Special Olympics Ireland celebrates European Football Week
From May 1-9, 2004, Special Olympics Ireland, supported by eircom, Premier Sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, celebrated European Football Week. The week long programme of football training, workshops and competition, culminated in the Special Olympics Ireland/eircom National Football Blitz and Cup Final which took place in AUL Clonshaugh on Saturday May 8. That evening a gala dinner was held where U.E.F.A. presented €25,000 to Special Olympics Ireland to support the ongoing football programme for the next three years. As a result of the success of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Special Olympics Ireland aims to double the number of participants over the period 2004 – 2007 and increase the number of sports and related programmes available to athletes in more communities around the island of Ireland.   


Pictured above at the gala dinner to celebrate the Special Olympics Ireland/eircom National Cup Blitz which took place in AUL last weekend where Limerick beat Tuam 1 – 0 in the final are: Fergus Finlay, Chairman, Special Olympics Ireland; Limerick, winners of the National Cup Blitz; Phelim Macken, Development Officer, F.A.I. and Paul Collins, MC for the evening. The Plate was won by Waterford City who beat Donegal 3-2. Photo Credit: Elaine Twomey, Special Olympics Ireland


Pictured at the gala dinner to celebrate European Football Week are Fergus Finlay, Chairman, Special Olympics Ireland and Marian Murphy, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia, who presented Special Olympics Ireland with €25,000 from UEFA to support the ongoing football programme for the next three years. Photo credit: Elaine Twomey, Special Olympics Ireland