Quiet Stories: The Unseen Side of Special Olympics IrelandBy William Hyland



Introduction

This book is a collection of real, raw moments. Stories that don’t always make it to the podium or into the speeches. Words shared quietly in messages, in passing, or from the sidelines. These voices may be soft, but they carry weight. Together, they tell the truth behind the medals—the sacrifices, the struggles, and the silent strength of those who make Special Olympics Ireland possible.


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Chapter 1: At Least I Can Eat

“I had no breakfast today… because we’re having an early dinner apparently. At least I can eat.”

A message from a former club member. It wasn’t angry. It wasn’t asking for help. It was just... honest. And that honesty reveals a lot.

This is what some athletes live with—not every day, but often enough. They train. They commit. They give everything they can. And sometimes, they go without basic things just to stay in the game.


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Chapter 2: She Didn’t Complain

“She didn’t complain when we couldn’t afford the trip. She just asked if her friends would miss her.”

A mother shared that with me. A moment of quiet heartbreak. One her daughter took with grace, as children often do.

How many more moments like this go unspoken?


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Chapter 3: He Used His Holiday Pay

One volunteer used his entire holiday pay to travel with the team. No reimbursement. No recognition. Just loyalty and heart.

Volunteers don’t get funded like the athletes. Some pay over €3,000 for a single trip. They do it out of love. But love shouldn’t cost them their savings.


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Chapter 4: The Buckets on the Street

“Bucket Day” fundraisers bring in much-needed money—but where does it go? Are the athletes and clubs who truly struggle seeing enough of that support?

It’s time we asked the hard questions. It’s time we stopped accepting silence as an answer.


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Chapter 5: The Cost of Inclusion

Inclusion sounds like a promise. But too often, it comes with conditions: travel loans, fundraising targets, personal sacrifices.

This isn’t how it should be.

True inclusion means support. It means access without burden. It means never having to choose between playing a sport and buying groceries.


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Conclusion: Don’t Let Silence Mean Forgetting

These stories aren’t isolated. They’re connected by a pattern—one we need to break. Athletes, families, and volunteers deserve better.

This book doesn’t have all the answers. But it refuses to look away.

If you’ve read this far, carry the message forward. Share it. Question it. Talk about it.

Because these quiet stories deserve to be heard.


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#ShadowsBehindTheMedals
#SupportNotSacrifice
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