Bridget Walsh: 'Special Olympics is a like second family to us'

Bridget Walsh has her bags packed already and is just waiting for her wetsuit to dry. It’s just over a week away from the Special Olympics Ireland Games in Dublin, and her beaming smile is full of excitement when Irish Country Living comes calling to her home in Tawnagh in the Tourmakeady parish in Co Mayo.

Looking out at stunning views of Lough Mask from her front door, it’s more than fitting that Bridget, or Bríd (43), as she is also known to many, will be competing on the water in kayaking. Representing Connaught, she will be among 1,200 athletes from all over the country converging on the capital for the games from 18-21 June.

Pointing to a piece written for the local Waterfall magazine, her mother Maureen relays in detail when she first realised Bridget had a “competitive streak” – it was when she was learning to cycle around the age of 10. Her late uncle Frank challenged her to race from his home at the top of the hill to the bottom of Boithrín Billy, the road outside her house.

“Bridget was not going to let him best her and took off with great energy and determination, a determination I have witnessed many times, most recently in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in 2023,” says her mother Maureen in the piece.

Frank was just one of the many people who supported and encouraged Bridget to realise her dreams, and Maureen couldn’t be more thankful to the many supporters, coaches and volunteers who have helped her daughter along the way. It just wouldn’t be possible without them, she underlines.

“I love kayaking; I was a water baby since the day I was born,” Bridget says, laughing at the kitchen table sporting her Special Olympics Connaught jacket. An athlete media ambassador, she recalls, with obvious pride, speaking at the launch of Team Connaught at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway the previous week.

“No, I was not nervous. Not one bit,” exclaims Bridget, showing Irish Country Living a video of her speech, where she gave some advice to athletes who were going to their first national games.

“For me, just to let you all know to be proud of yourself and make your dreams come true. Be yourself as well,” Bridget told the large crowd. “I’m looking forward to mixing and making new friends and looking after the younger athletes coming up through the ranks. If they need somebody to talk to or advice, just come to me,” she added.

Surrounded by photos from her many trips and competitions and a special frame with all her medals, Bridget and her mother explain how the journey all began: swimming with the Special Olympics when she was 11, before taking up table tennis, boccia and bowling.

Bridget attended Srah NS until she was 10 before going to St Anthony’s in Castlebar up to 18. In 2002, coached by Kevin Devaney, she won a bronze medal at the European Games in Luxembourg in table tennis. A year later she volunteered as an athlete chaperone at the World Games in Dublin.

In 2009, she joined the Special Olympics kayaking club in Castlebar under the guidance of coach Mick Fahy and his team and started to excel in a new sport on the waters of Lough Lannagh. She worked in a local factory for several years before it closed and in a shop in Castlebar before the pandemic.

Berlin memories

Bridget recalls her dream was to compete at the Special Olympics World Games and remembers “being over the moon” to hear she was picked in 2023.

It got even better for her, winning gold in a nail-biting finish by one second in the KT1 500m women’s final along the River Spree to the shouts of ‘Olé, Olé’ from her many supporters waving Mayo and Ireland flags.

“I was emotional big-time,” Bridget replies when asked to recall how she felt at the finish line. It was so close she didn’t know if she had won or not. “Something was telling me in the back of my head that my dad [the late Philip Walsh] got me there. It was his birthday, 21 June,” she remembers with a flicker of tears in her eyes.

When it flashed up on the screen, she recalls, “I couldn’t believe it. I was overwhelmed.” She went on to win another bronze medal days later.

“It’s about people and being unbeatable together,” she reflects, looking through celebration photos. “Include everybody no matter what disability you have and try your best. It’s not about disability at the end of the day; it’s about ability and being a voice for other athletes who can’t speak up for themselves.”

Growing up on a small farm, Bridget helped out in lots of ways. She smiles as she remembers chasing away the hens from the house and sitting in the wheelbarrow as a child. She recalls fondly going with her late uncle Frank to Ballinrobe Mart, joking that she loved the sausages and chips served upstairs.

The youngest in the family, Bridget has three sisters and two brothers. She tells Irish Country Living that she has 10 nieces and nephews who “spoil me a lot”, bringing her on trips and walks. Her favourite trip to date has been to Wales and she also enjoyed going to Old Trafford to support Manchester United with her brothers.

Special Olympics is not about World Games. There are clubs and centres who meet all year around, week in and week out, helping people like me to improve their lives through sport

While Maureen admits “everything is a fight” to get help for anyone with special needs, Bridget is lucky to have “brothers and sisters who thought the world of her since the day she came into the world” and the Special Olympics which is her life.

“She has gained great confidence from being involved in the Special Olympics,” states Maureen.

“Hopefully, I bring home medals, no matter what colour they are,” Bridget responds when queried on her goals in the national games this weekend.

Asked if she has any nerves before the races, a smiling Bridget says, “Not one bit,” before revising it to “A little bit maybe”.

“She drives her mother crazy,” jokes Maureen. “That’s natural,” Bridget chips in laughing, showing plenty of humour.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to Mick Fahy, Cathal Ruane, Sharon McGovern, Jerry Ryan, Martin Sammon and Beatrice Sammon for taking me on and all the volunteers. It really means a lot. Only for them, I don’t know where I’d be,” says Bridget. “Special Olympics is like a second family to us. It really means a lot.”

“They are really [our second family],” Maureen agrees, nodding. “Only for all the volunteers we wouldn’t have [activities for Bridget]. On Monday night [at kayaking training], they went out on Lough Lannagh in terrible weather.”

Training has been going well, and Bridget’s schedule is packed four nights a week with kayaking, bowling, swimming and drama. She also attends The Hub in Castlebar three days a week.

Away from her sport, the Mayo woman loves relaxing with her colouring when her mother is knitting, and she enjoys walking and taking care of her dogs Shep and Sandy. She is also looking for homes for eight new pups.

Before departing, Bridget points to a note where she wrote down her thoughts about her club and how thankful she is to the people who gave their time so she can enjoy her sport. “Special Olympics is not about World Games. There are clubs and centres who meet all year around, week in and week out, helping people like me to improve their lives through sport,” she explains.

“I would like to wish the fundraising team good luck with all of their events over the coming months. The money raised will help to ensure clubs like mine can keep going and give new athletes the chance to join us.”

An avid Mayo football supporter, Bridget alerts us to a photo of her with manager Andy Moran. “Definitely this year,” is her reply on the prospect of Mayo for Sam.

Let’s hope it’s a celebration on the double.

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