There were gold and silver moments at last night’s charity cheque presentations by Castleisland Races Committee at Tom McCarthy’s Central Bar.
Members of the Kerry Stars Special Olympics team and mentors were guests of the committee and were also recipients of a cheque for €2,000 from the proceeds of the town’s recent racing festival.
Golds and Silver for Gary and Jonathan
The Kerry Stars athletes brought their medals along to the presentation ceremony. Two Castleisland athletes, Gary O’Sullivan and Jonathan Kerins brought home four golds and a silver between them.
Gary’s golds were won in the 4kg Shot Putt and in the 400m walk. Jonathan’s double gold and silver medals were all won in the swimming pool. He won gold in both the 50 metre and relay swims and his silver medal came from the 100m event.
Abu Dhabi World Games
The Kerry Stars were representing their county and province at the All-Ireland games in Santry in Dublin and they now have their sights set on the next Special Olympics Summer World games in Abu Dhabi next year.
The Kerry Stars Special Olympics Club was formed in September 2002 by a group of families.
Positive Self Image
Its objective was and still is to provide athletes with special needs the opportunity to be productive and respected members of society through participation in an all year round sports and competition programme.
This in turn creates a more positive self image, inclusion, enjoyment and new friendships for the athletes.
There is, at present, 50 athletes in the Kerry Stars Club and they come from the Killarney, East Kerry and Mid Kerry areas.
The Maine Valley Post has, is and always will be a free resource for the people of the locality and its wider diaspora.
When we started in 2013, the intention was to be a weekly, online newsletter. Over time, the site has evolved into a much different beast with multiple updates on a daily basis.
Because of its nature as a digital publication, it brings with it certain expenses: computers and cameras that require updating and maintenance; internet hosting and access; to say nothing of the time and hard work that goes into the site. It all adds up…
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