Mighty Munster prepares to send largest ever team to Special Olympics Ireland Winter Games
The SETU Arena in Waterford provided the perfect setup as Team Munster gathered to celebrate the 118 people who will travel to take part in the Ireland Winter Games in March. The day served as a final training opportunity for the floorball teams and skiers who will travel to Northern Ireland to compete, representing their clubs and communities on the National stage. Athletes had a final chance to work with coaches and receive their team kit ahead of the competition in a few weeks.
MaryKate McPartlan (18), from Rathcoole, Mallow Co.Cork, was announced as floorball team captain on the day, even more impressive considering this is the first time she’s been selected to represent her region.
I was nervous at the start (about the announcement) but now I’m getting more excited with every training. I think I’ll be a good captain- helping my team, talking to them and looking out for them. I like floorball, it’s fast and we have good banter, I score goals, but I don't have any celebrations- I just get on with it!”.
MaryKate’s parents, Trish and Brendan echoed their daughters' enthusiasm “MaryKate joined Special Olympics to have fun and keep active and that has definitely been the case. She has a huge amount of friends from the club and that’s so important, she loves it. She’s always on the way to one training or another. She doesn’t have the opportunity to take part in other local sports clubs but Special Olympics is a whole community based on including people. We get feedback from teachers saying how helpful she is in class and how she leads by example and honestly that’s all down to Special Olympics.”
Eóin O’Beara, Regional Director Munster, highlighted the sheer commitment and goodwill it takes to manage a team of over 100 people traveling to an Ireland Winter Games. “We’re so proud to have a delegation this size travelling from the Munster Region, we have multiple male and female floorball teams, and for the first time for the Munster Region, a team of skiers. These 90 athletes are supported by a team of 28 volunteer coaches and support staff including a medical coordinator. It takes huge commitment from everybody involved but the support has been fantastic. Some athletes will be travelling and staying away from home for the first time, the volunteers are so well trained and prepared. We’ve seen great local support from the Munster counties too as we have athletes representing clubs and communities from across the region”
The Munster Region will be counting down the days until the games, knowing they have trained hard and have the support of all their family, friends, and clubs behind them.
The Ireland Winter Games is a qualifying competition for the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, which will take place in Turin, Italy. This is the first year Team Munster will have athletes competing in floorball (a team sport like ice hockey but played on a court with a ball) and alpine skiing.
