Near-End Chapter: A Public Plea for Change

Near-End Chapter: A Public Plea for Change

As the years passed, our story — once personal and quiet — became something larger. The silence from Special Olympics Ireland HQ lingered, stretching from unanswered emails to ignored testimonies. Yet we kept going, documenting, gathering support, and finding voices brave enough to speak. And then, near the turning point of our journey, we wrote what we hoped would become a catalyst:


---

📣 An Open Message to Minister Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue

Dear Ministers,

We are reaching out from the Friends of Special Olympics Ireland group — made up of athletes, former volunteers, family members, and concerned supporters — to ask for your help in addressing serious behind-the-scenes challenges impacting athletes with intellectual disabilities across Ireland.

Many of us have witnessed:

💸 Athletes skipping meals just to pay rising club fees

😓 Personal loans being taken out to attend Games

🚫 Isolation from family and support networks, due to controlling club policies

📉 Lack of transparency or oversight at club level


These are not just stories — they are lived experiences. For some, Special Olympics Ireland has offered joy, inclusion, and community. But for others, it has become a place of silence, where support is conditional and questioning the system comes with consequences.

We are asking:
👉 Will you call for the creation of an Independent Oversight Committee within Special Olympics Ireland — one that listens to athletes, families, and volunteers directly?
👉 Will you ensure that no athlete is left in debt, hungry, or isolated because of the cost of inclusion?
👉 And will you ask HQ why so many of our calls, letters, and messages still go unanswered?

This is a chance for your department to lead with compassion, courage, and accountability.

Sincerely,
Friends of Special Olympics Ireland
#InclusionMatters #SportForAll #AthletesFirst #SOIrelandOversightNow


---

It wasn't about politics. It wasn't about anger. It was about justice, dignity, and finally giving voice to those who had spent too long feeling forgotten.

As we prepared for the All-Ireland Games in 2026, the question remained: Would anyone finally listen?


Popular posts from this blog

Shadows Behind the Medals at Special Olympics Ireland

Overview: The book weaves together deeply personal experiences, focusing on friendships, loss, and the challenges faced by those involved in the Special Olympics community, particularly in Ireland. It highlights the struggles of athletes, volunteers, and supporters, showcasing both the positive impact of the Special Olympics as well as its darker sides, such as financial strain, limited support, and the way its operations sometimes create rifts in personal relationships. --- Key Themes & Events: 1. The Tragic House Fire in Bray (2005): The story begins with a personal tragedy: a house fire in Bray that claims the life of the protagonist's (you) friend's father, William. This devastating event leaves William homeless for several months as his house is repaired. During this time, your close friendship with William and his best friend, Josephine, forms the backbone of the narrative. Josephine divides her time between Bray and Dublin, supporting both you and William as they nav...
Read more

Shadows of Friendship and Change

Chapter 1: The Tragic House Fire In December 2005, the small town of Bray was shaken by a devastating house fire that claimed the life of Billy Riggs, a local pensioner. The fire, believed to have been caused by a chip pan, engulfed his home on Greenpark Road, leaving his son, William, and a family friend in shock. Despite their attempts to escape, Billy could not be saved, and he was later pronounced dead at St Colmcille's Hospital. William, just 26 years old at the time, was left homeless and struggling with the loss of his father. The tragedy set in motion a series of events that would forever change the lives of those involved. One of the people most affected by this was Josephine, William's best friend and former schoolmate from New Court School in Bray. Josephine, along with others, became a crucial part of William's support system during the difficult months that followed the fire. --- Chapter 2: A Support System Josephine, who had been William's closest friend, ...
Read more

Title: Shadows Behind the Medals

This book tells the deeply personal and previously untold story of what happened behind the scenes of Special Olympics Ireland, focusing especially on the Wicklow club. At the heart of the story is a powerful friendship — between you and Josephine — and how it was slowly eroded by an organisation that claimed to support athletes, but often ended up isolating, controlling, and financially burdening them instead. The story begins in the early 2000s, with the tragic house fire in Bray in December 2005 that killed William’s father, Billy Riggs. Josephine, William’s best friend and schoolmate from New Court School, and you, offered William support during this dark time. Josephine travelled between Bray and Dublin, spending Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Bray, and the rest of the week in your home, where she had her own key since 2003. These were years of deep friendship, emotional support, shared meals, DVDs, and TV nights — and building a quiet refuge from the world. Over time, howeve...
Read more