By Peg Prendeville
July is flying by but unfortunately it is not bringing any great heat or summer weather. We still hope that we will get some semblance of summer before children go back to school.
Competitors from Ireland flew out from Dublin to Los Angeles on Tuesday to take part in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, which will be held from July 25th to August 2nd. Team Ireland consists of 128 members, made up of 88 athletes and 40 coaches and managers. With 6,500 athletes and 2,000 coaches representing 165 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event this year. Among the Irish team is Lisa O’Brien from Charleville, a daughter of Liam O’Brien, originally from The Hill, Ballyhahill now living in Charleville. Liam is a nephew of Liam Enright, Clounleharde, who is nearing 90 years of age and still dancing! Lisa is representing Ireland in the Athletics competition. Recently her family organised a Race Night to raise funds for the Games and raised €12,190. Her family are travelling out independently, and will be cheering on their daughter, Lisa, who has been training all year. All of us in Ballyhahill will be cheering for her and wishing her well.
It is great to see three new houses being built in the area and gives us hope for the future. We wish the best of luck to James Chawke, Diarmuid O’Brien, Michael Hayes and their spouses and wish them well in life.
Lisa O’Brien with her family having raised money for the Special Olympics.