Yesterday, (Monday, 29^th March, 2004) at 11:00am Donegal Special Olympics and their strategic partners, Donegal County Council, North Western Health Board, Letterkenny Hospital Sports & Social Club, People with Disabilities Ireland (PWDI) and Donegal Sports Partnership launched a major fundraising drive to raise €2million for the re-development of St. Conal’s Chapel, which was acquired by Donegal Special Olympics. 

The church will be developed into a new sports, social and cultural centre for people with a learning disability, throughout all of Donegal and further afield, with facilities including a sports hall, state-of-the-art gym, café and hydrotherapy pool. The project was officially launched by Mary Davis, National Director, Special Olympics Ireland.  Also in attendance were the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for State Department of Transport, Jim McDaid T.D., Minister for State Department of the Environment, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher T.D., Pat Dolan, Deputy CEO, NWHB, Myra Merrick, Regional Director, Special Olympics Connaught, Brian McCargo, Chairman, Special Olympics Northern Ireland and Liz Henry, Regional Director, Special Olympics N.I.  Special Olympics athletes were also in attendance with all centers and clubs in Donegal represented.

The lease on St. Conal’s Chapel was held by Letterkenny Town Council and owned by the North Western Health Board, both of whom have come together to support this project and have agreed to pass on the leasehold of the premises.  The project to date has been driven by Donegal Special Olympics in conjunction with Special Olympics Ireland through the acquisition of the church and the obtaining of planning permission.

A competition was held recently on local radio to name the newly developed facility, and the winning name was announced by Mary Davis at the launch.  “Cairde le Cheile” was the winning entry from Donaghmore National School, Liscooley, Co Donegal who received a new computer which was kindly donated by Prumerica Ireland, wonderful supporters of Donegal Special Olympics since their arrival in Ireland from the USA.

In the wake of the success of 2003 World Summer Games, Special Olympics Ireland – the year round programme of sports training and competition for people with learning disability – is embarking on an ambitious four year strategy, the main aim of which is to increase the number of participating athletes from 8,000 to 16,000 and to improve the services provided to those individuals and their families.

Mick Quinlivan, Chairman of the Development Committee said, “This project is unique in Ireland, as it will not just provide sport and social facilities for people with special needs, but will also provide employment and other opportunities through the inclusion of the café and the facilities for the park.  This project is integration at its best as the pace and level will be dictated by the athletes themselves and their partners in the project.” 

To find out more about the St. Conal’s Chapel development project, please contact Seamus Campbell, Regional Network Officer, Special Olympics Ireland at or on 087-2395101.