It was apt that on Father’s Day, Pat McConnon could boast to being the proudest Dad in the land.

The Queen didn’t do a parachute jump, but Limerick yesterday exuded a spectacular summer glow for the opening of the Special Olympic Ireland Games.

Thousands will line the streets of Limerick this evening to greet torch bearers drawn from An Garda Síochána and the PSNI to herald the opening of the Special Olympics Ireland Games.

Munster and international rugby legend Keith Wood accepts his province are “stark underdogs” in this weekend’s Heineken Cup showdown but insists every team can be beaten.

Special Olympics Ireland last night saluted a multinational firm and its workers in Cork and Limerick for their support over the past 10 years and for the upcoming national games to be held in Limerick.

Business, sporting and media figures yesterday joined forces in a rallying call for Special Olympics Ireland — a registered charity — which has to raise €1.9m in the coming months to fund its national games.

It's the feelgood story that has everything - tears of joy, sporting triumph, Gangnam Style, a South Korean GAA team and random cake.

Team Ireland has received a heroes' welcome at Dublin Airport this afternoon after major success at the Special Olympics.

A major fundraising drive by Special Olympics Ireland is underway across the country.

AS a great sports venue, Thomond Park has often been described as a cauldron. This evening it will live up to the analogy.

THE charitable foundation set up by Limerick millionaire JP McManus has given €250,000 to the Special Olympics, which take place in Limerick from June 9 to June 13.