The largest inclusive sporting event in the world is taking place this week in Berlin, Germany, and team Ireland are taking part in 12 of the 24 events. Special Olympics Ireland, an all-island organisation, has sent 73 athletes, supported by almost 40 coaches and management volunteers, to take part in athletics, badminton, swimming, kayaking, gymnastics, football, golf, table tennis, bocce, basketball, bowling and equestrian.
The equestrian team have been training together since January and for their final group session, Irish Country Living went along to wish them the very best of luck.
Head coach, Etta Hayes says the team have done their homework and are all set to don the green, white and gold
Leading the way
Head coach, Etta Hayes, of Kylebrook equestrian centre, Portlaoise, Co Laois, welcomed the team to her centre for their final session. Assisted by Westmeath’s Peter King; training has been taking place between Kylebrook and Dublin, giving the athletes the opportunity to practice their riding skills on a new horse – something that is part of the World Games experience.
Head coach, Etta Hayes going through their final exercises along with Irene Lawlor, team volunteer/Caitríona Bolger
“They meet the horses over there for the first time. It is a big ask. We’ve only a choice of two horses and if the first one does not work out, we have to take the second one,” Etta explains. “They are talented riders; they have their homework done and are all set, ready to go. Thankfully, training has gone according to plan for us and we are all looking forward to the experience.”
The back room
Irene Lawlor from Dublin works in the equestrian industry and is a coach with Horse Sport Ireland. For these games, she is volunteering her skills to support the team.
“I will be working in the horse section; looking after the riders and horses, making sure all the tack is safe, helping them mount the horses, bringing them down to the ring, getting them back safely. The professionals travel the world and bring their own horses with them, these athletes arrive out and they get up on a horse they have never seen before. It is huge. The horses selected are suitable for these games. This is my first games; we are hopefully going to pick well and make sure we get the best horses for our team. It is a big undertaking and we are all very excited.”
Noel Coen from Sligo is representing Ireland at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin this week/Caitríona Bolger
Noel Coen – Sligo
Noel Coen from Cahermore, near the sea in Co Sligo is representing the Connaught region in the trot with leader category.
He has been a member of the Sligo Nightriders Special Olympics club for over 15 years and these are his second games. Noel lives in RehabCare and all the members and staff are incredibly proud of him for his dedication and talent.
Noel works in a local Londis four days a week and has horse riding training twice a week. In Sligo, his coaches, Claudia Florchinger and Michael McElhone, have been working with him on a weekly basis at the Sligo riding centre, supporting the Irish team’s group training.
He has lots of people backing him and he has gone to Berlin knowing his friends want him to do the best he can do at the games.
Gemma Haire from Kilkenny is looking forward to sightseeing and the parties while in Berlin/Caitríona Bolger
Gemma Haire – Kilkenny
Representing Leinster is Gemma, from the Kilkenny Special Olympics Club, taking part in equitation and trail riding.
Her mam, Jean, tells Irish Country Living that Gemma has participated at the RDS twice with the Riding for the Disabled (RDAI) classes. Older sister Lauren is credited with bringing Gemma on during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“We have never been a horsey family; Lauren took up horse-riding when she was six and she never stopped really. Then Gemma started and it went from there. Lauren is a show-jumper and during the first COVID-19 lockdown, they spent the evenings out on the horse. Every cloud has a silver lining,” says Jean.
Outside of horse-riding, Gemma attends the SOS day service in Kilkenny. Her big project this year is that she is doing film making. She is also a DJ and you can tune in to The Gemma Haire Show every Wednesday from 2- 2.30 pm on Dreamtime radio.
“I’m from Bennettsbridge. When I was around eight years old, I started riding. It was something new; I saw my sister ride and I wanted to try it. My sister helped me over COVID-19 with horse-riding. This is my first time to represent Ireland, I am so excited. I am looking forward to the sightseeing, the parties and the craic mainly. When we come home, I am looking forward to cheering on the Cats [Kilkenny hurling team] with my dad and going swimming in the river and the sea.”
Declan Foley from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary is the Munster representative on Team Ireland (Equestrian) at this weeks Special Olympics World Games /Caitríona Bolger
Declan Foley – Tipperary
Declan is from Carrick-on-Suir and is the Munster representative on the team. He is in the senior class at Scoil Aonghusa, Cashel, Co Tipperary.
His category is equitation and dressage. Declan is supported by Ger Ryan-Maher who looks after swimming, horse-riding and PE in the school, as well as Anita Manton and Stephanie Moore, special needs assistants who are involved in Declan’s training in the run up to the World Games.
Coaching the pupils of Scoil Aonghusa from pre-school up to 18 years of age, they took unpaid leave to cheer Declan and the team on in Berlin.
“There are 140 pupils in the school and on the day he left, all the pupils and staff formed a guard of honour from the doorway out to the road. The squad car was waiting and he got a Garda escort through the town and up to the motorway junction,” says Ger.
Every Friday, Scoil Aonghusa do four to six horse-riding classes at Tomas and Fiona Ryan’s Tipperary Equestrian Centre, on Mill Road, Thurles. Then there are extra sessions with Declan.
“He took to the horse-riding like a duck takes to water,” says Ger of Declan’s early days in the saddle.
“He has a great affinity with animals; he adores horses. He is very easy and comfortable on a horse. He canters; he is a very good horseman,” she adds.
“We would like him to be the very best he can be when he leaves us, which will be next year. So that he has a sport for the future – a sport that he is very good at it.
“That is what we would be hoping for with all our students when they leave us – that they would have sports going forward, something that will be an interest and something for them throughout life.
“We don’t mind about the winning. What matters is that he does his very best. If he rides as well as he does up in Thurles on a Friday and Etta gets him the right horse, we’ll be happy out.”
Leah Fagan from Co Down is representing Ireland for the first time at the World Games
Leah Fagan – Down
Leah, from Mayobridge, Co Down, is the Ulster representative from the Newry All-Stars Special Olympics Club.
She has been in Special Olympics for six years and this is her first time representing Ireland.
Leah’s mum, Lillian, tells Irish Country Living there are 10 friends and family travelling to cheer on Leah. Riding for the last ten years, Lillian says that Leah just “took to the riding.” An experienced sports woman, this may be Leah’s first time to represent Ireland, however, she has already secured gold for golf at the Ulster games and we hear a gold in swimming too.
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The largest inclusive sporting event in the world is taking place this week in Berlin, Germany, and team Ireland are taking part in 12 of the 24 events. Special Olympics Ireland, an all-island organisation, has sent 73 athletes, supported by almost 40 coaches and management volunteers, to take part in athletics, badminton, swimming, kayaking, gymnastics, football, golf, table tennis, bocce, basketball, bowling and equestrian.
The equestrian team have been training together since January and for their final group session, Irish Country Living went along to wish them the very best of luck.
Head coach, Etta Hayes says the team have done their homework and are all set to don the green, white and gold
Leading the way
Head coach, Etta Hayes, of Kylebrook equestrian centre, Portlaoise, Co Laois, welcomed the team to her centre for their final session. Assisted by Westmeath’s Peter King; training has been taking place between Kylebrook and Dublin, giving the athletes the opportunity to practice their riding skills on a new horse – something that is part of the World Games experience.
Head coach, Etta Hayes going through their final exercises along with Irene Lawlor, team volunteer/Caitríona Bolger
“They meet the horses over there for the first time. It is a big ask. We’ve only a choice of two horses and if the first one does not work out, we have to take the second one,” Etta explains. “They are talented riders; they have their homework done and are all set, ready to go. Thankfully, training has gone according to plan for us and we are all looking forward to the experience.”
The back room
Irene Lawlor from Dublin works in the equestrian industry and is a coach with Horse Sport Ireland. For these games, she is volunteering her skills to support the team.
“I will be working in the horse section; looking after the riders and horses, making sure all the tack is safe, helping them mount the horses, bringing them down to the ring, getting them back safely. The professionals travel the world and bring their own horses with them, these athletes arrive out and they get up on a horse they have never seen before. It is huge. The horses selected are suitable for these games. This is my first games; we are hopefully going to pick well and make sure we get the best horses for our team. It is a big undertaking and we are all very excited.”
Noel Coen from Sligo is representing Ireland at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin this week/Caitríona Bolger
Noel Coen – Sligo
Noel Coen from Cahermore, near the sea in Co Sligo is representing the Connaught region in the trot with leader category.
He has been a member of the Sligo Nightriders Special Olympics club for over 15 years and these are his second games. Noel lives in RehabCare and all the members and staff are incredibly proud of him for his dedication and talent.
Noel works in a local Londis four days a week and has horse riding training twice a week. In Sligo, his coaches, Claudia Florchinger and Michael McElhone, have been working with him on a weekly basis at the Sligo riding centre, supporting the Irish team’s group training.
He has lots of people backing him and he has gone to Berlin knowing his friends want him to do the best he can do at the games.
Gemma Haire from Kilkenny is looking forward to sightseeing and the parties while in Berlin/Caitríona Bolger
Gemma Haire – Kilkenny
Representing Leinster is Gemma, from the Kilkenny Special Olympics Club, taking part in equitation and trail riding.
Her mam, Jean, tells Irish Country Living that Gemma has participated at the RDS twice with the Riding for the Disabled (RDAI) classes. Older sister Lauren is credited with bringing Gemma on during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“We have never been a horsey family; Lauren took up horse-riding when she was six and she never stopped really. Then Gemma started and it went from there. Lauren is a show-jumper and during the first COVID-19 lockdown, they spent the evenings out on the horse. Every cloud has a silver lining,” says Jean.
Outside of horse-riding, Gemma attends the SOS day service in Kilkenny. Her big project this year is that she is doing film making. She is also a DJ and you can tune in to The Gemma Haire Show every Wednesday from 2- 2.30 pm on Dreamtime radio.
“I’m from Bennettsbridge. When I was around eight years old, I started riding. It was something new; I saw my sister ride and I wanted to try it. My sister helped me over COVID-19 with horse-riding. This is my first time to represent Ireland, I am so excited. I am looking forward to the sightseeing, the parties and the craic mainly. When we come home, I am looking forward to cheering on the Cats [Kilkenny hurling team] with my dad and going swimming in the river and the sea.”
Declan Foley from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary is the Munster representative on Team Ireland (Equestrian) at this weeks Special Olympics World Games /Caitríona Bolger
Declan Foley – Tipperary
Declan is from Carrick-on-Suir and is the Munster representative on the team. He is in the senior class at Scoil Aonghusa, Cashel, Co Tipperary.
His category is equitation and dressage. Declan is supported by Ger Ryan-Maher who looks after swimming, horse-riding and PE in the school, as well as Anita Manton and Stephanie Moore, special needs assistants who are involved in Declan’s training in the run up to the World Games.
Coaching the pupils of Scoil Aonghusa from pre-school up to 18 years of age, they took unpaid leave to cheer Declan and the team on in Berlin.
“There are 140 pupils in the school and on the day he left, all the pupils and staff formed a guard of honour from the doorway out to the road. The squad car was waiting and he got a Garda escort through the town and up to the motorway junction,” says Ger.
Every Friday, Scoil Aonghusa do four to six horse-riding classes at Tomas and Fiona Ryan’s Tipperary Equestrian Centre, on Mill Road, Thurles. Then there are extra sessions with Declan.
“He took to the horse-riding like a duck takes to water,” says Ger of Declan’s early days in the saddle.
“He has a great affinity with animals; he adores horses. He is very easy and comfortable on a horse. He canters; he is a very good horseman,” she adds.
“We would like him to be the very best he can be when he leaves us, which will be next year. So that he has a sport for the future – a sport that he is very good at it.
“That is what we would be hoping for with all our students when they leave us – that they would have sports going forward, something that will be an interest and something for them throughout life.
“We don’t mind about the winning. What matters is that he does his very best. If he rides as well as he does up in Thurles on a Friday and Etta gets him the right horse, we’ll be happy out.”
Leah Fagan from Co Down is representing Ireland for the first time at the World Games
Leah Fagan – Down
Leah, from Mayobridge, Co Down, is the Ulster representative from the Newry All-Stars Special Olympics Club.
She has been in Special Olympics for six years and this is her first time representing Ireland.
Leah’s mum, Lillian, tells Irish Country Living there are 10 friends and family travelling to cheer on Leah. Riding for the last ten years, Lillian says that Leah just “took to the riding.” An experienced sports woman, this may be Leah’s first time to represent Ireland, however, she has already secured gold for golf at the Ulster games and we hear a gold in swimming too.
Read more
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Bringing the children of Bandon to the farm for a day
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