Mick Feehan, Chairperson of Special Olympics Eastern Region retires
It's with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Mick Feehan as he finishes his 6 year tenure as Chairperson of the Special Olympics Eastern Region committee. We wish him the very best. Mick has written a heartfelt message which you can read below.
"I am writing this contribution to our Eastern Region E-zine as we live through the strangest times any of could have imagined. The restrictions which all of us have had to comply with in recent times have certainly impacted on all of our lives in many ways. Not least of these has been the cancellation of all Special Olympics training and events. I know the social interaction which involvement in Special Olympics gives us, has been sorely missed by our athletes and their families, as well as by our wonderful staff and volunteers. Hopefully we will start to see a real easing of the restrictions in the coming weeks and months. I know that Special Olympics Ireland will move to getting up and running as soon as the Public Health advice indicates that it is safe to do so. In the interim, we must act on the current advice so as to protect the health and wellbeing of all concerned.
I am writing this piece as I come to the end of my six-year term as Chairman of the Eastern Region committee and member of the Board of Special Olympics Ireland. It has been a real honour to have been appointed as the regional chairperson. My involvement with Special Olympics goes back to 1989, when I took part in the first Law Enforcement Torch Run, as a member of An Garda Siochana. Since then I have been involved in various roles and have made some real friends and had some wonderful experiences. One of the many highlights of that involvement was being on stage in Croke Park when Nelson Mandela lit the Flame of Hope for the 2003 World Summer Games. The hosting by Ireland of those games certainly put Special Olympics on a real pedestal in so many communities throughout the country and left a great legacy of goodwill which I think still exists today.
The abiding memory which I will always cherish from my involvement with Special Olympics Ireland, is around the energy and enthusiasm of our athletes whether it’s at club, regional or national events. The ethos of Special Olympics has always been that the athletes are at the centre of all that we do and this is the way it should be. I also must commend the un-stinting efforts of the family members in supporting our athletes at all the various events. Special Olympics could not operate without the very many volunteers who turn up day in and day out in supporting the many regular events which take place. I must also commend the work of the staff of the Eastern Region. The commitment and dedication of our staff are the glue which holds the region together. I thank all of the athletes, family members, volunteers and staff for the work that you continue to do.
I look forward to continuing my involvement with Special Olympics in the coming years and hope you all stay safe and well through the current challenging times. "
