The Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown was the location for an event to celebrate 30 years of the Special Olympics organisation across Ireland.

The Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Thomas O'Reilly, who hosted the event told the gathering that Special Olympics Ireland had grown from a small beginning in 1978 with 200 athletes, 100 volunteers and 25 affiliated groups to become one of Ireland's largest community and voluntary organisations reaching 33% of the 34,000 people with intellectual disabilities in the country.

"In 2008" he went on, "Special Olympics Ireland is a charity organisation with 11,000 athletes participating in 12 sports in 409 clubs supported by 18,000 volunteers across the Island of Ireland, week in week out.

"In addition to providing sports training and competition, Special Olympics Ireland also incorporates the Athlete Leader Programme, the Family Support Programme, Healthy Athlete Schools Programme and Volunteer Programme to name but a few."

Explaining many of the benefits Special Olympics bring to athletes in Fermanagh, Mr O'Reilly said: "Special Olympic athletes benefit socially, emotionally and physically as a result of participation in the organisation. Their lives are enhanced and enriched through Special Olympics participation. We are here to recognise these marvellous achievements, to celebrate together and to wish Special Olympics Ireland every success in their plans for the forthcoming years."

Concluding, the Chairman extended his gratitude to the organisation saying: "We would like to thank them for their support for our Fermanagh athletes and for the wonderful opportunities provided for them. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Special Olympians on their past success and wish them well in future competitions. All of the success, that we are here to celebrate, would not be possible without the very significant input of the volunteers. They provide support to the athletes is so many, many ways."