Omagh club races to raise £10,000 to send team to the Special Olympics Ireland Games

A LOCAL sports club in Omagh is facing a major fundraising challenge as it prepares to send its largest-ever group of athletes to the Special Olympics Ireland Games this summer.

Omagh Spires Special Olympics Club needs to raise at least £10,000 in order to be able to send its biggest team yet to the event this summer.

Club chairperson, Siobhan Armstrong, described both pride and pressure as the club works to meet the target.

Siobhan, who has been chairperson for five years and a member of the club for 11 years, said the role has been “very eventful” as the organisation has grown significantly.

“Being chairperson has been very good,” she said. “Since I took over the club, we have added two more sports. The demand was there as the club had doubled, and the sports we had were overflowing. We added football and athletics.”

The Ireland Games, set to take place in Dublin from June 18 to 21, marks the third stage of a four-year competition cycle, progressing from local and regional events to the national stage, with successful athletes potentially qualifying for the World Games.

“This is our third year,” Siobhan explained. “If anyone from the Ireland Games scores well, they will get a chance at the World Games.”

This year, the club will send its biggest team yet, two across football, athletics, bocce and swimming. Normally, around six members qualify.

“It is the most members we will have at the Ireland Games,” Siobhan said. “We had other athletes, but some declined as they were too young, some were only nine years-old.”

The club supports members aged from six to 50 years, with those travelling to Dublin ranging from sixteen to their forties.

Funding pressure

Despite the excitement, funding remains the club’s biggest challenge.

“For each athlete to go, it is £500, and we also have to send three chaperones, and they are all £500,” Siobhan said. “We need about £8,000 just to get them to the Ireland Games. With travel, training and other costs, we will need around £10,000, and as a club, we do not have that sort of money.”

Recent fundraising efforts included a charity event at the Riverfront Café during Omagh’s Christmas lights switch-on, a Night at the Races in the Coach Inn, and marathon runs by Callum Armstrong and Keelan Campbell, who together raised more than £3,500.

However, Siobhan said fundraising has become increasingly difficult.

“We are very conscious people do not have as much money and we have done a couple of events close together,” she said. “We are thinking about what else we could do, maybe a coffee morning nearer the time so people can meet the athletes before they go.”

The club has approached the council and local businesses for support but has faced funding restrictions.

“It is a lot of red tape,” Siobhan said. “We are a charity, but we do not qualify for certain grants. Letters have been sent to businesses, but so far there has been nothing as of yet.”

The organisation draws members from across the wider area, including Fivemiletown, Enniskillen, Drumquin and Carrickmore, particularly following the closure of special Olympics classes at Enniskillen Leisure Centre.

While fundraising is partly focused on the Ireland Games, Siobhan stressed the need to support all members.

“It is a big club and only twelve athletes are going, so we cannot be seen putting everything towards them and nothing towards the rest. The money still goes into the club, but if we do not get enough, we will not be able to go.”

One of the most memorable moments came when athletes learned they had been selected, including Pádraig Quinn, who had long hoped to compete.

“He had never been to any of the Games and wanted it so badly,” Siobhan said. “When I called his name, he went to his knees and cried tears of joy. He hugged all the volunteers and asked to phone his mum. They were all so delighted.”

While two athletes have competed at Ireland and World Games level before, most will be attending for the first time.

“They are all very proud of themselves,” Siobhan added. “They have started training and they are so excited. Now it feels real, every one of them wanted it badly, and I am glad they did.”

To follow along with their fundraising and any future fundraising events, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/

OmaghSpiresSpecialOlympicsClub