up a gold medal in the individual event and a bronze medal in the mixed doubles, while John Ryan took home bronze medals in the singles and mixed doubles. Patrick O’Leary took gold in the singles event and silver in the doubles competition, while Seán Nestor brought home silver in both the individual and doubles category.
In athletics, Mary Keenan secured gold in the 25m assisted walk, while Robert McNamara took gold in the 200m run and silver in the 100m sprint. Donagh McMahon won gold in the shotput 4kg competition and silver in the 1500m.
Kate Grotty took gold in swimming in the 25m backstroke, while Gerard Daly secured bronze in basketball.In soccer there were bronze medals for participants in Division 3 for Martin Cusack and Stephen McInerney, while Ian Manton, Gerard McMahon, Declan O’Dwyer, David McGrath and Barry O’Regan secured fifth place in the division.
For the Shannon Flyers, Ciara O’Loughlin and Cormac Ross each recorded double gold success in the field of athletics. Ciara took gold in the 100m run and shotput, while Cormac took gold in the 100m run and shotput. Tulla’s Tina Lee Cahill won gold in the 25m sprint while she also secured a bronze medal in the tennis ball throw. Coleen Mulcahy was a double medal winner taking gold in the tennis ball throw and silver in the 25m sprint, while Róisín Fitzgerald picked up two silver medals in the 100m and 200m run.
Paul Moody of Ennis Eagles took a double gold in bowling. Meelick’s Dermot Ahern won bronze in the singles bowling competition and another bronze in the doubles, partnering Niamh Long of Shannon Banks. John O’Connell from Clonlara claimed gold in the 50m sprint and a bronze medal for the standing long jump.