The kilcullen experience

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2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

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The Kilcullen Experience Published by: The Bridge, Kilcullen Community Magazine and Kilcullen Host Town Committee September 2003

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On Sunday 15th June the Kenyan team attended a field day in Scoil Bhride. Malik and Milcah plant a tree in the school grounds.

Kilcullen Pitch and Putt club entertained the Kenyans on Monday June 16th. Liam Sherry helps Malik plant a tree on the -club grounds.

Following the ecumenical service by the banks of the Liffey on Tuesday June 17th a tree was planted .at the back of the town hall. Kieran Forde is assisted by Jenipher, Mica and Malik.

Sharingthe FeeLing Sean Landers I accompanied Bernard and Mary Berney and Siodhna Kavanagh up to Bewley's Hotel in Ballsbridge to say goodbye to the Kenyan athletes. This was the third time I had said goodbye to them. Perhaps it was a case of parting being sweet sorrow. I had taken part in the farewell party at Danny O'Sullivans, I had gone to Naas for the Torch Run and I had met several of them in Santry. I had grown weary of the speech-making and I felt that enough had been said at that stage. I spoke to Milcah, Head of Delegation. She seemed to be overcome by the emotional intensity of the evening.

She told me that words could not express what she was feeling.

"Then there is no need to say anything," I advised her.

This publication is attempting just that and I am afraid that we will most likely fail in our efforts.

There is no way that words or even pictures can convey what the people of Kilcullen and their Kenyan visitors felt during those few days. Words fail. People enter the world of the hyperbole and the superlative. The whole experience becomes almost surreal. Neverthe-

family programme was one of the great successes of the games and for this reason it occupies a special place in this supplement.

The programme of events also merits some attention especially the parade from the Market Square to the Community Centre.

Several Kilcullen people were involved in Special Olympics activities elsewhere. Des Travers and Tony O'Sullivan were involved at national level. A new resident to Kilcullen, Nichola Kennedy, was heavily involved in the Healthy Athlete programme.

The Scouts helped out during the equestrian events in Kill and Frank Mitchell was involved in the kayaking events in Leixlip.

Of equal importance was the role played by our own Olympic representatives from Kilcullen: Dermot and Frankie Shortt and

Patrick McMahon. The wonderful reception they got on their return to the town was a clear indication of how we all felt about their achievements.

Many thanks to all the people who provided material for this supplement. Noel Clare came up with the idea. I volunteered to contact potential contributors. There was always an enthusiastic response to my request for material.

Above: Sean Landers with Malik and Milcah, leaders of the Kenyan delegation Below: The Kenyans enjoying the farewell party in O'Sullivans

less, this supplement is meant as a souvenir of those important few days in the history of Kilcullen. It is a tribute to the Host Town Committee and the various people who gave so generously of their time. It is also a tribute to the Kenyan delegation. The Host

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The Kilcullen Experience

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SharingThe Feeling - Kilcullen Style The Kilcullen Host Town programme was a once-off project which at first seemed a daunting task, but after 2 years dedication and hard work by a gallant group of people it was an unforgettable occasion.

For me personally, taking the role of chairperson was to be a commitment I hoped I could fulfil with the expertise it required. As time passed by I attended monthly regional meetings and shared ideas with other chairpersons. Every month a guest speaker educated us in different aspects of the Special Olympics programme. The excitement grew and took over from the nervousness that had once been a regular feeling. No doubt June 2003 was to be an unforgettable experience.

At local level monthly meetings were held initially - gradually increasing to weekly. The Kilcullen team had about 20 sub committees made up of representatives from different clubs and organizations. We were especially privileged to have had Siodhna and Shane from the local Camphill Community. These subcommittees worked on organizing entertainment, catering, accommodation, transport, and of course finance. The latter proved to bring out the wonderful community spirit that Kilcullen is so proud of and donations came from all sections of the community. It was indeed very reassuring to see the young people so supportive.

At the official launch of the host town programme was a priest who had worked in Kenya for many years and he put our minds at ease when he told us that the Kenyan people in spirit were similar to the Irish. At this stage I attended an intercultural awareness programme which was t9 assist the planning even more.

Slowly information began to filter through from the expected Kenyan delegation. Fortunately a native Kenyan

girl from Concern became involved with Kilcullen and helped relay information to the host families re diet and the varying life conditions in Kenya. The momentum was gathering. Kilcullen had never been so colourful, the whole town became involved in decorating, planting flowers, and erecting "welcome banners".

June 2003 was here and countdown was on. Along with everyone else involved, I waited in anticipation. We had done our planning and were ready to "face the challenge" .

The Kenyans left Kilcullen on 20th June 2003 leaving behind memories that will last for many a long day, and friendships that are sure to blossom. On a personal note I am so pleased to have had the chance to "share the feeling" with so many near and far.

To you all I say "thank you" and to my new found Kenyan friends "asante".

Philomena Griffin, Chairperson,

Kilcullen Host Town Committee.

On 14th June I headed for Dublin Airport with Fiona and Joan to meet with the Kenyan team. There were 32 in all comprising 22 athletes and 10 coaches, and what a joyful group they appeared to be. If first impressions are lasting impressions then this is an occasion that will last with me forever.

The following days up to the 20th June proved for me to be one of the most colourful, joyful and greatest learning experiences of my life to date. It was a well planned week that went off without any sleepless nights and hassle free days.

This is due to a Host Town Committee who were dedicated to their work and proud to be part of an International event that superceded all expectations.

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Above: Pointing the finger!

Philomena pictured with head coach Patrick

The Kilcullen Experience

A Project Management Challenge Tony O'Sullivan Introduction.

I first heard in September 2001 that Ireland would be hosting the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in June 2003, when the company I was working for provided some project management training and advice to Mary Davis and her management team. Back then the Games Organising Committee (the GOC) consisted of a small team of approximately a dozen people led by the CEO, Mary Davis. At that stage, it was two years and nine months out from the Games and it seemed there was lots of time to prepare, however this seemed to evaporate quickly when one considered the challenge they were facing. The facts speak for themselves: The largest international sporting event to be held in the world in 2003.

. .. . .

160 participating countries with 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches taking part in over twenty different sports.

30,000 volunteers.

170 Host Towns.

First time for the event to be staged outside of the USA A budget in excess of â‚Ź50m.

Ireland had never hosted an international event of this size before. The risks were obvious and some of the questions the GOC faced then were:

.. . . . .

How could the budget be raised?

What resources would be required and where would they come from?

How would one recruit, train and integrate 30,000 volunteers to give up their time and work for free in running the Games?

How would the infrastructure of Dublin cope, at that stage we did not have a 50m swimming pool?

How would those numbers be transported around Dublin to the 20 plus competition venues on schedule?

Would towns respond positively to the challenge of undertaking the Host Town Programme?

Programme Management The sheer scale and complexity of the task in hand was initially daunting.

However it was recognised at an early stage that this was indeed a unique event and in order for it to be successful it demanded a particular management style and approach. Adopting project manage-

ment techniques was part of that approach.

My involvement for the first year was on a part time basis, until September 2001 when I joined the GOC on a full time basis as Programme Manager. My role was to advise and assist in applying best practice project management in the planning and organisation of the Games.

Reporting to the CEO and working mainly with the team of nine Directors (see attached Organisation Structure), this gave me a view across the entire Games as I was responsible for maintaining the Games High Level Plan and tracking progress against that Plan.

Our approach from a project management point of view was to place a major emphasis on planning. The Games as an event broke down into approximately 70 major projects spread across nine different Departments. The Host Town Programme covering 170 towns was one such project. All projects had to be planned and these plans had to be documented and made available to all the relevant players.

Milestones were agreed and set against the timeframe to ensure that we would get the work completed on time in order to be ready for June 2003. Everybody was conscious that we would only get one opportunity to get it right and the one certainty about the overall project was that the dates of the Games were fixed in June 2003. Regardless of what happened we did not have the option of pushing those dates out and this focused us to meet those milestones on time.

As we got closer to the Games, plans were constantly reviewed, adjusted, changed and more detail added as necessary with the final plans signed off some weeks before the Games.

The GOC In September 2001 there were approximately 30 people working fulltime on the Games. This number grew throughout 2002 until at the end of that year to a figure of 130 approximately. The GOC continued to expand and grow as needs required from January to May when the final size of the organisation was 250 fulltime staff.

This staff was a very diverse group with wide ranging skills and experience. All backgrounds were represented, public

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sector, private sector, and voluntary sector. Some had previous Special Olympics experience, most did not.

Some had worked on other major Games such as the Atlanta Olympics, the Sydney Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and they brought that experience and expertise with them. While most of the staff were Irish, there was an international dimension to it as well with some staff members from as far a field as Australia, the United States and the UK. The one common denominator among the staff was their energy, enthusiasm,' commitment, determination and focus on the goal set down at the very start to organise, prepare and deliver" the best Games ever."

It was not a hierarchical organisation, it had a flat structure with a strong emphasis on teamwork and for close collaboration and co-operation among all Departments.

Unexpected Challenges We also had a number of unforeseen challenges in the months and weeks prior to the Games. First of these was the Iraqi war, the concern at the time was that a protracted war would create a climate of uncertainty and insecurity causing some countries to review their plans to travel to the Games. We had to reassure those countries and fortunately the war was short lived with no impact on the Games.

Even the Iraqi Delegation made it to the Games (that episode is another story).

Another major risk to the Games emerged at a late stage as we were putting the final preparations in place in the weeks running up to the Games. This of course was the SARS outbreak. This was a serious crisis for us at a critical time in our preparations. At one stage it looked as if five countries that had incidents of SARS would not be permitted to travel to Ireland to attend the Games. One of those prohibited countries was China who is scheduled to host the next Summer Games in 2007. There was major Continued on Page 26 Photo: Ray Kelly & Tony O'Sullivan . The Kilcullen Experience

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TwentyThousand Volunteers Des Travers Des Travers was manager of the Volunteer Depot which was set up to issue the various items of uniform, including accreditation, to the twenty thousand volunteers throughout the country. In this article Des reflects on his involvement.

A Volunteer Depot was set up prior to the games in order to issue unifonns and accreditation to the Special Olympics volunteers. This Depot would be required to issue some five items of unifonn, to five different categories of volunteer, a pocket book and accreditation (or conduct an accreditation process) for them. All this entailed prior planning and preparation. This part of the process could be described as the beginning of the beginning, as it would be the first test and coming together of the Irish volunteers.

The Depot was fortunate in having as its host site the DATAPAC company warehouse facility and importantly the enthusiastic inputs of its management and staff prior to and throughout the process.

This entailed the in processing of some two hundred pallets of produce, from unifonns, printed pamphlets, bottled water, assorted corporate items and such

like. These had to be unpacked, stacked, often restacked and prepared for the volunteer counter staff with a delivery to shelves planned to be two hours ahead of demand. This delivery requirement was met at all times.

The DATAPAC backup enabled the volunteer counter staff to concentrate on attending to their volunteer customers without involvement in warehousing matters. This was to have significant health and safety benefits. It also allowed them to attend to the optimum of customers. This meant that all stations or desks were trained for and staffed to deal with an estimated one hundred customers per hour. This figure became the nonn after initial set up experiences and an optimum figure of almost one thousand five hundred customers came through the system in one ten-hour period.

To achieve the foregoing, it was necessary to recruit some seventy-five volunteers from one hundred and twenty persons on the VMS database. This process continued with induction training for those selected throughout the months of April and May. In addition a depot manager was assigned who set up a Volunteer Office in the DATAPAC warehouse one month prior to the scheduled opening of the Depot. Adaptations to the facility were carried out also: the opening of partitioned areas for counter staff to access warehouse produce off the racks, the erection of a marquee at the entrance point for meet and greet staffs and the installation of a portaloo, facility in the car-park area, and the placement of health and safety-related items

The Depot opened on Monday 26 May and remained in place until 26 June. To enable it carry outits functions efficiently some five stations, or desks had to be manned at all times. These were car parking, meet and greet, help, accreditation and unifonn issue desks. The depot manager was also the safety officer and a duty officer was appointed on a daily basis.

During that period some twenty thousand volunteers were processed with unifonns and accreditation. The satisfactory achievement of the Volunteer Depot's goal occurred without accident or mishap. It remains to be a credit to all involved.

Above: Staff at the Depot.

Left: Des, pictured with wife Celia and Eoin Jennings 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Painting and Sharing Esther Reddy and Brenda Scullion Special Olympics World Summer Games 2003 will never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of everyone, touched by so many events. This year the Games heralded new beginnings - the Games had never previously been held outside the USA and Ireland was privileged to win the bid as host country!

To facilitate inclusion by more than the athletes, Art was included on the bill. It was proposed that Host Towns hold an Art Exhibition during the games. It's amazing how one can acquire a job whilst not even being present when the jobs are being given out!! But that's exactly what happened at the first meeting to mark Kilcullen's campaign for the Special Olympics. Brenda's name was put forward to take charge of the Art Exhibition and Esther said she would be the subcommittee!

Further meetings with Fiona O'Loughlin and Michele Hughes from GOC made it clear that that the exhibition would be the grand opening to the excitement and fun of "Sharing the Feeling". It was hoped that as many people as possible would participate and "Paint the Feeling". Armed with relevant flyers, posters and much enthusiasm we set out to the people of Kilcullen and its surroundings to gather together Kilcullen's exhibition of welcome. We made our hopes known to our local schools and spent some time talking to schoolchildren about the background to the exhibition and Games.

The enthusiasm was obvious and a member of the Kilcullen Town Hall Committee was approached to ask for the use of this wonderful building. It was

the wish of the GOC that all exhibitions countrywide would open during the first week of June.

It became obvious that even with the amount of space available to us in the hall we would not have enough to cater for the amount of artworks we anticipated, so we approached businesses in the town to help.

an extra pair of hands and another head came to help in the form of Mary Murphy from Gilltown and we tried to figure out how we would manage to display all the expected work. Mary was able to acquire some display stands from her workplace whilst Brenda got in contact with Brenda Brady from the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge who kindly said we could borrow some stands but advised that we had better have a look at them before committing ourselves to their use. On inspection of these really HEAVY boards, panic set in however this was quickly dissipated by Joe O'Connor and John Kelly's "its not a problem" and so the construction team of John, John Talbot and Joe Dooley came about and stepped in.

These stands were primed and preened one very hot May Saturday morning in the farmyard of Matthew Doyle of Ivy Wall by many large and even hands. Our next task then was to arrange the stands in the Town Hall and display the exhibits.

The works of children from Kilcullen, Brannoxtown, Halverstown, Ballyshannon and Ballysax National Schools were displayed in the shops and business fronts of the town, along with the local Library, Credit Union and Bank. This task was ably undertaken by Sinead, Jessica, Lorraine, Amy, Clare, Zoe and Leonie from Cross and Passion. Work was displayed from The Bridge Community, The Steiner School, students from Scoil Bhride, work from local art groups and a variety

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of artwork from some of the Cross and Passion past pupils who had pursued careers in the world of creativity. This grouping was joined by Noel Scullion, ANCAD, art teacher at CPC. There was a lovely variety of work presented and displayed in the Town Hall on the days preceding the exhibition.

Brenda Scullion set about this task with the willing help of Mary Charlton, Ita McCarthy and Anne Stewart - all dab hands with hammer and nails.

The opening of the exhibition was planned for Saturday 7th June. Brenda Donohue kindly agreed to perform the official opening duties. A wonderfully talented group of willing, young, musicians provided us with music. The generosity of people towards Special Olympics became quickly apparent.

Refreshments were donated, Leslie

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McCarthy sponsored wine, James Nolan sponsored the cheese, Maura Dowling and Elaine Coleman put the cheese reception together and 11 Mahon and Sons sponsored soft drinks.

All that we needed then was a crowd to enjoy the opening. We were not let down! A tremendous crowd arrived and we were even lucky enough to have in attendance our town's two Special Olympians Dermot Shortt and Patrick McMahon.

The exhibition continued, thanks to the help of willing volunteers. until our Kenyan Athletes left for Dublin. On 21st June the exhibition closed quietly.

Kilcullen "Painted and Shared the Feeling" and now as we sit and reflect on all that happened we have to agree that it was hard work, but definitely worth it all.

Above: Brenda Scullion, Joe and Esther Dooley.

Left: Noel Scullion, Kevin Prendergast, Brenda Scullion and Brenda Donohue.

The Kilcullen Experience

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VoLunteerCoordination Joe Robinson

On 12th November 2001 I was asked by the Scouts to attend a meeting in the Town Hall regarding the Special Olympics. My reply was "the what?". I had mixed feelings about going to this meeting and getting involved. Mainly because I knew absolutely nothing about people with a learning disability.

I decided to get involved and I agreed to be "Host Town VolunteerCo-ordinator" thinking it would be an easy task. The weeks went by and I was packed off to Dublin to do a course for Volunteer Coordinators; wow did the job suddenly grow. The main thing I learned was, that Special Olympics was about ordinary athletes, with a learning disability, no more or no less than that. The learning curve began.

People that were involved got themselves registered and I had good fun with Sabina Reddy and Roisin Mc Bride organising accreditation for each of them. The duty roster was set up. Monday morning arrived and the volunteers reported in for duty in their new Special Olympic Host Town polo shirts. We were to have 16 volunteers on duty each day, however, I was delighted to see that about 30 signed in each morning and wanted to stay all day because they were enjoying their

job.

I took great pride in watching the youth and Scouts getting involved, they had fun being with the Kenyans and showed this by helping with them all week.

The Host Town Programme would not have been such an outstanding success without the effort each and every Volunteer made. I can say with confidence that every volunteer had a wonderful week and now know what it is like to "Share the Feeling" Well, the Kenyans came, they saw and they defiantly conquered our hearts. Their happiness and friendliness was seriously infectious and without exception everyone involved developed a smile.

they work together. The spirit of community well-being, is alive and strong and is an excellent inheritance for our youth.

We have a very special gift to hand down to future generations. The only thing it can do is flourish.

They volunteered and gave their best.

THANK YOU

Our job is not finished yet. We are now at the end of the beginning. The awareness of people with a learning disability will always be with us and we have a lot to learn from them. We should continue to be involved in their world. Our world.

The people of Kilcullen have a lot to be proud of. Anyone involved in Special Olympics showed that Kilcullen and surrounding areas can achieve a lot, when

Far Left: Committee Members Anne Wheeler and Frances Maher.

Left: Jennifer Landers and Committee Member John Kelly

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Prayerand Praise downby the riverside Robert Dunlop Like all the outdoor events of the week the Wednesday evening ecumenical service was held in ideal weather conditions. The Liffey Bridge and the rippling water formed a pleasing backdrop for a short, joyful celebration.

Father Andrew, Pastor Robert and Doctor John, representing the three Kilcullen area Churches, led the worship time made up of reading, singing, reflection and prayer. Among the highlights - the spirited singing by the Family Mass Group. When they burst into "I've got the joy, joy, down in my heart" no one needed to be convinced that they had what they were singing!

When Rev. John Marsden had finished reading what St Paul wrote to the early Christians - there was spontaneous applause. This time out the Word of God was registering - no wonder - the version used was right on: HIdon't know about you, but I'm running hardfor the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself...

Strip down, start running - and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished the race we're in.

Study how he did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God. So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!

Clear the path for long distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!"

There was prayer for the athletes, their leaders, their country, their families, their hosts in Kilcullen and their companions at the Special Olympics. A moving prayerful piece was read by Dermot Mitchell.

The whole evening was relaxed and friendly with abundant refreshments at the end which facilitated mingling and friendship-building.

It has emerged that interdenominational services were held in very few centres where Special Olympics teams were domiciled. Kilcullen got this one right with sensitivity and simplicity.

Two things would have made the evening even more lively and enjoyable - if the attendance had not been restricted to invitees and opened up to the wider community and if the Kenyans had been "drawn out" with their distinctive African style of hymn singing. Apart from these absences it would have been difficult to improve on a meaningful spiritual interlude in a hectic and demanding week.

Above: Megan O'Toole, Aisling Dooley and Cliodhna Tutty Bardon with Fr. Andrew O'Sullivan, Rev. John Marsden and Pastor Robert Dunlop.

Left: Kenyan visitors sample waterfrom St. Brigid's Well.

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Healthy Athletes Programme Nichola Kennedy The Helathy Athletes Programme was yet another important and hugely successful part of the Special Olympics. It took place in the RDS and through the programme athletes availed of a range of health checks including dental, fitness and eye care. Nichola Kennedy was joint clinical director of the Special Olympics Lions Club International Opening Eyes Programme (SOLCIOE), Ireland.

Nichola is one of Kilcullen s new residents, having moved into Castlemartin Lodge 12 months ago. She is a 29 year old locum optometrist and qualified in 1996 from Kevin St DIT, Dublin. Nichola hails originally from Mullacash.

The aimfor the SOLCIOE programme is to provide good quality eyecare and to stress the importance of eyecare to the athletes, coaches andfamilies in a fun and friendly environment Lack of good quality eyecare can mean an athlete may be underpeiforming.

Unfortunately, many athletes have so many other aspects of their disability to attend to that their vision tends not to be a priority and as a result sometimes gets overlooked

My involvement in Special Olympics

began as a volunteer for the Opening Eyes programme, at the Special Olympics European games in Groningen, Netherlands.

Following this experience, I became a member of the Opening Eyes committee here in Ireland.

In February 2001, along with fellow optometrist Lynda McGivney Nolan, I travelled toAlaska to the World Winter Games, where we both trained as the Irish Clinical Directors for the Opening Eyes programme.

In June 2001, we ran a very basic vision screening at the Leinster Games, in Santry stadium. The aim of the event was to let Special Olympics Ireland see what the vision programme was all about.

Athletes were advised about their visual status at this event The programme was very well received by athletes, coaches and staff at SO, Ireland.

In July 2001, I travelled to Cardiff, for the UK National Games, again to participate as a volunteer and to gain experience as a clinical director.

In June 2002, the Irish National Special Olympics took place in Dublin, and we

ran our 1st complete vision screening event ever. It was a huge success. The athletes were able to come along, have their vision screened, and if necessary they could choose new spectacles and/or protective eyewear. These were then glazed on site for the athletes to take home with them. The service and spectacles are all provided to the athlete completely free of charge and is available strictly to the athletes only.

June 2003 World Summer Games, Dublin! !

This was a massive success for Lynda and myself and also for the Opening Eyes Programme. .

We arranged for over â‚ŹISO, 000 of equipment to be installed at the venue free of charge, in order to perform the screening.

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Werecruitedandtrained320

volunteers from Ireland and abroad to perform the screening. Our screening event was used as a training centre for optometrists from other countries to become clinical directors, like we did in Alaska. .

We screened 2400+ athletes in the 9 days of the Games. .

We dispensed over 900 pairs of spectacles and sports goggles. (The previous records for the programme in relation to the number of athletes screened was 1700 at the WSG in North Carolina 4 years ago.)

Above: Lynda McGivney Nolan, Tim Schriver and Nichola Kennedy Left: A scene at the RDS ÂŤ*

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Some highlights of the 9 days: We were visited by many VIPs including Mohammed Ali, President McAleese, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Tim Shriver and the Princess of Japan.

It was the most enjoyable experience of my life, and one that I will treasure for the rest of my life, because we will never get to experience a World Games in our home country ever again. There will be other World Games, but they won't be the same!!

Now: The aim now of the SOLCIOE programme here in Ireland is to establish a national and regional programme/ legacy for the Games here in Ireland. We were fortunate/unfortunate in the sense that every other country has had the experience of running regional & national programmes with the hope that they may some day have a World Games. We have had to do the reverse.. The success of the Games this year will make our job immensely easier because everyone in the country will know what Special Olympics is all about The future: World Winter Games, Japan 2005, here I come!!!!

Thank you: To our major sponsor Lions Club International, who sponsor our vision programme world wide. They have given 3.3 million dollars per year for the last 3 years and at the Games this year they made further donations for the next 2 years. To Essilor, who have signed a 3 year global agreement with SOLCIOE as a result of our National games in Dublin

last year. This company has donated spectacle lenses to the programme.

To Safilo, again who have signed a 3 year global agreement which again originated at our Games last year. This company donated designer spectacle frames to the programme worldwide. To Topcon for donating all of the equipment to the event. We are hoping that Topcon will be in a position to support the Games in the future, both in Ireland and worldwide.

Some personal thank yous: to Lynda (and John) who are friends for life,. to my husband Rob who has the patience of a saint; to my parents Anne & Michael Kennedy who encouraged me to get involved as a volunteer 3 years ago, to the rest of our family and friends who supported me and understood why I disappeared off the face of the earth for the last 6 months!!

KiLcuLLenLions Lend a Hand Lions Club International are the major sponsor of the Opening Eyes Programme.

Kilcullen Lions Club actively supported the SOLCIOE programme. Four members helped throughout the week in the RDS - Angela Murray Hayden, Eileen Doyle, Siobhan TuttYJBardonand Frances Clare. Jobs varied, but basically involved assisting the optometrists and helping with the registration desk. Prior to the Games there were two days of training - one in the RDS and the other in the Green Isle Hotel.

Most countries participated in the programme and it was a tremendous learning experience for those involved, dealing with so many nationalities and cultures.

Kilcullen Lions Club also presented T Shirts to each of the Kenyan visitors.

The presentation was made at the Scoil Bhride Field Day

Above: Kilcullen Lions Club Members Eileen Doyle and Frances Clare at the Opening Eyes Programme with Eliud as he proudly shows off the first gold medal won by the Kenyan Team in the Games Left: Frances Clare presents T-Shirts to the Kenyan visitors on behalf of Kilcullen Lions Club

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The Kilcullen Experience

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The BannerMen Niall Kennedy It started out with a flyer sent through the CPC around January. It said they were

looking for volunteers for the upcoming Special Olympics and I said why not. I thought it would be a good experience and full of memories. So I filled in the form and sent it away. Around 2 weeks later I got a letter saying I was a volunteer and that I was being placed in the Host Town Programme. At first I thought it was a lesser job but I soon found out it would be the most exciting and more enjoyable area ofTearn2003.

I started going to the meetings where I was introduced to the rest of the committee. It was made up of 30 or so volunteers who were all very hard working. Over the coming months we would assemble a timetable of events that would keep the Kenyans happy. Most of the committee had been working on this for 2 years and there was a few like me who joined in half way through. We had everything in place and we just had to wait until the Kenyans carne.

The day the came I was coming home from Croker(Comeon theLilies),I thought it would be a good idea if I stopped by and see had they arrived. This was around half past ten and I wasn't expecting them to have arrived. But they had. Most of them were sitting down and relaxing after a long day travelling and I was surprised how friendly they were.

They would come to you and shake your hand. Luckily they spoke a bit of English (I'm bad enough at French never mind Swahili) and it was easy to communicate.

I went home knowing this would be the busiest week of the summer.

In March Shane Nolan and I were asked to perform in the opening ceremony in Croke Park. Representatives from all the host towns would be taking part in "A Dash Of Colour" and I jumped at the chance. It was only until I got the timetablethatI realizedhow much work would go into it. On Thursday morning I woke up at 5(am not pm) and, with the help of my dad, Shane and I were brought to the collection point. 5 double decker

buses took us to our first destination, Parnell Park. We went through registration before getting an introduction to the piece by the choreographer, David Bolger. At 1pm we had a packed lunch and then our group was called down and split up into groups.

I would be in the comer of the Canal End while Shane was going to be in the Hogan end. We went through what we had to do and then we went off to Croker for a rehearsal.

As part of group C we had the job of walking with the flags through the seats laid down for the athletes. It was easy enough but we had to get the timing right otherwise the effect wouldn't work. It was a long day and we got home at midnight. Friday was the same routine,

longday-hardwork,witha dress rehearsal in Croker in the evening. We got dressed in the nearby school behind the Canal End. When we went inside, Bono was giving a sound check that we all enjoyed but when he finished it was back to business. They rehearsed the start with Patrick Kielty and our rehearsal went well.

Saturday came and we were a bit more relaxed. We knew what we were doing and we had practised it also. The problem was there wasn't enough flags. Because the flags were made of expensive silk they only made enough for the show, there were no spares. Everything got a bit hectic as everyone thought they wouldn't get a flag, but we soon sorted that out. At 4pm we started getting ready. We put on the t -shirt and trousers donated to us.

There was nothing to do, as there was a lockdown of the school, you couldn't get out. But 6:30 came around quickly and we walked outside. We lined up at the school and we could hear the roar. We even had a competition against them. The time had come and we walked towards Croker, meeting Dylan McDermott from The Practice (on Network 2, it's good) along the way.

2003 Special OlympicsWorld Summer Games

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We were waiting inside for to get the call.

We were all anxious but excited as well.

We were called down and we all shook hands wishing good luck to each other. I took my position and looked around. It was amazing. There was a lot of colour but the crowd was quiet for now. We had the countdown and the crowd was deafening. I didn't feel nervous because this wasn't a time for it. We did the performance to the cheer of the crowd and it really got them in the mood. Next up was the host town flag. We rushed to the Hogan and took the flag which had been designed by Brenda Scullion and made by Mary Phelan. We waited for Kenya and walked out behind them.

There was a real carnival atmosphere now and we made a guard of honour with our flags. Then we left to enjoy the rest of the magnificent show, climaxed with the lighting of the flame. Plus I was on the~ TV as well (look again if you missed me). It was a wonderful experience and one I'll never forget.

Before I go I'd like to thank the rest of the committee for their brilliant work behind the scenes. I was the youngest of the group (sorry if it makes you feel old) and I enjoyed every bit of it. I would also like to thank my Dad for driving up and down to Dublin. Finally I would like to congratulate Dermott and Francis Shortt andPatrickMcMahonfor doing remarkably well in the games. I was really glad to "Share The Feeling" and everyone should remember "think ability not disability".

Above: Shane Nolan and Niall Kennedy carry the banner in Naas

The Kilcullen Experience

I ,.I

Hat Trick for Landers School The Jennifer Landers School of Dancing scored a hat trick during the Special Olympics. Dancers participated in the Grand Parade to welcome the Kenyan delegation to Kilcullen. They also entertained the Kenyans at the farewell party in 0' Sullivans to mark their departure to the games themselves.

A group of dancers were invited over to Lumville House to entertain the Japanese delegation who were being hosted by Newbridge. Dancers also took part in the Torch Run through Monasterevan and

entertained the Bulgarian athletes there.

Another local dance-teacher, Tracey O'Dwyer, provided dancers for a concert in Donard for the delegates from North Dakota who were staying in Dunlavin.

Moving Around Michael Doran and Gese Mucke Our role was to transport the Kenyan team throughout the few days they would spend in Kilcullen. We used two minibuses. Each morning we assembled in the Town Hall at 9.30a.m. and then at approximately 10.00 a.m we brought the Kenyan team and their coaches to the Newbridge Athletic Club for their training. There we watched them train and brought them back for lunch to Kilcullen returning them to their host families for a well-deserved rest.

In the afternoons we collected them again and brought them to Crookstown Athethlic Club where they continued their training. After that it was back again to their host families.

During the evening several functions were laid on for the team. These included a visit to Gilltown Stud, an evening out at Naas races which included a meal and some lively gambling. On their final evening we had a social night in Danny O'Sullivan's guesthouse, where we had another lovely meal. There we got our

chance to say a very fond farewell to the group we had become very close to.

The last journey with the Kenyan team was bringing them up to Bewleys Hotel in Ballsbridge, which left us with a wondertul feeling of being involved with this ever so special group of special Olympic athletics.

Left: Committee members Fergal Sloan, Margaret Sammon and Sue Goulding

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Our Visitors Arrived Our friends Departed Siodhna Kavanagh I loved the whole experience of the visit of the Kenyan delegation to Kilcullen. It was a tremendous positive influence in my life. It gives me joy now, to relive that lovely week, as I recall certain events for this article.

I was a member of the Host Town Committee. For us, preparations for the The Special Olympic World Games began almost two years ago. For the initial IS months we attended monthly planning meetings and then for the final two months, as D-Day approached, the meetings became a weekly occurrence.

We had prepared well. So, on Saturday 14th June, at Wpm, as we awaited the arrival of the Kenyan delegation, at the Kilcullen Community Centre, there was a strange mixture of joy, anxiety, fear, anticipation and hope in all our hearts overlain with a powerful community good-will, which generated a quite electrifying atmosphere. As the visitors' bus arrived there was a spontaneous outburst of applause, cheering and whistling which powerfully exemplified the feeling of welcome that was in Kilcullen for our Kenyans. The thirtytwo visitors cascaded from the bus in a stream of colour, smiles and clapping that was heart-warming to see. We all went into the Community Centre where initial introductions were made. We had been briefed by a Kenyan woman called Nancy, who lives in Prosperous with her Irish husband, on the culture of her native country and on how we should greet our Kenyan guests. "Don't get too friendly," we were advised, "and no hugging, just hadndshakes." So, the initial meeting with members of the delegation was quite formal. I was glad to have Kieran Forde with me to break the ice. How dramatically things were to change during the following week.

On the first Sunday, we all attended the Primary School Field Day. In brilliant sunshine the people from Kilcullen met

the visitors from Kenya in a most relaxed, friendly atmosphere. It was a perfect occasion for breaking down the barriers of shyness and natural reserve.

We participated together in silly games, putting, wheel-of-fortune, horse riding, racing, we enjoyed the barbecue, we were together in a fun atmosphere.

Afterwards, I visited the Berney household to meet Salim, Dan, Joshua and Francis. I asked hundreds of questions about Kenya and about their own lives.

Boy, did I get to know them! It was so interesting for me, to get such first-hand information about a culture and a people who were so foreign to me. They in turn asked me many questions about Ireland and about Siodhna Kavanagh. At Wpm Francis, their coach, told the lads it was time for bed. They were having a "party". They didn't want to leave, and besides, it was still bright outside. In Kenya they never go to bed while there is still daylight. Eventually they were persuaded that they must get some sleep in preparation for their hectic training and entertainment schedule for the coming week. That Sunday was a great beginning to what was to be an extraordinary week.

At 9am each morning I was at the Town Hall to greet the Kenyan athletes and coaches, to accompany them on their trips and to make sure everyone was catered for. The days were long and tiring, but I enjoyed every moment. So many highlights, the parade on Monday, a miraculous event made possible by the wonderful support of the people of Kilcullen. The visit to Gilltown Stud, during which the athletes joyfully took tums at pushing my wheelchair around,

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

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transporting me from place to place, encouraged to do so by their coaches.

The night in 0' Sullivans was very special for me. We had a meal and then there was dancing and singing. It was clear how much relationships had developed.

The love and regard heaped on me, by the Kenyans, was powerfully affirming for me. And so to our first farewell to our beloved friends. On Friday we headed off from the Community Centre to Naas, to with our Kenyan friends to see the torch run which was passing through that day. A little treat for me on this occasion.

I was placed, in my wheelchair, in the front rank of those awaiting the arrival of the torch, flanked on each side by a law enforcement officer, one from Canada and the other from the Czech Republic.

Would you wonder that sometimes during that glorious week, I felt a little bit special. I know that this feeling was experienced by many of the people who took part, in whatever capacity, in this great event.

Finally, there was the week of the Special Olympic World Games. During this week I made four visits to Dublin, 1) The Opening Ceremony 2) A day at Morton Stadium 3) The Closing Ceremony Cont'd

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The Kilcullen Experience

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TheTorchRun Lisa-Marie Dooley The lighting of the Olympic Torch and the Olympic Flame is always the most spectacular event of any Olympic Games, and this year was no exception. This year the Special Olympic Torch was to make its most memorable journey. It was the first time the Special Olympic torch was to be lit outside the United States.

The torch was made in Newbridge Co. Kildare. It was lit in Athens in the beginning of June and travelled around Europe and Ireland, and finally on Friday 20th June made its journey to Naas. The atmosphere in the town was electric.

Children from the local schools had come into the town with their own hand made versions of the Special Olympic Torch.

The town was lined with colourful banners and flags as the children and public waited anxiously for the athletes from New Zealand & Kenya.

The parade began, led by the Scouts from Naas, and the Kilcullen Scout Unit was proudly represented by Emlyn Hegarty-

Kelly. The Scouts were followed by team New Zealand in vintage cars, waving to the crowd and clearly enjoying being chauffeured through the town. Closely behind was the all colourful, all singing and all dancing Team Kenya waving their flag with pride. As everyone waited for the Flame of Hope to arrive music was played into the streets giving the Kenyan Team time to show off their dancing.

At noon the Torch carried by the Police Service arrived into the town. It was carried through Naas on an open topped bus. The sight of the torch brought a tear to many peoples eyes. As people began to make speeches the reality of this huge event began to sink in. We listened to the

moving words of the Special Olympic Anthem then the Flame of Hope started its final run to Dublin and Croke Park.

Later our Kenyan team, Scouts, Host Families and friends made our way through town singing & dancing to the Fairgreen where we had a picnic. There was a sense of sadness that the Host Town Programme was finished, but excitement and anticipation about what was to happen in the week ahead.

The Torch Run was truly a memorable experience and I think nobody in Naas that sunny day will ever forget it.

Our Visitors Arrived Our friends Departed (cont'dfrompreviouspage) 4) A visit to Bewleys Hotel, Ballsbridge, to say goodbye What did I learn from the whole experience? It doesn't matter whether they are black or white or blue or purple, people are just people. Being in a wheelchair doesn't matter either, friends are still friends and love is still allpowerful. The Kenyans were very open, friendly, loving people and their presence in Kilcullen opened my eyes to the fact that Kilcullen people also have the capability to be friendly, open and loving. During this time, I have made ~omenew friends in our town. As I travel up to do my shopping in Supervalu, I receive many welcome greetings.

I feel that the people have learned a better understanding of special needs and are not so nervous or anxious when dealing with people like me.

What did our Kenyans learn, I wonder? Well one thing I know, from personal experience, they learned that, while handshakes are good, hugging is a thousand times better.

On Saturday 14th June we greeted our Kenyan visitors.

On Monday 23rd June we said goodbye to our lovely Kenyan friends.

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games .;:-

Our friends departed:

Laura Cogan with Kenyan friends January and Lorine at the farewell party in O'Sullivans 13

The Kilcullen Experience J

Scouts Sharethe Feeling Terri Finglas 9th Ki/dare P.R. 0 And so dawned the 22nd of June and a week of polishing shoes, fixing necko's and tucking in shirts lay ahead. As all the Scouts touched down in Kill on that Tuesday morning, the excitement and anticipation was unlike anything the 9th Kildare Unit had ever experienced.

As this intrepid band climbed the stairs to check in, we were greeted by an anxious looking Richard Reade trying not to show his panic, while counting heads and shouting "If you're not at the main door by 11 o'clock YOU'RE DEAD!" (Nice way to be greeted on our first day!)

Noon that day saw the Scouts, Leaders and Venturers nervously gathering in their appointed positions in the arena to begin the first awards ceremony. With everyone in their positions the music began and we were off. Nerves were overtaken by concentration and thankfully the first ceremony and all that followed after ran smoothly. Who would have thought that our Scouts could behave so professionally? (Obviously Dick Reade marching us around the Den over and over paid off in spades)

But it wasn't all a week of nerves and concentration. There were giggles and

fun to be had as well. Some memorable moments include phantom celebrities being sought out high and low by scouts and leaders alike - Colin Farrell, Bon Jovi and Westlife's Nicky to name but a few.

(Rumours stemming from the leaders unique sense of humour no doubt!)

But of course the most magical thing about the whole experience was meeting the most important people, the athletes themselves. Boyfriends and girlfriends were picked within the first hour but by the end of the week they had become the first of many as the athletes painfully decided which they would marry. Many were the broken hearts.

Colin Lambe (above) attended the Host Town events in Kilcullen and the result is afour hour video presentation

Saturday came around all too quickly and scouts and leaders alike found it hard to contain their tears as they polished their shoes for the last time. And so it was over. As we all gathered in the arena for the final time the emotions of the last week set in and the tears flowed. All that could be heard echoing around Kill arena was "what do I do now that its allover?".

As the closing ceremony finished the week with a bang we all soldiered on secure in the fact that the 9th Kildare Kilcullen Scouts definitley "Shared The Feeling"

The Host Family Programme Joan Forde What a great group of people to have worked with over the year in preparation for our Kenyan visitors. Our Host Families in Kilcullen surpassed all expectations and truly opened their hearts and homes to our visitors and gave them a tremendous Cead Mile Failte. The Host Family Programme was very much a central part of Special Olympics.

Fiona Sloan and I visited the host families on the Saturday morning of our visitors arrival we were greeted everywhere with a 'huge welcome' and 'sparkling homes'. While this was the

-

beginning of the actual event, it was the culmination of numerous meetings, much form filling and planning. We were very happy that our visitors were in safe hands. During the week nothing was too much to ask of our host families. They were there to help out in anyway possible. Our visitors adapted into the Irish way of life and soon claimed family membership.

Thank

you all.

Tears were shed when we said our final goodbyes but the relationships and bonds struck between our Kenyan visitors and the Host Families will last forever.

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The Kilcullen Experience

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Sharethe Feeling Share the Family Mary & Bernard Berney On Saturday 14th of June at Wpm I stood outside the Community Centre ,with a group of Kilcullenites ,awaiting the arrival of the Kenyan Delegation who were staying in Kilcullen prior to their participation in the Special Olympics.

Bernard and I had volunteered to host four of the visitors. I must admit I was feeling a little anxious at the thought of having four absolute strangers from a strange country staying in our house for a week. What would we talk about? What food would they like? Would we get along together? A million such questions flooded my mind and heightened my anxiety. My worries were considerably allayed as soon as the Kenyans alighted from the bus with a single song and a thousand smiles. Such a powerful sense of peace and joy emanated from the group that you could almost touch it.

Shortly afterwards in the Community Centre, we were introduced to our four visitors, Dan, Salim, Joshua and their coach Francis. Any remaining anxiety,! may have had,disappeared immediately.

These good people would be our friends.

We arrived home at" Kinloch Brae" at 11.30pm. I had" learned" at meetings for host families, that our visitors would have more or less the same taste as ourselves in food,with special emphasis on salads, fruit and rice dishes, so for supper I suggested salad Mary and Bernard Berney with Francis, sandwiches with tea.

Dan, Joshua and Ramadhan I was very politely informed that hot food was much the preferred choice in their Our athletes were three quite different country. Out came the pan and we all people. Joshua and Salim were great enjoyed a feast of fried eggs on toast. chatters. Dan hardly ever spoke but he Sunday we had a lovely day together the had the most beautiful smile which said highlight of which was the Primary things that, perhaps, words could not School Field Day. How our friends adequately express. Joshua was very enjoyed, the Wheel Of Fortune, the happy with his life in Kenya.Salim Putting competition, the Running, the wished to stay in Ireland, go to college Horse Riding and all the various side and study to be a coach. Dan I think just shows.Most of all, I think,we enjoyed the wanted to be Dan. Three very different wonderful atmosphere of happiness and people, yet very much the same in the joy that permeated that event. warmth,

On Monday our friends left the house at 7pm to go for a run. They headed out the Naas road. Unseen by Francis and Joshua, Dan and Salim turned left at Mellon Hill. The other pair thinking that they had continued on the main road stepped up their pace to try and catch up.

Dan and Salim soon got tired and retraced their steps arriving home at 8am.

Francis and Joshua having been informed, by people working at Sillot Hill Landfill site ,that no Africans had passed that way anxiously turned for home. How relieved they were to discover Dan and Salim happily seated at the table enjoying their breakfast. Subsequently all early morning training runs.were within the confines of the "compound", in other words our garden.

love regard and personal

self

C

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esteem that each one of them exuded.

The week flew by. It was a joy to have our Kenyans as guests in our house. It was a wonderful experience to join in the various celebrations in Kilcullen with the whole group.Their visit rekindled the community spirit in our little town.! do feel that by coming to Kilcullen the Kenyan delegation contributed a lot more to our village than we gave to them, by hosting their first week in Ireland.

Finally a lesson learned; it is not the colour of the skin, nor the choice of religion, nor the country of origin that makes people what they are. It is the spirit within which, if properly nurtured, could make the human race as one.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

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. The Kilcullen Experience -0/

A SpecialMomentin Time Ann, John, Lisa and Gavin Dooley The house was cleaned and polished to within an inch of its life for the much

morning we tried to achieve this. I can

anticipated arrival of the Kenyan delegation. We had been looking forward to this day for months and as it finally arrived the nerves set in. Would we be big enough to deal with cultural differences and the disability of our visitors? Would we be able to make their stay enjoyable?

Could seven people live in a three bedroomed house for a week? What would they eat? Would they hate the dog?

Would the dog hate them?

only imagine what passers by must have thought at the sight of these beautiful girls trying to mount huge restless horses on our

And then with flashing lights and horn

beeping the bus arrived in Kilcullen and we set eyes on the singing, dancing, colourful Kenyans for the first time. We had the honour of being a host family to trainer Maureen and athletes Winnie and Lorine and easier, more considerate guests were never invited into a home.

They were absolutely part of our family for the best ever six days in Dunstown.

During the week we learned a lot about life in Kenya. Imagine life without a washing machine!! Warm milk in your tea and oiling your hair rather than washing it. Our coach, Maureen was fascinated by how much John and the children help in the house and when John suggested that he might move to Kenya for an easier life she was very quick to reply "No, No I will send my husband here." Mr. Alur may be in for a shock when his wife returns from the Special Olympics with some of "our ways."

Lisa and Gavin are very interested in horse riding and the two athletes were determined to get a photograph on horseback to take home. We had some anxious moments and fun as with the help ora step ladder very early one

driveway at 7.30a.m.

As the week passed the girls, who had been very quiet and shy on arrival, totally John, Anne, Lisa and Gavin Dooley with changed. Lorine smiled, Maureen, Lorine and Winnie helped in the house, fed the dog and showed Siobhan's cake and many a tear. We off her shot putt talents this was a goodbye to our thought as she beat Gavin at basketball. Winnie had her moment of glory on the horse.

She enjoyed John's antics very much and one look from him could elicit a smile

from a previously serious face. She laughed when we teased her about stinking with the Deep Heat, being used on her swollen knee.

Some of the highlights of their week and ours were the parade through Kilcullen.

Congratulations

John Brady

- the

vintage

cars ("chariots "according to our visitors) were a big hit. We enjoyed the spectacle of these beautiful athletes, dressed in orange T-shirts, training on a dull day in Newbridge. Kilcullen Town Hall was a wonderful, sunny, warm, happy place each morning as athletes coaches and host "Mamas" greeted each other and compared notes. Words could not describe the party in O'Sullivans, wonderful people, new friends - Irish and Kenyan, lovely music, great dancing, kind words, thoughtful gifts, beautiful flowers, nice food, alcohol free,

extended family. However the next Wednesday in Santry was to see more tears and joy as the Kenyans continued to collect medals and we had the chance to watch athletes from allover the world be brave in the attempt. This is not to mention the incredible emotion and pleasure of attending both the opening and closing ceremonies in Croke Park.

On the last Monday night, more than two

weeks after their arrival, we said a final farewell to our special friends in Bewleys Hotel. We had another lovely evening as we admired the medals, watched that now familiar dance, heard their song for the last time and most of all tried to be brave about their leaving.

Thank you to the Kenyan delegation for Sharing the Feeling with us and a special thank you to Joan Forde and the Kilcullen Host Town Committee for allowing us to be part of this once in a lifetime event.

We havelearneda lot andlife willnever be quite the same.

Far Left: Volunteers Mary Phelan and Daniel Sweeney.

Left: Paddy Humphries had a warm welcome for Celestine in McTernans

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The Kilcullen Experience

Truly Privileg'ed Monica Sheehan r

On June 14th, 2003, a bus carrying 33 Keynan Visitors pulled into the Complex in Kilcullen and changed our family's life forever.

It was in October 2002 that I suggested to Joan Forde my willingness to help with the Special Olympics. I filled out forms, went to meetings and said I wouldn't mind what I would do, sure I could offer accomodation if needed. All this still seemed in the far distant future and when I was asked to host 3 or possibly 4 Keynan Athletes I thought no problem.

However, as the time drew nearer, so did my doubts. None of my family have ever had much contact with people with Special Needs so we wondered if we would ever be able to cope for an entire week. But when that bus drew into Kilcullen it was a little too late to change our minds.

~

At lIpm on Saturday 14th June, 33 Keynans alighted the bus and 10 host families waited - me with trepidation.

We piled into The Complex and met our charges. The 3 athletes who were to stay with our family were Jenipher, January and their coach Celestine.

They were tired and hungry after their long trip and it was late so that night we didn't really get much time to interact with them. My first impressions were that it might not be too difficult.

Sunday dawned and their request was to go to church - Celestine and January were Catholic and Jenipher belonged to a different church. They met our Parish Priest Fr. Lennon before Mass and he welcomed them during the cermony.

That evening we had a barbecue at our

friends the O'Dwyers house as they also were hosting 3 athletes - malePatrick, Josephatt and Tenby. We invited Fr. Lennon to join us and we truly had a wonderful evening of song and dance and got to know our guests. Whatever James, Colm, Mark and Monica Sheehan doubts we with Celestine, Jenipher and January had vanished and we knew that the rest of the week held no worries for us. They ate These were our guests and they were everything on offer and Celestine truly a pleasure to have and we as a charmed us all with her singing and family felt privileged to be part of this dancing. very special event. My 17 year old son Jenipher was 14 years old and as I have a Colm spent most days in Morton Stadium with them and he enjoyed it so much. It 13 and 15 year old daughter I could relate quite easily to her. Her English was a new and very rewarding experience didn't appear to be good, but as the week for him. Colm was lucky enough to be progressed I realised that she was shy and able to attend the opening ceremony in her English was in fact quite passable.

Croke Park and he said it was a magical She was from a family of five, and she experience. My other son Mark attended also had a brother with special needs. the closing ceremony and he also thoughtit was a wonderful experience.

January was born on January 1st 1975.

She was pretty and outgoing. She helped At the end of a week we were so sorry to with the younger children in St. have to bid farewell to these wonderful Catherine's Special School and she had people. They mostly came from very the great honour of being one of the poor backgrounds and some from very Olympic Flag carriers at the Opening difficult family circumstances but, my Cermony in Croke Park. family was certainly richer for the experience they gave us. We will always Celestine, was charming, a teacher of remember that week as one of the most special needs children and a woman of memorable of our lives and I thank the huge personality and ability to put Special Olympic's Committee, and . everyone in the mood for dancing and especially Joan Forde for affording us singing. She obviously loved her job as the truly great privilege of being part of coach and was hugely popular with all this historic occasion. the athletes.

Far Left: Anne Bathe was medical coordinator of the Host Town Programme Left: Jean Marie Wardfrom Dublin was DAL (Delegation Assistant LiaisonÂť to the Kenyans during their stay in Ireland. While in Kilcullen she stayed with the Gahan family and is pictured here with Geraldine.

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. The Kilcullen Experience

LOCAL The Shortt Putt When Dermot Shortt took up golf four years ago, little did his father realise that one day his son would win a gold medal in the Special Olympics. Frankie is an old hand at golf and took up the game in the '60's to keep himself out of trouble.

He must surely be the only member of the Curragh Golf Club who possesses an Olympic gold medal. " I started playing with the other jockeys," he explained.

"Back in those days, the owners and the trainers used to watch us like hawks. If you were seen in a pub, you wouldn't get a ride. Of course, the owners didn't seem to realise that there was a bar in the club house." He is modest about his own performance-which he describes as " a struggling 12" but he won the Captain's Prize in the mid-80's. He loves the game.

"Come hail, rain or shine, he needs very little encouragement," Mary told me over lunch in the Copper Kettle. "Even if he had an arm and leg falling off, he'd still go out to play."

PLAYING OUTOFONEBAG. Twenty-three-year-old Dermot started playing in 1999 with the Kilcullen Pitch and Putt Club. "It was just to get him out of the house so that he could mix with other kids and get a bit if exercise," Frankie explained to me. He used to play with his nieces and nephews. Mary Sherry of the local club was a big help. " She taught him how to hold a club and to chip, " Mary added. He did that for two years and was then introduced to the Curragh Golf Club. "We used to go for a walk around the course or maybe play out of one bag,"Frankie said. "He absolutely loved it. He had been involved in other sports such as swimming and bowling but he dropped them. He kept with the golf."

seaJ LEARNING TOBEPATIENT. Then Frankie started to coach him. It was an education for him. "I have learned tolerance from Dermot over the years.

One thing that he wouldn't stand for was verbal abuse. He'd sit down and that would be the end of it. I was being educated. I had to be patient. Of course, sometimes my patience would run a bit thin. In a situation like that, you give him a hug rather than a reprimand."

TEEINGOFFATSUNSET. They began training in earnest about a year ago. They were out on the golf course five days a week with the kind permission of the Curragh Golf Club.

Frankie paid a special tribute to the present and past captain of the club. "Of course, we'd play when the place was quiet and not so busy. We'd often do it at sunset. We might play six or seven holes and then spend half an hour on the putting green. Dermot enjoyed the experience. "Despite his learning disability," Frankie told me, "he has that little bit extra."

GETTING TO THE FINALS.

Getting to the Olympics was not a foregone conclusion. There were qualifying games. Frankie and Dermot would take part in the Alternative Shot competition in the Special Olympics. They would play together as partners and each of them would play alternative shots.

They then had to participate in the AlIIreland competitions held in Elm Green.

Once they had been accepted for Team Ireland, there was a lot of hard work still to do. "From October to May, we had to meet up with Team Ireland one weekend

every month. We had golf practices. We got to meet the other members of the team."

AHEAD OF THE POSSE.

Then the Special Olympics started.

"There were two preliminary rounds," Frankie explained to me, "and then the process of divisions began. Dermot and I stayed in Division 1 from Day 1. On Monday and Tuesday we won four of our five games. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we had to be good." And they were. "By the end of play on Thursday, we were nine shots ahead of the posse."

The two other teams in their division were from the United States.

THEJOYOFWINNING. When he won, Dermot was absolutely delighted. "He jumped about six feet into the air!" That sense of joy was also very evident on his return to Kilcullen. It was, indeed, a great achievement and one that we can all be proud of. "Dermot put a lot of work into it. He liked it. He never objected to the practicing. The rain never stopped him. If we couldn't go to the golf course, he'd take a bucket of balls out onto the lawn and practise his putting."

THE FUTURE.

It is not allover for Dermot and Frankie yet. They hope to qualify for the European Games in October. And there is always Shanghai in 207!

We wish them continued success.

A great achievement and one that we can all be

proud of.

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Above: Sheila Peacocke pictured with Patrick and Dermot at the Welcome Home Ceremony in the Town Hall

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The Kilcullen Experience

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HEROES Landers

PatrickMcMahon:An All Rounder developed is revealed in a piece in "The South Bend Tribune

by Tribune Staff Write, Martin DeAgostine.

When it comes to the Special Olympics, Patrick McMahon is an old hand. He has been involved for the past twenty years.

And he is also an all-rounder. He has represented Ireland in swimming, ponyriding, softball, gymnastics and football.

As far back as 1985, he won silver and gold medals in the European Games.

INDEPENDENT.

Patrick's father, James, was also deeply involved in the Special Olympic movement. In a piece in the September 2002 edition of THE BRIDGE, James spoke of the importance the games had for him and his family. "The Special Olympics have given James an opportunity to travel, to meet and make loads of new friends, many of whom are still in contact with him. Patrick has also become very independent and if you know him you would agree 100%."

IN THENEWS. Patrick and his family have made special friends with a host family in Florida. The story of how this special relationship

"It all started with Patrick McMahon, a somewhat shy but pleasant youth with Down's Syndrome who has been involved in Special Olympics for nine years. In 1987, he was scheduled to compete as a gymnast with the Irish Team during the games at the University of Notre Dame. When a medical problem kept Patrick from travelling, his parents, who operate a denimmanufacturing firm, decided to come anyway to support the Irish team. While here, they stayed with the Millers, who had volunteered to accommodate a visiting family during the games.

Whether it was the luck of the Irish or something else, the couples hit it off so well they decided the McMahons should visit again. "That's why we've come back four times," Eileen McMahon said.

Since then, they have been back to visit the Millers on another four occasions.

Their latest trip was last year shortly before James tragically died.

CONFIDENT. When I called to the Naas Road to interview Patrick sometime ago, there was no evidence of this shy young man.

As his had father predicted, he has become quite independent. He has a job in Dunne's Stores in Newbridge. He talked about his participation in Games in Brighton and Strathclyde. In the recent World Games held in Ireland, he participated in the five-a-side soccer competi-

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tions. "There were six teams in each division," Patrick explained to me. The event was held at Belfield. "There was one girl on my team. I know two of the other players: Jason Wheelan and Stephen Prendergast from Naas.I was the striker. We tried very hard but we didn't win. The gold medal went to the team from the USA. We stayed with families in Lucan."

The late James McMahon was closely involved with KARE over the years. "He was Chairman and Treasurer of KARE at different times," Eileen told me. "He was also on the Board of Management of St Anne's School on the Curragh. So, it came as a great honour that he was made KARE Person of the Year.I was so overwhelmed by the occasion that I was speechless and Patrick had to get up and say a few words in accepting this wonderful award."

We wish Patrick well. Hopefully, you will be able to go to Shanghai for the next World Games. Sorry you didn't win a medal this time but we are proud that you represented us so well.

He has represented Ireland in swimming, pony-riding, softball, gymnastics and football.

The Kilcullen Experience

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We were the luckyones Siobhan Tutty Bardon In our house we were really looking forward to the arrival of the Kenyans!

I'd gone to the necessary meetings, we'd drawn the map, checked the atlas and the internet for background information, we'd even finally furnished the spare bedroom. So we were really well prepared well maybe, there was just one thing we still weren't sure exactly what to expect or how it would all work out. But we weren't worrying about that and not necessarily because we're really laid back people, no, it was mostly down to the fact that we simply didn't have time to worry!!!

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The day of their arrival we were busy with last minute preparations; of course they'd notice that bit of dust on the top shelf or a few weeds in the flower garden.

Now the word "early" is not one that rests well with me, I'm not usually "early" for anything and it reminds me of the time when I used to get up "early" to go face the traffic on my way to paid employment. I was quite surprised then when I got the phone call to say the Kenyans were arriving in Kilcullen "early". But what's an hour or so when this was what so many people had been working relentlessly towards for over eighteen months and I'd been working towards for one week!

The arrival of the coach and the excitement of seeing them descend from it is something I'll never forget. I couldn't wait to find my girls and was quickly scanning IDs till I found Sheila who then helped me find Judy and their coach VIrginiah. Little did I realise that this was just the beginning of what was tQbe a brilliant and unforgettable week, but for now the main thing was to get the girls home and let them get to bed. I did make sure to tell them on the way home that we didn't have any maids as our information had been that depending on their background it was possible that they could have what are know in Kenya as house girls, and I didn't want them to expect too much. I needn't have worried.

Over the next few days we learned lots -

both about the girls and ourselves. None of the three were from wealthy backgrounds. Sheila was not able to speak very well but could easily understand us and had an almost permanent Siobhan, Connor, Cliodhna and Aoibhin smile on her face.

Tutty Bardon with Sheila, Judy and Virginiah Judy was extremely shy, didn't have much English and spoke the children's breakfast cereals. While I very little, but anytime we managed to made lunches, washed teeth, brushed hair break through the shyness and get her to etc. the girls insisted on clearing the table smile, it was simply beautiful. Unfortu- things were looking better than usual by nately she would quickly go back to the time we left the house - on time. being shy again. VIrginiah, their coach on Saturdays, and an IT teacher during And so the days passed, we checked the week, had left behind her husband schedules, listened for the doorbell, went Moses and her four-year old son Brian. over the day's events, shared stories and She is not very well paid for the work she introduced friends. In the evenings we does and her employer was not paying went along to the social occasions and her anything for her time spent working with the Special Olympics. She was once invariably went to bed later than intended. The children took all this in their a very good athlete herself and loves stride and were having no trouble sharing working with the girls. the house with VIrginiah,Judy and Her day is long, rising at 5.30am and Sheila. We learned more about the girls, finishing at around 10pm. At the school how Judy could not straighten up when where she works the children lie down she'd started two years earlier with and sleep for an hour and a half. This is Virginiah. She is from a big family and normal practice in Kenya due to the high her mother is a nurse. Sheila on the other temperatures. School runs for periods of hand is an only child and extremely three months followed by one month off. affectionate, she loves clothes and children, though I'm not sure in which Back home the fIrst test was probably order.

Virginiah told us about some of trying to get everyone (Kenyans and the different tribes and how some got children) out on time on Monday mornalong fme while others were poles apart. ing, I'd visions of us being the last A lot of the things we take for granted in arrivals at the Town Hall. But all went life they don't possess, she doesn't have a fine. Despite warnings that the athletes car, a phone or even a washing machine might be slow moving the girls were well but she does have dignity and is ensuring able to sort themselves out and before I that her son will be well educated so as to knew it were sitting at the breakfast table. give him the best possible chance in life.

The children also performed according to From listening to Virginiah we were all plan once they got over the shock of learning just how well off we are here in seeing a properly laid breakfast table in Ireland and looking around at how much the dining room instead of the usual unnecessary "stuff" we have. casual approach adopted at the kitchen Cont'd table! I quickly discovered that the girls were more than happy to try out different on next page foods and were fond of Irish bread and ~

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The Kilcullen Experience

Oncein a Lifetime Carmel O'Connor A unique, once in a lifetime experience is the only way we can describe the Special Olympics. When we were asked to host a family we were a bit apprehensive, particularly the children, but we've all benefited greatly from it and the children were sorry to see them leaving.

Our three guests were Samuel the coach, David and Muthama. They were ajoy to have and they settled in so easily it was no trouble. On the Sunday evening, the only evening they didn't have to go out, we decided to have a sing song for them.

We invited a few friends and had a lovely evening. Later in the evening we asked Samuel if he would like to sing and he did. He sang two very spiritual hymns.

As most of us were involved in the family Mass group, we decided to reciprocate finishing with a celtic blessing. It was a very pleasant evening.

Muthama and David had very little English and Muthama in particular was

very shy. However, as the week went by we discovered that he had a lovely smile and by the time he was leaving he seemed much happier in himself.

When we went to Bewleys to say Shane, Niamh, Joe and Carmel O'Connor goodbye on the with David, Samuel and Muthama Monday night, Milcah remarked on how much Muthama We went two days to Santry Stadium to had changed since his arrival. watch them run. They won one gold two silver and one bronze medals between them.

One of the evenings during the week we brought them into Lifestyle Sports to buy them new runners. They had never worn any shoes until they came here. When Muthama put on his new runners he was so excited that he ran around the shop shouting "I run, I run, I run, I run, I run, I run". We got some strange looks, but it was well worth it.

- We were the lucky ones (cont'dfrompreviouspage)

Samuel has e-mailed us several times since his return and is still talking about the wonderful time they had.

All in all it was a wonderful experience, which we will never forget. We wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The Cake

They loved everything they were doing and greatly appreciated anything we did for them. And so the days flew by without a glitch. On the Monday night we all went to the parade. On Tuesday the girls arrived home early and we were delighted to have some extra time with them. Judy and Sheila played football with Connor, while Virginiah looked through lots of photos with Cliodhna, Aoibhin and myself. Later that evening we went to the Ecumenical Service. On Wednesday we managed to make time for a quick shopping trip to Newbridge before their excursion to the Naas Races. Thursday was the school sports day and the children were delighted to see the girls visiting their school. Later in the day it was time for the farewell party and so hard to believe that their stay with us was coming to an end. We'd had a great week, and we had a great night in 0' Sullivans. The committee thanked the host families but I felt like I'd done the easy bit, not going to all the meetings and working for months on end organising the various events. No, we'd just come in at the end and had the pleasure of their company. And they'd taught us a lot, or maybe we just learned from listening to them. Suddenly we knew how well off we were, not just to have our health and all our "worldly goods", but also to have love. At one stage Milkah, who headed up the delegation, said that apart from everything else we'd given to the Kenyans we'd given them the gift oflove, something that they don't necessarily have back home.

Made by Siobhan Tutty Bardon for the farewell party at O'Sullivans, the cake was decorated with the names of the entire Kenyan Delegation with the Irish and Kenyan flags on top

And so at the end of the day and while we were very sad to see "our girls" go, we certainly felt that we were the lucky ones, lucky to have had the opportunity to be a Host Family.

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The Kilcullen Experience --.I

A Special Momentin Time The Jennings Family

F

inally June 14th arrived. This was the day that our visitors from Kenya were scheduled to arrive. As a family, we are not known for being ready for guests too far in advance!! So when we received a call saying that 'the Kenyans' would arrive earlier than expected there was a bit of last minute scurrying in our house.

Any worries that we held about the whole experience appeared to evaporate when the party arrived at the community centre.

The flag waving and spontaneous singing of songs by the visitors created a bond that was to grow and develop during the coming week. Having located our group -

Milcah (Head of the Kenyan Delegation), Andrew and Kimanthi - we all headed home quickly as they were tired after their long journey. Their first day with us was a busy one. They attended a school play and a field day in the local primary school. However there was time for getting to know our guests over dinner and they felt very much at home. Andrew had competed successfully in two previous Special Olympics in the USA - while it was a first outing for Kimanthi.

They told us about their lifestyles in Kenya. Andrew was the more vocal of the two athletes, describing his passion for cycling and his training regime. He loved to sit and chat, talking freely about himself, his work and his home. He took great pride in all of his achievements. He is involved in an Aids Prevention Programme in Kenya, indicating his awareness of the difficulties presented by this disease. Kimanthi was a more reserved man but had a warm, endearing personality whose face lit up when he flashed his beaming smile. He was very happy to play pool, football or basketball with any member of the family or their friends.

Watching TV was very popular also although the hectic schedule of the week did not leave much room for that and naturally people wanted to talk and exchange information.

As the week progressed, our visitors became more and more relaxed to such an extent that they abandoned their own surnames and so three new members were added to the Jennings clan. Andrew

and Kimanthi took great pride in helping me complete our window boxes. As they are in full bloom now, they serve as a reminder of our dear Kenyan friends.

The social events of the week were particularlyenjoyable. The highlight for them was being transported in the vintage cars. A lot of thought went into Rachael, Anna, Matt and Eoin Jennings with dressing up for these occasions and the Kimanthi and Andrew result was always a spectacular display. Milcah's choice of efore the Kenyans came to our outfit and co-ordinating head -dress was house I was kind of nervous. But truly spectacular. On complementing her after a day they started to become on the dress, Milcah reassured me that I part of the family. Their names were could wear it also since I had' good Micah, Andrew and Kimanthi. They Kenyan hips'!! seemed to like our food and liked the It was a great pleasure to to see the same things as myself. Except they were athletes at a training session and to better at eating vegetables than I was. witness their effortless sprinting. It was Kimanthi drank Coke but Andrew drank easy to lose sight of the fact that this was orange juice. They did not make any fuss also a serious sporting event. Milcah, about food, just ate whatever we were Malec (Assistant Head of Delegation) having as a family.

B

and I went on a short shopping spree while the athletes were training. This gave us an opportunity to check out clothes, phones and make comparisons with their own country. Milcah managed to buy a lovely outfit as a memory of her trip to Kilcullen. It was during this trip that the ever jovial Malec referred to my little trustworthy car as a 'shopping basket, not a car' !!

The trust placed on the whole community of Kilcullen by the families of these athletes was very humbling. I thought many times about the level of anxiety which I would have if members of my family were heading to such a distant destination. I enjoyed the experience tremendously on so many fronts

- my

only regret is that our pre-booked holidays prevented us participating in the events of the last week. Hopefully we can maintain contact with our friends in Kenya.

Anna.

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After a while they were playing football, snooker and basketball with me and my friends. They all came to see me in a play at my school. They then went to our school field day. Both Andrew and Kimanthi rode a horse for the first time that day. They were very happy about that. We sometimes watched TV together and ate crisps. They came to our school and enjoyed the performance that we put on for them. The night before their last day in Kilcullen we had a big party and it was very good. And all too soon it was time to say goodbye.

I went to the opening ceremony in Croke Park and then it was allover. I really enjoyed having Milcah, Kimanthi and Andrew staying with us and I hope we will see them again sometime.

-)Eoin The Kilcullen Experience

J

W

e were not part of the original plans for accommodating the Kenyan delegation in Kilcullen, but I think because the numbers coming increased somewhat late in the day our chance to playa part materialised. The news of the imminent arrival of these unexpected guests caused some apprehension initially. Would we be able to look after them properly, would the food be ok?, Would we be able to communicate with them?

That apprehension rapidly disappeared under a wave of excitement and curiosity as we got more information on who the people were, what they might be like, what sports they were involved in. The most wonderful and exciting part of the whole thing then began to take hold the realisation that we were playing a real part in something very special. We got so much out of the whole experience from beginning to end that we feel almost guilty that it didn't cause us some hassle.

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We very soon got to know a lot about the background and lives of our three guests.

Their courtesy, graciousness and ability to fit in made their presence in our home a privilege. It's always enriching to talk to people from different cultures especially people from Africa with it's recent tribal structure and huge economic problems. How our guests lived their lives in the difficult economy and political system that is Kenya was an eye opener to us. At the end of the day apart from the colour of their skins and the fact that they were a lot (and when I say a lot I mean a lot!!) fitter than the average customer you might find in Brennans on a Saturday night, they were not that different to ourselves. As for the learning problems which allowed them to be part of the Special Olympics, well the skills displayed by our friend Andrew when he went to buy parts for his mountain bike in Naas wouldn't be wasted on a parts buyer working for General Motors or Boeing.

Milcah had shown great bravery to be here having had recent serious health problems and the relatively recent death of her husband. She proved to be a strong very articulate woman of culture.

T

he week before the arrival of The Kenyan Team, all the finer details of their stay were ironed out.

Sleeping and travel arrangements were discussed as well as the difficulty we would most certainly have fitting at the kitchen table together! I was demoted to a mattress on the floor in my brother's room but was glad to be able to do my bit to make the athletes stay as pleasant as possible.

I was away the night they arrived but arrived back home the following day. I didn't know what to expect when I opened the door. I was introduced to Andrew and Kimanthi first and was greeted by big smiles from the two very professional looking athletes who were already engrossed in a pool tournament with my brother and his friends. Milcah was relaxing in the kitchen when I arrived and greeted my friends and I warmly when we were introduced.

Milcah was amazed by the many differences between Kenya and Ireland and did not understand how the cows in the field behind our house were left there without being stolen!

In my many talks with Andrew, I found that he was very intelligent. His favourite topic of conversation was definitely bikes and he took great pride in showing me the pictures of his bike back home in Kenya. On a visit to Flemings in Naas, the owner of the shop was bowled over

by Andrew's knowledge of bikes. He also makes jewellery in Kenya.

Although not as talkative as Andrew, Kimanthi, the 100m sprinter was nevertheless a great pleasure to have in our house for the week. Kimanthi loved playing pool and gave both my brother and I many challenging games. Like Andrew, Kimanthi enjoyed watching TV immensely as they only had black and white televisions back in Kenya. He will be most remembered in Kilcullen for his flipped cap and sunglasses - worn by every member of the Kenyan Delegation at some time or another!

The benefits of having these people stay in our home did not end with what we gained from their stay. Being part of the whole occasion with our friends and neighbours, especially the trip to the opening ceremony was a very special experience.

Milcah, the leader of the Kenyan delegation took great interest in all our lives, and life in Ireland in general. Like Andrew and Kimanthi, she was affected by the "cold", even though it was probably one of the hottest weeks in June.

Milcah's friendliness and genuine interest in my life contributed greatly to my enjoyment of the week

I can only sum up the whole thing by quoting a member of another host family " We should have one of these every year" Matt

The week spent with the Kenyans was certainly an eye - opening one for me. I hadn't expected them to be as ablebodied and interesting and it definitely changed my attitude towards people with

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disabilities. I believe that both the Kenyans and the people of Kilcullen gained much from the Host Town programme. On all fronts, it was a resounding success.

Mark. hen I first heard about the possibility of being a host family to the Kenyan delegation I was glad I was able to be a part of something so great and important but also slightly nervous about having people from such a enormously different culture to our own. Would they speak English? what were their disabilities? Would communication be difficult? Would we perhaps insult them somehow without meaning to? There were also more practical problems such as where would they sleep and would our food be suitable. So we did our best to think of any possible problems and did a bit of a purge on the upstairs bedroom, which was a bit of a state. My kind brother volunteered his bedroom saving me from eviction and we had the task of making his room suitable for female inhabitation (not a pleasant operation to say the least!), as his room was to go to the female coach.

W

The night of their arrival came at last and the parents went into the complex to pick up the athletes and the head of the

delegation.If we werenervousabout

c

meeting our visitors our nerves were unfounded as it was clear that they had virtually flawless English and were friendly and wanted to become part of the family. The two athletes names were Andrew and Kimanthi and the head of the delegations name was Milka. Kimanthi was quieter than Andrew who was very chatty but as the week progressed he too came out of his shell to a certain extent.

Andrew had a keen interest in cycling, cycling miles every morning in his home town. He also was interested in movies and really enjoyed watching my little brothers video: "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones". Kimanthi enjoyed music and was delighted with our gift of a Walkman and tapes. He was also rarely seen without his shades and cap! We had a lot of chats about life in Kenya and really learned a lot about their culture from all three of them. I couldn't believe it when the time for them to leave for Dublin came; it felt like they were barely here five minutes. It was an interesting and enlightening few days and a time that I will never forget. I can only hope that they enjoyed the experience as much~as our family did.

Rachael The Kilcullen Experience

I Ii

Sawahiliin the Showers Gemma O'Dwyer When we offered to accommodate some of the Kenya delegation, like most others, we did not know what to expect. It's only 6 days -how bad could it be?

Little did we know that it would turn out to be one of the best experiences we've ever had.

On the fIrst morning we were awakened at 5.30am by the sound of Swahili in the showers. However the lively programme arranged by the committee and the people of Kilcullen soon tired our guests and by day three they were having a lie in until 6.30am. We hosted the chief coach Patrick Wanyama who was an athlete himself and has worked as a volunteer for 23 years training these special athletes.

He also proved to be quite a character. He exhorted my husband to take a stand and stop helping with domestic tasks. Men in Kenya don't do that type of work. He also told me many times to respect my husband. One of our athletes, Josephath, arrived from the airport quite ill but thanks to Anne Bathe and Dr Kelly he recovered and went on to win two gold medals in both his long distance running events. Josephath is one of twenty children and comes from the Rift Valley where all the great Kenyan runners come from. They achieve their great results

despite a diet very low in meat but high in cereals and milk.

Josephath had never travelled outside the Valley before and was amazed by western technology.

He loved the CD player and became a Nirvana fan during his stay. Our second athlete Isaac comes from Mombasa and has a job in a woodwork shop. He had travelled to the USA before so was less Gemma fazed by our technology. All our guests were extremely polite, friendly and good humoured. Patrick has written to us since their return and says that in all his 23 years with the Special Olympics, the welcome they received in Kilcullen was the best ever. He is also very pleased with the team's performance here- They won a total of 16 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze medals.

What did we learn from the experience?

We learnt just how easy our lives are and

and John O'Dwyer with Isaac, Patrick and Josephat how many material comforts we take for granted. We also learned the price we have paid. As Patrick Kavanagh said, "we have tested and tasted too much, lover- through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder". The Kenyans had so little but were so happy with any new experience or kindness they received.

The experience also confIrmed, what we already knew, that there is a great community in Kilcullen

After the parade through the town the Kenyan visitors were introduced to Kilcullen people in the Community Centre where entertainment was also provided. A special presentation of a St. Brigid's Cross was made to Milcah by Sister Mary from the Brigidine congregation in Kildare.

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The Kilcullen Experience

Life with two wives Liz, Padraig, Luke and Kate Maloney If you ask Luke, our 3 year old son, what he wants to be when he grows up he'll tell you he wants to be a fast runner like the Kenyans! We took Luke to Morton Stadium to see Godfey, Samuel and Jotham, the three athletes that had been staying with us, compete in their athletic events. Luke was very impressed and this was certainly the highlight of the Special Olympics for him.

Before our visitors arrived we were a little anxious about how Kate, our 15-month-old daughter, would react to having four strangers stay with us for a week. We needn't have worried; Kate loved having four tall, dark, athletic men fuss over her. Kate really enjoyed the farewell party in O'Sullivans. Her dance card was full all night; she even had two of the athletes fighting over who would dance with her at one point!

Padraig, Luke, Liz and Kate Maloney with Christopher, Samuel, Godfrey and lotham

As for Padraig and myself, we can't pick out one particular event or moment we enjoyed the most it was all brilliant.

From seeing the fascination on the boys faces when John Brady took them on a tour of his bog to Christopher's, (a Kenyan coach) tales of life in Kenya (In Kenya it is typical for a man to have more than one wife - Padraig's still not sure if life with two wives would be better or worse!). And from seeing the athletes who were quite shy at the beginning of the week come out of themselves to watching their remarkable performance in the Olympics - we enjoyed it all.

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We couldn't have asked for four easier, more considerate guests. We learned a lot over the six days and made many new friends both from Kenya and Kilcullen.

We were all winners Samuel G. Kiura Assit. Head Coach

For many months I was waiting to land in Ireland for this wonderful event, the Special Olympics. On 14th June I started my life at Kilcullen where we all lived with host families. The experience was exciting, good, warm and full of joy and this made our training and acc1imitisation very easy. Within hours, we had all settled down. I had a very good time with my athletes at the O'Connor family.

The fields for training at Newbridge and Crookstown were quite good and the people we met there were all very friendly. The facilities were also excellent and fields very green. This made our training very enjoyable and safe.

Each day we experienced a new life as we vjsited different restaurants where we had differend kinds of Irish food at St. Bridget's Pitch & Putt Club, Berneys, The Hideout, Roundys, The Copper Kettle, McTernans and An Tearmann.

The food was good, sweet and delicious.

The host families gave us a very special time.

The experience I went through was most enjoyable. The week flew, as every moment I was making new friends, meeting people and families every time. The time I stayed with Joe and Carmel and their children was very good.

Colm and Mary Murray with Richard They ensured that the athletes were Eliud and Mustafa happy and had a smile on their faces.

Just like other host families it was painful when time came to part. The friendship Dublin. Their support and cheering made we had developed was more than just the athletes do very well. At the end we friendship. We lived like families and were all winners and celebrated the enjoyed the Irish food altogether. victory together of 16 gold medals, 6 silvers and 9 bronze. To all Kilcullen Due to the good hospitality from the Host Families, you were very special.

Kilcullen community we did quite well in To all I say thank you very much for you made us feel at home far from home our competition at Morton Stadium'in

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The Kilcullen Experience

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An enriching experience The Gorman Family The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games will always be remembered with fondness and affection in our house. We were enthusiastic but a little apprehensive at the prospect of being a host family, but looking back on it now, it was an unforgettable experience.

The organising committee, having done' all the hard work over the preceding two years made it easy for the host families as all their careful planning kicked in and everything fell into place.

Hamilton, Mica and their coach Abdul Malik, stayed with us, and they relaxed and made themselves at home very quickly. The sun shone for the week as we all flew around making sure the athletes reached their training sessions and all the various activities and functions which were organised throughout the week. When they were at the house, Mica and Hamilton got to know Eoin, Nessa and Aoife very well. They sam-

Continued from page 3 disappointment and frustration among the GOC at this news. This was nothing I'm sure to the disappointment felt by those delegations whose athletes, coaches and families had trained and prepared for four years to compete and attend these Games only to be faced with the prospect of now not travelling. The crisis had to be managed at a time when our efforts should have been focused elsewhere.

However, at the end a solution was found and all the SARS affected countries did make it to the Games.

The Legacy The Games were a national event and for those two weeks in June, Ireland really did itself proud in hosting these Games.

They were an outstanding success and the general view is that Ireland took the Games to a whole new level and set standards across the board, which will be difficult for the organisers of future Games to match. Two months after the Games the GOC is still receiving letters and.e-mails of congratulations from around the globe. The Irish people wholeheartedly embraced these Games and it gave them the opportunity to show to the world their generosity, their spirit and unselfish commitment. It would be

pled the delights of Gaelic Football, practised their running skills on our front lawn and took part in our normal family life. The children enjoyed learning about life in Kenya. They were surprised to hear of the similarities between our two countries.

Tony, Nessa, Therese, Eoin and Aoife Gorman with Mica, Malik and Hamilton.

The farewell party at O'Sullivans was tinged with sadness as we were about to bid farewell to our new friends, but it was a night we will remember for a long time.

We all 'shared the feeling' that night, and as we said goodbye in Kilcullen the next morning, we all felt that we had just shared a very enriching and unique experience and had been part of an historic experience.

As we waved our flags in Croke Park at the opening ceremony, we all felt great pride, that this event was being hosted in

difficult to acknowledge the contribution of all but for me some of the key contributors were: The volunteers from all walks of life who answered the call in their thousands.

The families who opened their homes and their hearts to host athletes and visiting families.

The Host Town Committees who worked tirelessly. Kilcullen gave the Kenyan Delegation the time of their lives during the Host Town week. It is important to realise that what happened in Kilcullen was also happening across the entire island of Ireland in 160 cities, towns and villages.

The sponsors who gave generously.

The people who fundraised and supported the Support an Athlete Campaign.

Finally one does not often get the opportunity to acknowledge the support of the Government and politicians from all parties but this is one situation, which warrants that.

One of the goals in bidding for and hosting these Games was that it would secure a lasting legacy for people with a disability. There is no doubt that a fantastic start has been made. Public awareness levels are at an all time high.

There is hardly a person in the country

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our country. We stayed on for a long time, waving to our Kenyan friends, not wanting to leave. The experience of Special Olympics has changed our attitudes about people with a learning disability. People all over the country have been touched. Volunteers, Communities and host families have all been working together. It has been an experience that has lifted our spirits, and in this very materialistic society that we live in, it has made us open our hearts and enabled us to give, without looking for anything in return.

who has not heard of the Games and who was not touched by the event. The real heroes of course were of course the athletes. For me and for many others they provided the highlight of the Games, their joy, their dedication, their enthusiasm, their commitment, their skill, their attitude was inspirational. For these Games the emphasis truly was on ability not disability and in this regard the athletes did show the way.

The challenge now is to build on the success of the Games to ensure that there is greater understanding and levels of awareness going forward and that attitudes are permanently changed and opportunities are provided to improve and enhance the lives of all with a learning disability. The goodwill and energy of all who were part of Team 2003 has to be harnessed and put to good effect. Many a volunteer has said that they would like to do it all again and more, that they got far more out of the Games than they put in to it. I would also endorse that sentiment, for me personally it was a hugely enriching experience and a privilege to have been involved in the 2003 World Summer Games. It was an event that has made a difference and hopefully will continue to do so longterm.

The Kilcullen Experience

J

The BradyBunch (To the air of Christy Moore's Lisdoonvarna)

In this poem Padraig Maloney captures some of the atmosphere which the Entertainment Committee helped foster during the Kenyan visit.

How's it goin' there everybody, From Brannockstown, Nicholastown, Logstown, Kilcullen Town, Sunnyhill and Milemill, Here we are in the County Kildare It's a long, long way from Kenya to here.

There's a Special parade and Giltown stud O'Sullivans, where the craic was good.

Billy Redmond and sound by Frank Jimmy Lee and Brady's bank There's tea and buns lorried in If it's a welcome you want, go to Kilcullen.

There's people there from Moanbane and McGarry's Lane, I thought Philomena would go insane.

There's Lambe on the video and beef on the menu, Maurice on the mike, and everyone on the ball.

There's step dancers, break dancers, Irish dancing, Kenyans dancing and volunteers everywhere.

I tell ya, if it's a Special welcome you want you'll find it here.

CHORUS Oh, Oh Kilcullen Kilcu, Kilcu, Kilcu, Kil, Kilcullen!

There's women with hair meshes And the Ballymore band just back from the Feis' There's Grennell School, Landers School, Bridgets School, And Chris on the highstool.

There's Mass goers, new comers and multitudes of on lookers.

There's old cars, new friends, grownups in diapers and mcing bikers.

There's Civil Defence, but no uncivil behaviour There's pulling together to pull in a favour This is heaven, this is hell Who cares, oh the video will tell.

CHORUS Oh, Oh Kilcullen Kilcu, Kilcu, Kilcu, Kil, Kilcullen!

Everybody had an effort to make, Be it build a float or bake a cake.

The multitudes, they flocked and thronged, To hear the music and the songs.

There's 32 in the Kenyan Delegation And the town turned out for this African Nation There's people there from everywhere Shane Nolan said he saw the Earl of Kildare.

There's Celestine with her fancy dress And Christopher in Markeys' easing the stress.

There's Charlie Brown who built the Great wallo' China And the Drama Group represented by Sabina.

The Kenyans even had their own wailers As they were drawn by Dillon's trailers.

We all stood and watched them pass Be God he had a fine ass.

There's Sinndar at 30 grand a shot Siodhna said "get the collection pot".

There's Herbie who undertook the trucker Who said go away ya ould fat ......

CHORUS Oh, Oh Kilcullen Kilcu, Kilcu, Kilcu, Kil, Kilcullen!

Well Friday came and we said goodbye Frances remarked there wasn't a dry eye.

According to Smullen, Newbridge, Naas or a Curagh race Haven't got a patch on the Special town of Kilcullen.

CHORUS Oh, Oh Kilcullen Kilcu, Ki1cu,Kilcu, Kil, Kilcullen!

CHORUS Oh, Oh Kilcullen Kilcu, Kilcu, Kilcu, Kil, Kilcullen!

Photo: Philomena Griffin, Chairperson, Kilcullen Host Town Committee with Fiona O'Loughlin, National Coordinator of the Host Town Programme.

The Kenyans were leaving us on a Thursday night So we partied at O'Sullivans till first light.

There's John and Joe on the box, Phil and Una on chorus, Paul on the spoons, and Tom with a winner.

There's set dancers, set dinners, harp players, harp drinkers, future medal winners and the Kiltegan Fathers to forgive the sinners.

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

27 The Kilcullen Experienl

Left: John Brady on the bottle.

Right: Herbie Eager drives a Porche

Left: Philomena Breslin Above: Pat Goulding Right: Paddy Maloney

Right: Post Office Staff Left: The Stray Inn Below Left: Jude & Mairead Connellan driving a 1924 Fiat.

Below Right: Maggie and Martha Kelly and Nuala Egan

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

AT THE PARADE

28

The Kilcullen Experience

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Left: Fiona Sloan and Dympna Reddy Right: Dick and Kitty Reade.

Below: Frances and Noel Clare with Celestine

FAREWELL PARTY

Above: Paul Carey and Dan O'Sullivan Below Centre: Magdelene and Larry Campbell Below Right: John Talbot dances with Virginiah

Above: Christopher and Virginiah

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

29

The Kilcullen Experience

Want to HorseAround?

Do it at Kill Richard

Reade (Awards Co-ordinator Kill)

In October 2001 an article in our Scouting magazine announced that CSI would be helping out at the Special Olympics World summer games 2003. As it was something I always wanted to get involved in, I put my name forward to help out. Fast forward to June 2002 and together with a brilliant team of 14 Scouts and leaders we are conducting the medal ceremonies for the National Summer games at Kill Equestrian centre.

Now it was on to the big one, the World Summer Games 2003. This was clearly going to be far bigger than I had ever imagined, now the biggest task was recruitment. In order to run the medal ceremonies properly we had to have a team of 34 on the ground every day of the games. After much pleading, armtwisting and appeals, we ended up with a team of 72 committed Scouts from Kilcullen and Naas. My problem now would be trying to select 34 people each day; it meant that each day I had 38 substitutes should anybody be unable to make a selected day.

During the long winter months of 2002/ 2003, training was proceeding as planned. The medal ceremony, like any other ceremony at the games is a highly organised and planned event. The athletes have to be checked-in, then they need to be prepared for the medal procession. The medals and ribbons also need to be prepared and presented on boards all leading to the presentation.

The presentation is the part of awards to the front of house, the bit that makes it all so worth-while; the joy on the faces of all the athletes, the love that radiates throughout the arena during the presentation makes it a perfect world, even for that short space of time. When the presentation is over, the athletes need to be checked out again.

I could detail here an account of what happened day-by-day at Kill, but that would defeat why I wanted to write this article. For, dear reader, what happened at Kill defies a mundane description. My Scouts, Our Scouts, Your Scouts made me feel so proud. Sure the leaders did their job, they did them to perfection; the award ceremonies ran like clock-work. But that is what I have come to expect from the leaders of the Kilcullen Scout troop. But the Scouts were simply amazing, straight away the scouts recognised the ability in these Athletes, they befriended, laughed, sat and chatted with, and looked out for the Athletes. It was the scouts who ran the front of house show and they did it with grace, style and elegance.

Once the Athletes were presented front of house to begin the medal ceremony, our Scouts became their escort for the duration of the ceremony. What began at the start of the week as a polite hand shake an introduction very quickly became a hug and a kiss towards the end of the week. Our scouts shared in the joy that the Athletes themselves experienced.

But above all the Scouts showed a side that many people forget that young people possess. The looked out keeping a watching eye during the ceremony for any Athlete that became distressed, they guided the athletes with a very tender but loving hand and by doing this, they allowed the Athletes to remember a very special moment for the rest of their lives.

Ciarain B, Elaine Clifford, Laura Clifford, Gavin and Lisa Dooley, Laura and Emma Doyle, Emlynn and Wayne Kelly, Ciarain (Curly) McMahon, Kate Nolan, Stephen Nugent, Ross O'Dwyer

- Team Ireland at Kill Equestrian Centre Right - Galiana is escorted by Terri Finglas Top

during the presentation

of her medal

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

30

and Mark Traynor take a bow, for what you offered during these games, the people of Kilcullen should be very proud indeed.

Not only did your Scouts do you a great justice, but also to the leaders who worked "behind" the scenes and made my job such a pleasure. To Kitty, Dick, Joe, Sandra, Pabo and Siobhain who worked with me almost from the start, to those who helped for the duration of the games themselves. They all represented Kilcullen with great pride. I almost became tired of people coming up to me during the games and complimenting the Scouts, I say almost as I could never tire of such praise. The Scouts lit up the venue, they were good humoured, polite, respectful and above all willing to share of themselves. In a time where so many young people get bad press, I write this one extolling the virtues of young people.

They have a renewable energy source, they all brought this to the Games venue, and they unleashed it with vengeance at Kill, suffice to say that all the people loved what the saw.

Even before the games started, under the careful eyes of Joe Robinson, many of our Scouts had started a very early love affair with the Kenyan team.

Of course Kenya with its special scouting connections (it is where the founder of the Scout movement is ...

The Kilcullen Experience

J

buried), had some members of our team involved as host town volunteers. They took the Kenyan team so well to their heart that on their days off from Kill, they were off to give support to the Kenyan's at other venues. Also, so good were our team at Kill; that we were asked to provide some help at the Kayaking event on Friday. We were able to provide them with Scouts to help out (at very short notice I asked and got 4 volunteers).

We travelled to the closing ceremony as a team united in the fact that we had been involved in something very special and something life changing. We have memories which will stay with us for the rest of our lives. It was emotional, it was

special, it was everything we had hoped for and expected. It helped all of us to focus on the word ability which sometimes gets lost in the word disability. It was a time where mere words cannot express the pride of being part of such a professional team. One little cameo summed up the whole games for me, one of the awards involved three Athletes from different countries who had never met each other, while they were waiting for their medals, the three of them stood in a row (instead of a normal line) holding hands and smiling at each other, the could not speak each others language, but their was no need, their love was overwhelming, they were very happy to be here. Just like all of us I guess.

Medals Ready for Presentation at Kill Equestrian Centre

More Horses!

A Trip to Gilltown Following in the steps of film stars, business tycoons etc, it was inevitable that our World Class Kenyan Athletes would pay a visit to Gilltown Stud. The Stud is in a beautiful setting and is owned by His Highness the Aga Khan.

John Brady was the leader for the evening that would see us visit the stud yard and meet some of the most expensive horses in the world today.

We all met outside the gates of Giltown and entered through a beautiful tree lined avenue that brought us to the main house.

Ray Kelly We were met by Frank Faughnan. who was to be our chaperone for the few hours we were there. He gave us a tour of the trophy room which houses some of the Racing Trophies won by horses owned by the Aga Khan. A nice leisurely stroll down by the lake gave our Kenyan friends and us some good photo opportunities.

Some of the Athletes were amazed at the buildings and green grass, which they would not normally be exposed to in Kenya - I think all of the Kilcullen folk felt the same way....

Onward then to meet the great horses whose names most of us had heard of from listening to and watching the classic races.

Introductions were made as each Stallion was

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

31

brought out by Liam Foley and a brief account was given of their winning and stud fees. It was enjoyable to listen to Noel Clare as he passed on the information regarding covering, stud fees, teasers etc., to some the Kenyan Delegation who then passed the information to the nonEnglish speakers who strangely enough rolled around the grass laughing...

A relaxing walk back through the gardens where the team could take their time and enjoy the scenery. Training that evening was cancelled as the team were quite tired after their day.

Above: relaxing with the stallions.

Left: Joe Dooley and Sabina Reddy The Kilcullen Experience

II

An Eveningat the Races Mary Charlton In a haze of anticipation four Special Olympic teams converged on Naas Racecourse on Wednesday June 18thJapan, New Zealand, North Dakota and Kenya.

What follows is a brief description of the night by Ray Kelly.

Please note that some poetic licence was taken......

After a meal in the marquee a wonderful evening ensued with music, dancing and betting! The visiting team from Kenya was lucky in that they picked a few winners - in fact they told us that the proceeds were going towards the purchase of new running shoes.

An invite to the races by the Naas Host town group, Saw us pack our buses with the Kenyan troupe We arrived on the course, the team looked really neat And out to the marquee for a bite to eat,

The party began with the band and the dancing, Salim and Maureen were on the floor prancing, Sheila, Jenipher and Judy really looked ace, With Daisies and snakes painted allover their face.

Following a lively demonstration of traditional Kenyan dance through the crowds and in front of the stands, the race goers took the athletes to their hearts, so much so they were invited by the Sponsors to present the trophy to the winning owner of the final race of the evening.

The races began amidst all the craie, Kilonzo back the horse which was coloured all black, He watched as it ran round the course at great speed, But alas it was second this noble black steed.

Then word then came out, "there's a bookie right here," And Frances Maher gave the tips of the year, Milcah celebrated as the tips all came in, And Samuel won too, you could tell by his grin.

Christopher and Mary were engrossed in one race Eliud the quite one had a smile on his face, He'd bet on the winner, put two euro on the nose, He won with a bet on a horse called Ambrose.

We backed some slow ones both Siodhna and me John Talbot backed fast ones and made some monee, Philomena was sad she had little luck, Till Maureen gave advice how to beat the book.

10 euro went on to the grey in the last, With the Kenyan team shouting it went very fast, Round like a rocket it ran round, it came in first We celebrated with something to quench our thirst...

All VIPs then the Kenyan team became, They presented the prize to the winner of the same, The photo got took, with smiles all around, They sang their song Jambo; they made a great sound.

Top: Jenipher and Lorine enjoy Naas Races

The Races were over, enjoyed by us all Then back to the buses, where we had a roll call, Who was missing, it appeared to be Kimanthi, He was still on the course in dispute with a bookie.

Above: Mary Charlton, Gese Mucke and Mary Berney watch the Kenyan athletes train in Crookstown

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

We all arrived home, a good night had by all, Home to their "families" and bed was the call, Training the next day, they'd be raring to go, We can still hear their song Jambo, Jambo...

32

. The Kilcullen Experience

Morton Stadium Maire O'Sullivan Morton Stadium in Santry was the venue for the Track and Field events, and the place where our Kenyan athletes proudly competed during the week.

The stadium has an intimate homely atmosphere where spectators had the opportunity to mingle closely with the athletes. All had a ring side view of the events. It was possible to move about, to be at the starting posts to witness the apprehension and tension on the faces of the competitors at the start, and at the finishing line, the sheer joy on the same faces having won, or simply crossed the line. They had run their hearts out and the spontaneous applause from the spectators acknowledged that they too were delighted for each athlete completing the course. Each athlete was certainly brave in the attempt.

Every athlete was already a champion, as President McAleese reminded us during the opening ceremony. Each had earned his or her place at the games. Standards were extremely high and all athletes were expected to abide by the rigorous rules of the competitions. The focus was certainly on ability, not disability.

The running prowess of Kenyans is legendary and their representatives here were no exception. It was amazing to watch them run, mostly in their bare feet.

They were so tall and lithe and ran effortlessly, it would appear, almost like gazelles.

A wonderful atmosphere prevailed, and it was enhanced by fine weather. Each delegation had supporters from their host towns, who cheered, waved banners and flags and encouraged their new friends to achieve success.

We have never had the opportunity to have so many people from so many countries all together in a joyful happy gathering. The crowds became larger with each day with families bringing children to this event that

they will never forget. Teachers from local Primary schools brought their classes in the mornings. People walked about and were delighted to speak about where they came from. It was interesting to note how much could be communicated even where language was a barrier.

What a delight to see such sights as athletes from Ivory Coast all kitted in Dublin GAA jerseys, Muslim women wearing baseball caps from Macroom over their veils and the bright yellow Roscommon baseball caps on Ugandans.

As the week wore on more and more athletes walked about proudly displaying medals and were delighted to receive congratulations.

But it was sad, and moving too, to become aware of the inequalities in our world, even here. So many had come from very poor nations and it was thanks

..

Top: Games Chairman Denis O'Brien gives the thumbs up along with some guests.

Above: Kildare Football manager Padraig Nolan with some Kenyan friends at Santry.

Right: Carmel, Joe, Niamh and Shane O'Connor at Morton Stadium to cheer on the Kenyans 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

33

. The Kilcullen Experience .

Jenipher pictured at Morton Stadium, Santry to the generosity of the host towns that some team members had any sports gear at all. (Sponsorship from large sports companies was noticeably absent...)

The volunteers were very friendly, helpful and efficient. The announcers ensured that events ran smoothly and to time. They also kept the momentum going and were a wonderful source of encouragement for athletes and spectators alike.

The respectful way athletes and their families ate their picnics was a reminder that there were people here who did not take food for granted.

The award ceremonies were equally moving. Fanfares greeted the victorious athletes and their medals were presented by well known sportspeople, broadcasters and entertainers. Variouscelebrities visited the Stadium during the week, also and mingled easily with the crowds.

It was a privilege to be able to attend the Games at Morton Stadium and to experience the true Olympian spirit.

The atmosphere generated was great tribute to the athletes, and to all those who gave so much of themselves to organize the event and ensure its success. Sl:iinte saoil chugaibh uile!!

A Trip to the Aras Ray Kelly President McAleese opened her house and garden to a large number of volunteers who got involved in the Special Olympic World Games. Thanks to the O'Connor family, Joe, Carmel, Stephen, Niamh and Shane, I got to attend the Garden party on behalf of the Kilcullen Host Town Group.

I travelled up on my own but was soon surrounded with people who, through the World Games had much in common sponsors, athletes, parents, friends, all were invited by the President and her family. The day was sunny and warm as were all the days of the Games and as I bussed the short journey I thought of the famous people who have had the honour to be an invited guest of the President of Ireland.

We were all welcomed to the reception by a barbershop quartet. A short wait in the company of Tony 0' Sullivan, and then we were introduced to the President and her husband.

.

I got a bit a of shock here when the presidents' Army aide gestured towards me but it was Tony he wanted - he was a long time friend who apparently spent time in the Curragh with Tony as cadets.

Then it was out into the splendour of the gardens for some wine and chat among Special Olympic friends. Dermot and Frank Shortt were there in the Team Irelandgear - Dermot informed me that he had just finished a round of Golf in time to meet the president. Des Travers was there also - Des having got involved nationally after some persuading from Tony 0' Sullivan.

I met Rita Lawlor who informed me she was now officially out of a job - Rita was an International Ambassador for the Games for the last 3 years - knowing Rita she will have little difficulty getting a job.

work and effort put into the Games by Mary and her team.

Following the speeches it was back into the Garden for some more wine and socialising. In all it was a great day and a pleasure to have been there.

As Mary McAleese stated in her welcome, we were all welcome into OUR House.

On into the Marquee for the President's address in which she praised all who had contributed in any way in making this year's World Games the best ever in the history of the Games.

The President then introduced the Games CEO Mary Davis who gave an insight into what was involved in arranging the biggest sporting event ever seen in Ireland.

When you consider that the groundwork started in 1998 you can appreciate the

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

34

Des Travers pictured at Aras an Uachtaran with Col. Terry Young . The Kilcullen Experience

SalmonLeap Frank Mitchell

Frank Mitchell was actively involved in Kilcullen s Host Town Programme but he also had the title (and the responsibilities) of Event Services Manager at Salmon Leap where the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games Kayaking events took place.

Now that the Special Olympics world summer games are over, it is perhaps a good time to reflect on what we have achieved. By we I mean the 30,000 volunteers who gave their time, energy and skills to ensure that the games would be the best ever. Without the enthuasim and commitment of these people the games would not have been as successful.

The motivation for this commitment was the athletes themselves. Everything we did as volunteers we did for the athletes; so their years of training and absolute commitment could be shown to the world, and also to afford everyone the opportunity to "Share The Feeling".

Apart from the host town program, people from the Kilcullen area were involved at all levels of the games. After the hugely successful host town week, some volunteers took a well-deserved break, while others continued their involvement with the games by working at different venues. I was lucky enough to be given the position of Event Services Manager at Salmon Leap, Leixlip where the Kayaking was held. Initially, this seemed like a daunting task, as I had never even sat in a canoe, and had no idea what an Event Services Manager did. We were told we would be well prepared for our given task, and were asked to commit ourselves to a comprehensive management training course, which began in November 2002 and finished on 17th June 2003.

meeting to plan the day ahead and discuss anyproblems or issues. Most of the Event Services, and other venue teams, worked for up to fifteen hours each day without a single complaint. This extra effort was a major factor in the success of the games. While Kayaking was classed as a "demonstration" sport, the venue was run as a competition one. Thirty-one athletes participated in the events, representing Ireland, Poland, Finland and Germany.

The excellent weather brought out the crowds with scores of employees from Hewlett Packard and Intel cheering on the athletes. We also encouraged local schools to come along. During the week we were visited by members of the Shriver family, Denis O'Brien, various ambassadors, and a delegation of observers from the Games Organising Committee from Shanghai, who will host the 2007 Summer Games. Reports suggest that all were very impressed. Despite the attention of the above we never lost sight of the fact that we had thirty one VIP's with us every day, and strived to ensure that they would be impressed, and would enjoy their games.

Although we did not have much time to see many of the races, the few we did see were very exciting, and obviously required enormous skill and determination from the athletes. On the final day, the awards ceremony was held in the late afternoon, and all volunteers were given an opportunity to participate. This was most definitely the highlight of the week, and an appearance by our own Brendan O'Connell to present medals was great to see. Another person with a Kilcullen connection working at the venue was Edwina Cahill. Edwina works part time in Bardon's and certainly set a new standard in Spectator Marshalling! Her friendly welcome and enthusiasm delighted the spectators and athletes.

Finally, I would like to say what a privilege it has been for me to have been involved with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games; a privilege to have worked with some of the finest athletes in the world; and most importantly, a privilege to have" Shared The Feeling."

Above: Frank Mitchell with other spectators and volunteers watching the presentation of medals at Salmon Leap.

Games time at Salmon Leap was an extremely busy time. We began our day at 6.30am with a team briefing for Team Leaders and Assistants (the people who actually did all the work) then it was on to a Core Venue Management Team 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

35

The Kilcullen Experience

Journey into Kenya On July 25th, Philomena Griffin set off on afact-finding trip to Kenya. Here she is in conversation with Sean Landers.

Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil: Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil: Sean: Phil:

Sean: Phil:

When did you decide to go to Kenya?

It has always been a dream of mine, but having met with the Kenyans during the World Summer Games prompted me even more and so off I went.

What was the purpose of your visit?

Firstly I was invited to attend as a guest at National Games for people with leaming disabilities at St. Catherine's Institute in Western Kenya where one of the coaches who came to Ireland namely Christopher Wandera works and while staying in Nairobi I was guest of Special Olympics Kenya.

Who sponsored your trip to Kenya?

No one as of yet. I had to borrow from my friendly Credit Union.

I understand you had a special gift for the Kenyans.

Yes. I brought with me 120 t-shirts specially designed for the games which Kilcullen Host Town Committee had sponsored along with two local families.

Wereyou not a bit scared to be going off to Africa on your own?

Certainly not. When I make a promise, I keep it. Also, I knew I was going to be among friends. I was really excited as the prospect of going there. Everyone else seemed to be nervous on my behalf but, as they say, ignorance is bliss.

Tell me about your journey.

I flew from Dublin to Amsterdam imd from there to Nairobi. Milcah, Francis and Christopher met me at the airport. My luggage didn't make the flight. I had to wait until the next day for it.

What precautions had you taken before you left Ireland?

I had six vaccinations plus a six-week course of antimalarial tablets.

What were your initial impressions of the country?

Firstly the darkness when I arrived at 8p.m. and then the brightness early in the morning. The weather in Nairobi was similar to Ireland on a pleasant day but moving west and crossing the equator made it much hotter. Also the erratic driving conditions - no traffic lights in such a city - was a real shock to me!

Where did you stay when you were in Nairobi?

When I arrived there I spent four nights in the city: three nights with Milcah one night with the Director of City Education. Then I travelled to Butuh in the Western Province to attend the games at Christopher's school. I stayed at Christopher's house with his wife. I travelled there in a small school van.

The first six hours of the journey weren't too bad but

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Sean: Phil:

Sean.

Phil:

Sean: Phil:

Sean Phil:

Sean: Phil: Sean: Phil:

Sean:

36

the last two hours were indescribable. It was dark, the roads were full of craters and the driver had never travelled doJ.n that road before.

Tell me about the games.

They lasted for three days. There were four hundred athletes competing. I had the chance to meet all the athletes who had been in Kilcullen. They were oveIjoyed and introduced me to all their friends. I was asked to present some of the prizes as Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony. I met the Bishop of Kitale who is a Kiltegan missionary. He has been there for thirty-one years.

What was the food like?

I ate as the Kenyans did. It was basic but good: lots of rice and beef and chicken; the fish was very good. We usually ate at home but one night they took me out to a restaurant where we had ostrich, zebra and croco dile. They told me that they were sorry that they didn't have snake or giraffe on the menu that night. I was not really so disappointed. I also ate ugali made from flour and maize. I drank lots of tea.

What insight did you get into life in Kenya?

In Nairobi, there are extremes of wealth and poverty.

What little the poor people have, they share. A bit like Ireland was when I was a child: no running water, no modem facilities in the rural areas and very basic housing conditions but the people have hearts of gold.

How were you treated?

Like royalty. They couldn't do enough for me. They bought a mosquito net for me. Milcah slept on a mattress on the floor and gave me her bed. I was escorted everywhere I went. They believed I would come. It meant so much to them. You could see the joy in their faces, and the excitement everywhere I went.

I understand that your family have been very patient over the past few months.

Yes but also very supportive. The next visit to Kenya will be a family trip.

And what about Kilcullen's association with the Kenyans?

We would like to maintain the contacts and hopefully provide some financial assistance for projects they have in mind. Special Olympics Kenya have invited me to attend the next World Games in Shanghai in 2007 as part of their delegation. And you know what?

I just very well might go.

I am sure you will.

The Kilcullen Experience

J

The Kenyan'Special Olympics Team Coaches: Milcah Omenda, Malik Elkindiy, Patrick Wanyama, Samuel Kiura, Francis Addikah, Celestine Buluti, Maureen Alur, Richard Omaseme, Christopher Wandera, Virginiah Magachi.

Athletes: David Kinyua, Muthama Kilonzo, Isaac Tembe, Josephat Kipkorir, Dan Eric Omondi, Joshua Agare Japhethe, Ramadan Salim Twalib, January Juma, Jenipher Angeyo, Larine Daisy, Winnie Kibera, Eliud Nyambati Ogari, Mustafa Abubakar, Samuel Wekesa Nasongo, Godfrey Obasale, Jotham Kilimo, Hamilton Onzere, Mica Kipruto Kamen, Sheila Mbane, Judy Njaki, Andrew Mburu, Kimanthi Mbatha.

KilcullenHost Town Volunteers Anne Bernard Mary John Fiona John

Bath Berney Berney Brady Brown

Calvey Magdalene Campbell Charlton Mary Frances Clare Noel Clare Sean Crowe Dina Dillon Joseph Lisa Michael

Dooley Dooley Doran

Nessa Dunlea Brian Dr. Dunne Bernadette Dunne Kieran Forde Joan Forde Sineda Forde Patrick Gallagher Therese Gorman Sue Goulding Philomena Griffin Wayne Emlyn Matt Anne Mark

Hegarty-Kelly Hegarty- Kelly Jennings Jennings Jennings

Siodhna Ray John Ger Niall PJ Frances Fred Roisin Frank Frances

Kavanagh Kelly Kelly Kelly Kennedy Lydon Maher Maher Mc Bride Mitchell

Padraig Gese

Moloney Moloney Muecke

Rosemary Mary

Mullins Murphy

Mary Shane Maurice Seamus Mary Eilis Dick Kitty Esther Sabina Billy Paul Nancy Joseph Nora

Murray Nolan 0 Mahoney Phelan Phelan Phillips Reade Reade Reddy Reddy Redmond Robbins Robbins Robinson Salmon

Margaret Brenda Mary Liam Mary Fergal Fiona Daniel John Gabrielle John Margaret Mark Siobhan Sandra Anne

Salmon Scullion Sherry Sherry Shortt Sloan Sloan Sweeney Sweeney Sweeney Talbot Talbot Traynor Tutty-Bardon Walsh Wheeler

,,-

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