Athlete preparations: The O'Donnell family in the Ring Gaeltacht of Co Waterford have been getting ready for months. Claire O'Donnell (34) will be taking part in two demonstration sports.
In the run-up to the Games, her family has been centrally involved in helping the local Ring committee to organise an auction, a raffle and a teenage disco to raise funds to support the 17 athletes from Carriglea Training Centre who have qualified to take part in the Games.
"Claire puts everything into it. She's stubborn and not half-hearted. She's black-haired with a little fleck of grey hair at the front that she's always had. She's tall and fantastic looking. I've never seen her looking better," says Catherine O'Donnell, proudly describing her younger sister.
Mrs Nora O'Donnell along with three of her daughters - Josephine, Marie and Catherine - will be travelling to Dublin to cheer on the athletes but most especially Claire.
Mrs O'Donnell's youngest child, Claire O'Donnell, lives about 12 miles away from the family, based at the Carriglea Training Centre, which is on the other side of Dungarvan town. She's been a resident at the centre since she was 18.
"They all love it there," says Mrs O'Donnell about Claire and her friends who live at the centre. "We're thrilled about the Games," she says. "I think it's a wonderful thing that the Kennedy girl started up. It's wonderful for them. You'd see it on their faces that they are so thrilled. Years ago those children were cast away. It's all the will of God and you have to take your child and rear them."
The excitement in the lead-up to the Games has been a very positive experience for the O'Donnells, says Catherine. "It actually made people very aware. Nobody knew I had a sister in Carriglea. This had made them aware that there are other people there that need a bit of help," she says.
"It makes me feel good to know that I have a sister who is in the Special Olympics. And they're very confident in Carriglea about her," she adds.
Born in the Ring Gaeltacht of Co Waterford, Claire O'Donnell will represent Ireland in two demonstration sports where she will be tested in basic motor activity and co-ordination tasks. Mr Tom Scanlan, Carriglea Training Centre's sports co-ordinator, says Claire will be doing a log roll and also a 10-pin bowling challenge. She has been working hard with her two coaches, Ms Marie Hyslop and Ms Nancy Fielding.