|
Congratulations to everyone associated with the recent success of the “Mini Pops Stars In Their Eyes”. The event was used as a fundraiser to help send two local athletes Siobhan McMahon and Julie McGrath, to the Special Olympics World Games which will be held in China later this year.
The “Mini Pops” was run over two consecutive nights and attracted tremendous crowds to Grant’s Hotel on both occasions. The even, one of the most memorable in Roscrea this year was organised by North Tipperary Special Olympics Co-Ordinator, Ciara Minogue. Ciara was quick this week to heap praise on Annette Hickey who is credited with coming up with the idea of the “Mini Pops” event. Ciara would also like to acknowledge the tremendous help and support of Proinnsias Loughnane, Katie Spencer and Emma McMahon without whom the event could not have taken place. Ciara would also like to thank the management and staff of Grant’s Hotel for all their co-operation and Ger O’Meara and Niall Maher for organsing sound on the night. A big thank you also to the “Lions Club” and Noel O’Meara who recorded the event on DVD which is on sale now. Ciara would also like to acknowledge Colaiste Phobal and Oliver Egan for providing a stage and Brian Whelan who did such a wonderful job as M.C for the occasion. Finally Ciara would also like to thank all who helped in any way on the two nights of the “Mini Pops”, and thanks also to the local schools for their support. All the participants were considered a joy and a privilege to work with, so well done to all concerned.
Congratulations to Roscrea local woman Ciara Minogue who has taken on the task of Special Olympics Ireland Co-Ordinator for North Tipperary.
Ciara Minogue (North Tipperary Special Olympics Ireland Co-Ordinator) pictured recently with Siobhan McMahon and Julie McGrath who will compete in the Special Olympics World Games in China later this year. A number of fundraising events will be organised over the coming weeks and all support would be warmly appreciated.
Ciara who was a leading organiser in the very successful Tommy Fleming benefit concert held before Christmas, will operate from her office at St Cronans Association, Roscrea, and will front a campaign to help raise €35,000.00 to send two athletes from North Tipperary to the Special Olympics World Games which take place in Shanghai later this year. Money raised will also be used to help maintain the Special Olympic Clubs already in existence and most importantly the recruitment of new athletes into the Special Olympics Programme.
One of the highlights of the fundraising campaign will be the staging of “Mini Pops “Stars In Their Eyes” next Tuesday and Wednesday evening the 3rd and 4th of April at 7.30pm sharp in Grant’s Hotel, Roscrea. The event is widely anticipated to be one of the highlights of the year in Roscrea with huge interest from kids in all the schools in Roscrea and the surrounding areas. Tickets are on sale now from “The Music Store” and Farrelly’s Dentist Practice. The tickets are moderately priced at just €10.00 for adults and €5.00 for children, and all are encouraged to come out and support what promises to be a very entertaining evening.
Rehearsals for the event are going well and the excitement surrounding the occasion is growing as each day passes. The event will mirror the highly successful “Stars In Their Eyes” held last October in Roscrea, the only difference is that this time, children from the local area will strut their stuff on stage and be the focus of everyone’s attention for the two nights.
Ciara will be helped by a very enthusiastic supporting committee including Proinnsias Loughnane, Annette Hickey, Tracy Spencer and Ciara’s daughter Emma as she continues her quest to help raise €35,000.00 to send two athletes from North Tipperary to the Special Olympics World Games which take place in Shanghai later this year. All money raised from the “Mini Pops” will also be used to help send the athletes to China as well as to help maintain the Special Olympic Clubs already in existence. Funds raised will also be used to help with the recruitment of new athletes into the Special Olympics Programme.
The “Mini Pops” is just one of many events that Ciara has organised as part of the fundraising campaign. Last week she also helped stage a wonderful fancy dress party in the Auburn Lounge which attracted great interest from the local community. Ciara would like to thank all who supported the event and she would also like to thank Loughmore National School who raised money for Ciara’s campaign recently by way of a special “pancake day” at the school.
Ciara Minogue “Special Olympics Ireland Co-Ordinator for North Tipperary” is pictured here with Shannon Hayes and Paul Hayes at the recent “Fancy Dress Competition” held in the Auburn lounge Roscrea, to help raise funds to send two local athletes to the Special Olympic World Games which will be held in China later this year.
In addition to all these fundraising events, Ciara has also organised a monster raffle in aid of “Special Olympics”. Tickets for the raffle go on sale very soon and all support would be very much appreciated. If you or your school, business, club or organisation would like to run an event and help Ciara send our two local athletes to the Olympics in China, please contact Ciara on (085)1398840 for more information.
Students from Loughmore National School, present Ciara Minogue (Special Olympics Ireland Co-Ordinator for North Tipperary) with a cheque for €250.00 which was raised by the school recently. The money will now be used to help support the fund to send two local athletes to the Special Olympics World Games which take place in China later this year.
The two athletes selected to compete in China at the world Games in October are Siobhan McMahon and Julie McGrath. Both athletes are clients of St Cronan’s Association in Ireland and both athletes are looking forward to what will be a trip of a lifetime next October.
The first athlete is Siobhan McMahon, a native of Roscrea who lives with her mother Maureen and has seven brothers and three sisters. Siobhan has immersed herself in Special Olympics since 1983. She participated in the European Games in 1985 and went onto the world Games in Connecitut in 1990 where she won a gold medal in running and a silver medal in the high jump. In 2001 a five-aside soccer league was set up and she won two Munster League Medals and a Munster Cup medal. Siobhan came third in the National Games in 2002. In 2003 Siobhan represented Ireland on the first Ladies football team to represent Ireland at the European games in Luxemburg. In 2006, Siobhan won a gold medal at the Ireland games in Belfast for five aside ladies soccer. As a result of her great success in Belfast, Siobhan was selected to represent Ireland at the world games in Shanghai, China in 2007.
Brian Whelan pictured with Coara Minogue at the recent Fancy Dress Fundraiser in aid of Special Olympics
The second athlete we have representing North Tipperary in China is Julie McGrath. Julie is a native of Barane, Templemore and she lives with her parents, Liam and Mary. She has one brother and a younger sister. Julie participated in the National Games in Dublin in 2002 in athletics. Julie then became involved in the St Cronan’s soccer team and won the Munster league in 2004. In 2006 Julie won a gold medal in Belfast at the Ireland games in five aside ladies football. As a result of her success in Belfast, Julie was selected to represent Ireland at the World games in Shanghai, China in 2007.
Both Siobhan and Julie are training very hard for the Olympics and both are fully committed to the Special Olympics motto “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”
| 
