Countdown to Special Olympics begins

THE 2010 Special Olympics Ireland games will take place in Limerick from June 9-13 and with just four weeks to go, games operations manager Neil Carney addressed Clare County Council this week.

Mr Carney called on the members to support the games in every way possible, and he said the Clare public have already responded well.
“Five hundred and fifty volunteers from Clare are coming to help run the games,” he said.
He said that Ennis Leisure World will be used as a venue for bowling and he said that the event there would cost in the region of €20,000 due to items like venue hire and transporting the athletes.
Mr Carney said that the games have received a fantastic response from volunteers, while the revised budget for them is €2.6 million.
He said that Clare County Council could help through doing things such as cleaning the area around Ennis Leisure World, supporting the Special Olympics torch run as it passes through Clare, liasing with the organising group and possibly making a financial contribution.
There was some immediate good news for Mr Carney at the meeting as Ennis West Councillor Tony Mulqueen said that he owns property near Ennis Leisure World and was happy to make it available for parking.
Councillor Joe Arkins proposed that a small group meet from the council liase with representatives of the Special Olympics, while county manager Tom Coughlan said that the council would like to help in any way possible.
Mayor of Clare Tony Mulcahy paid tribute to the Special Olympics movement and said that his daughter is looking forward to taking part in the games in Limerick next month. He appealed for the public to give whatever support they can in the coming weeks.