Munster Athletes To Be Honoured At PRO12 Opener

This summer 88 athletes represented Ireland at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles; the largest sporting and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015. This Saturday the athletes from Munster will be welcomed to Irish Independent Park for Munsters first PRO12 game of the Season against Treviso.

The Games opened on the evening of July 25^th, with a star-studded Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where Team Ireland was met by a rapturous applause from the 90,000 spectators.

Team Ireland excelled at the World Games with Irish athletes (13 from Munster) taking home an impressive haul of 82 medals, 26 gold, 28 silver and 28 bronze. They also secured 41 placement ribbons and recorded an impressive 31 personal bests in what was one of the most successful Games in living memory. The athletes preformed in 12 different sports including football, aquatics, basketball, badminton, gymnastics and golf among others.

For the athletes involved, their selection to Team Ireland came after four years of training and competition. A 40-strong coaching and management team supported the athletes in Los Angeles as well as 300 family members and 150 volunteers. Special Olympics is a year-round sports organisation for athletes with intellectual disabilities. It has more than 10,000 athletes nationally and 2,500 in Munster. Through sport, athletes develop both physically and emotionally. The focus is not on disability; it is on ability.

Team Ireland represented their country at the highest level and exceeded all expectations. Munster Rugby welcomes the 13 Munster athletes and their coaches to Irish Independent Park in recognition of their outstanding achievements, on Saturday 5^th September, when Munster face Benetton Treviso (KO19:00) in their opening match of the Guinness PRO12 league.

Cork
Laura Ahern Gold (Gymnastics)
Aoife O’Sullivan Gold and double bronze (Gymnastics)
Sean Coleman Double Silver (Aquatics)
Lisa O’Brien Double Bronze (Athletics)
Colm Monahan 5th place ribbon (Football)
Trudy Hyland 5th place ribbon (Golf)

Tipperary
Kelly Delaney Silver and Bronze (Badminton)
Rachel Ryan Gold (Athletics)

Limerick
Ashleigh O’Hagan bronze (Gymnastics)

Clare
Paul Kirrane Bronze (Golf)

Kerry
Brendan O’Connell gold (Aquatics)

Waterford
John Deevy gold and double bronze (Equestrian)
Damian Kirwan 5th placement ribbon (Football)