Chapter X: Josephine and the Club – Transparency, Oversight, and Hidden Power



Josephine’s journey with the Special Olympics club began in 2008, offering her a sense of belonging, purpose, and community. At first, the club appeared to be a haven for athletes, providing structured programs, support, and a space to grow. Yet beneath this façade lay a troubling reality: a club operating with minimal oversight, opaque governance, and an almost unchallenged authority over its members.

The Blue Dolphins Special Olympics Club, based in Wicklow, is publicly associated with a handful of key figures. Pam Beacom, co-founder, has long been celebrated for her dedication and service to the club and the broader Special Olympics movement. Clara Jenkins, cited in community coverage as Chairperson, is credited with leadership and the promotion of inclusive initiatives, such as sailing programs for athletes with special needs. Additionally, Aisling Beacom, Pam’s daughter, has been recognized historically as an athlete representative. These names are the only ones consistently visible in public records and community reporting.

But beyond these few individuals, there is scant information. No comprehensive, up-to-date committee list exists. There are no public records confirming the identities of secretaries, treasurers, managers, or ordinary committee members. There is no evidence of accountability for decision-making, financial management, or governance. Even the chairpersonship itself is largely undocumented in recent years, leaving open the question of who truly directs the club’s day-to-day operations.

This lack of transparency is not a trivial detail—it has real consequences for the athletes and volunteers who give their time, money, and energy. Josephine herself faced the burden of rising fees, often skipping meals just to participate. Rules and schedules became increasingly rigid, and the club’s internal decision-making remained inaccessible to those most affected by it. There was no public oversight, no formal reporting, and no mechanism to question decisions, leaving members dependent on the goodwill—or whims—of a small, largely invisible leadership circle.

The few names that do appear in public records tell only part of the story. They suggest a club sustained by dedicated individuals, yet also underscore how power within the club is concentrated and largely unchecked. The absence of transparency, the lack of accountability, and the opaque committee structure mirror a microcosm of control: a system where rules are enforced, fees are collected, and athletes are expected to comply, with little opportunity for input, scrutiny, or challenge.

For Josephine, and for many like her, this reality was not an abstract governance issue—it was personal. It affected her ability to attend, to participate fully, and even to maintain relationships outside the club. The club, meant to foster community and growth, instead imposed constraints that isolated members, prioritized fees over welfare, and left personal well-being subordinate to invisible rules.

The Blue Dolphins, in this light, reveal a cautionary tale: a community organization can appear inclusive, supportive, and vibrant, yet operate with structural weaknesses so deep that they threaten the very people it exists to serve. Without clear oversight, transparent governance, and accountability for committee members—of whom we know only a fraction—there is a danger that dedication alone cannot safeguard fairness, equity, or the welfare of athletes like Josephine.

Known Figures (Publicly Identified)

Pam Beacom – Co-founder, Distinguished Service Award recipient

Clara Jenkins – Chairperson (2017 reference)

Aisling Beacom – Athlete representative (historical)


Unknown / Unverified

Secretary, treasurer, manager, general committee members

Current chairperson (2024–2025)

Internal decision-making structures and accountability mechanisms


The story of Josephine and the Blue Dolphins is therefore not just about participation in sport; it is a story about power, visibility, and the cost of opaque governance in a community organization that, in theory, exists to serve the most vulnerable.


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