Cian O'Connor jumped for gold at the equestrian events in Athens to send the Irish tricolor aloft for the first time in the Olympic Games. The 24-year-old County Meath show jumper won the individual event with a magnificent clear round on Waterford Crystal to defeat defending world champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil. O'Connor's epic performance provided welcome relief from one … [Read more...] about News: Show Jumping Win Lifts Irish Gloom
Olympics
Olympics’ Golden Girl
Natalie Coughlin, an Irish-American swimming champion, came back from a shoulder injury and a career hiatus to win five medals for the U.S.A. in Athens. ℘℘℘ Natalie Coughlin took the swimming world by storm at this summer's Centennial Olympics. The Concord, California native won a gold medal for the women's 100 meter backstroke and a bronze for the 100 meter freestyle in … [Read more...] about Olympics’ Golden Girl
The First Irish American Olympic Champion
Born in South Boston October 28, 1868 James Brendan Connolly was the sixth son of childhood sweethearts John Connolly and Ann O'Donnell from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. But in 1895, Jim Connolly's parents were far from pleased. At the age of 27 their son gave them a great sense of pride when he entered Harvard to study engineering. Less than a year later, he … [Read more...] about The First Irish American Olympic Champion
A Very Special Olympics
Lynn Tierney reports on the Games in Ireland. ℘℘℘ "Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt." The Special Olympics Oath goes to the heart of the matter: In the effort lies the victory, in the challenge lies the glory. It's all about the striving to do your best, not besting your competitor. This philosophy is at the center of Special Olympics, an … [Read more...] about A Very Special Olympics
Preparations Underway for Special Olympics — Ireland 2003
It is a logistical challenge, the likes of which Ireland has never seen before. Over a quarter of a million lunches will have to be made, 2,000 interpreters have to be found to speak more than 50 languages, accommodation has to be found for some 40,000 people, but with just over 200 days to go to the 2003 Special Olympics summer games, organizers say that preparations are … [Read more...] about Preparations Underway for Special Olympics — Ireland 2003