‘We’re so proud of all of them’
Two Breffni Blues athletes competing in Berlin.
Two Cavan athletes are competing on the global stage taking part in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin.
Angela Cleary (bowling) from Killeshandra and Philip Eoghan Comerford (kayaking) from Ballinagh are each representing the Ulster region in their individual disciplines.
They are also members of the Breffni Blues Special Olympics Club in Cavan, and this year represents the first time the local sporting organisation has had athletes help fly the flag for Team Ireland.
Angela (29) was joined out in Berlin by her mum Bernie, dad Peter, and their granddaughter Mya Rose.
Angela has already earned sixth place and a participation media in the individual bowling competition, and is set to compete in Doubles later today (Wednesday, June 21).
The bowling team were trained by Head Coach Veronica Murray, now in her fifth World Games, and who in 2020 won a Volunteer of the Year award with Special Olympics from the Federation of Irish Sports. Veronica is assisted by Michael Mason, a coach with South Dublin Strikers bowling club for the last 22 years, and head coach for the last eight years.
Born in Chelsea, England, Angela has been involved with Special Olympics for seven years and Berlin is her first World Games.
“She’s happy, she’s always been a good kid, she’s great,” says mum Bernie, who like the parents of other Team Ireland athletes brimmed with pride to witness her daughter walk out at the opening ceremony.
“It’s amazing over there, I’ve never seen anything like it,” she says.
Bernie adds: “We’re all just so proud of them. They’re all winners already.”
Tomorrow morning will see Philip Eoghan meanwhile take to the water to compete for the first time at a World Games also.
Philip Eoghan has been active in Special Olympics with Breffni Blues Special Olympics Club since 2016, in bocce, golf, and athletics to various levels of national success, and now in his new chosen sport, kayaking.
Special Olympics kayaking is a flat water racing event where the athletes compete either on their own or as a pair with another athlete.
The Team Ireland kayakers are trained by Head Coach Declan O’Connell who coaches the Mallow Special Olympics Club, assisted by Esther King and Cathal Ruane.
The 34-year-old will compete in the 200 metres at 9am on Thursday, June 22, and the 500 metres competition on Saturday, June 24.
Back home Philip Eoghan trains in Butlersbridge at the Cavan Adventure Centre with expert kayaker Sean Ledwith, and his mum Ann, who is also out in Berlin, says before travelling he spent time tackling courses in Dublin, Kildare, and Galway.
“He trained in all these places to give him a taste of what it will be like.”
She too described the atmosphere over in Berlin as “fantastic”.
“They’ve been really good to us, the athletes and their families. They’ve been very accommodating. It has been a great experience for everyone.”
Chairperson of the Breffni Blues Special Olympics Club, Mary Murray, wished all the Cavan and Team Ireland athletes the "best of luck" and congratulated them on their achievements.
The club intends to host an event to welcome home Angela and Philip Eoghan, the details of which have yet to be announced.
The 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games runs from June 17-25.
It is the first time the country has hosted the games, with around 7,000 athletes and Unified partners attending from approximately 170 countries to compete in the 24 sports listed.
Cavan's golfing superstar Leona Maguire, who won her second LPGA Tour title when firing a superb 64 to secure victory in the Meijer LPGA Classic at the weekend, was among a host of others who posted messages of support for #TeamIreland in Berlin.
Around 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers are also in attendance, and the events are taking place at 15 different venues from the Olympiapark Berlin to the SC Brandenburg and the Wannsee.