About Us
The Kerry Stars
Stars Special Olympics Club was formed
in September 2002 by a group of families. Its objective was and
still is to provide athletes with special needs the
opportunity to be productive and respected members of society
through participation in an all year round sports and competition programme. This in turn creates a more positive self image,
inclusion, enjoyment and new friendships for the athletes.
There is at present 50 athletes in the Kerry
Stars club and they come from the Killarney, East Kerry and Mid
Kerry areas. The sports the club offers are athletics track and
field events, soccer and swimming, under the guidance of 20
dedicated coaches who implement a training programme for 52 weeks of
the year. The club trains for athletics during the winter months at
the SPA GAA complex and in early April move outdoors to An Riocht in
Castleisland. On Wednesday evenings soccer training takes place in
the Killarney Community College and on Sunday mornings swimming
takes place at the sports complex, Oakpark, Tralee. The Kerry Stars
is most grateful for the use of these fabulous facilities.
The Kerry Stars Club is
honoured to have sporting heroes Seamus Moynihan and Gillian O
Sullivan as club patrons, both provide great leadership as role
models for the athletes. The link between our patrons and athletes
creates the vision of barriers that have to be broken to achieve the
ultimate in sport and in life.
The Clubs success to date has
been due largely to the overwhelming support of the clubs committee,
families, local businesses and organisations, local press, local
radio and the offices of Special Olympics Munster at a regional
level and Dublin at a national level. All contributed to the growth
of The Kerry Stars Special Olympics club, giving its members the
chance to compete in sports and participate in community events.
In 2004 The Kerry Stars were
chosen as one of the clubs to work with the Smurfit School of
Business and Special Olympics Ireland for the Blue print of any new
club forming.
We look forward to your continued support which allows us to all be
part of an inclusive society.
A PLACE FOR EVERYONE!
Yours in Sport,
Paudie Healy