2014 Special Olympic Ireland National Collection

The 2014 Special Olympic Ireland National collection came to a close with the amount of €450.000, €30.000 down on last year. The takings here in the Cobh area are €1,231, which is an increase of €150 from the initial reported takings. A cheque of €150 was donated by the Cobh Town Council for local voluntary workers here in Cobh with Special Olympic interests.

May I take this opportunity to once again thank the kind and generous people of Cobh who assisted Special Olympic Ireland both financially and voluntary on this and many other occasions since my involvement with the 2003 Dublin World games. With out such wonderful people my voluntary work here in Cobh would be unmanageable.

It was also a real pleasure to have been invited to the Cobh Community College awards that took place in the Commodore Hotel recently. Present were staff, students, their families, friends and management. It was also a pleasure to have been in the presence of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Mark Mellit (DSM) with whom I served in the Defence Forces on the Naval Base at Haublowline as a member of An Cor Polini Airm for well over 30 years.

To my surprise I was called and presented with an award for my voluntary work here in Cobh and for Special Olympics Ireland, and this really caught me “big time” Mr Principle (Frank O’Donovan), many thanks.

My first training day for our 2014 National Special Olympic games took place in LIT (Limerick) last weekend. Needles to say this was my first time in a real collage, but my experience and knowledge with four world games was complimented with a volunteer student from Ennis, Co Clare who was ready to assist. There will be 379 events with 169 Special Olympic athletes participating in the UL games during the four days. The new computer will advance and enhance proceedings compared to the 2010 UL games.

What happens next, Frank/Cobh must book accommodation near UL for the four days, just bed only, no time for breakfast, my involvement with GMS in Aquatics will involve my presence in the 50 meter pool some time around 0700 hours.