Some 26 Irish athletes are on their way home after securing a bumper crop of eight medals for skiing at the Special Olympics Winter Games in Austria.

Team Ireland have added four more medals to their treasure chest at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, bringing their current total to eight.

Any national governing body that does not adhere to Sport Ireland‘s new governance programme will have their funding removed, according to Minister of State for Sport, Patrick O’Donovan.

A new centre for Special Olympics Ireland is opening today.

Mary Davis first burst into the public consciousness in 2003 as the Irish woman who spearheaded the Special Olympics moving out of the US for the first time.

An Irish woman has been announced as the new global CEO of the Special Olympics.

Thousands of volunteers are hitting the streets this morning collecting for the Special Olympics as part of their national fundraising day.

Special Olympics Ireland are to have a National Collection Day on Friday, April 22.

Well known GAA stars have joined forces with Special Olympics Ireland to get ‘freezin’ for a reason’ this December and take the Polar Plunge for charity.

Medal-laden Team Ireland returned home to a heroes’ welcome yesterday following a spectacular performance at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Hundreds of cheering fans have given Team Ireland’s Special Olympic Athletes a hero’s welcome at Dublin Airport.

Team Ireland returning home from Special Olympic World Games in LA.

THERE are few things as inspiring, as uplifting as the sight of an indomitable human spirit defying the odds to realise a long-held dream.

Yesterday was another magic day for Team Ireland at the Special Olympics in LA.

Today FM’s Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show is broadcasting from LA this week to cover the Special Olympics World Games - and this morning they captured a very special moment live on air.

Team Ireland’s remarkable achievement at the Special Olympics World Summer Games is testament not just to the athletes’ talents and hard work but also to the indomitable human spirit within each one of us to overcome adversity — even in the most straitened circumstances.

HEARTIEST congratulations to three Irish swimmers who claimed the country’s first medals at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Perhaps they were spurred on by the words of encouragement for the Irish team from actor Colin Farrell and footballer Robbie Keane. It is heartening to see Irish celebrities taking such an interest the games.

Just havin' the craic with the Irish.

Michelle Obama has welcomed thousands of athletes to the Special Olympic World Games in Los Angeles.

The city’s newspaper, the Downey Patriot, have tweeted a welcome to the Ireland group

The Irish Special Olympics team departed for Los Angeles yesterday on a quest for glory at the World Summer Games, which get under way on Saturday.

With the Special Olympics just around the corner, Ireland has announced their team heading to the games - with some help from Liam Neeson.

Athletes come to the Special Olympics Ireland to compete and have fun. And 100 will win places on Team Ireland for the world games in Los Angeles next year.

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.

Contrasting sporting events of immense significance to all those involved take place today at opposite sides of the globe.

A poignant television documentary is set to feature the triumphs of, and the challenges faced by, people with Down syndrome.

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.

A massive homecoming is planned for the Irish Special Olympics Team tomorrow as they arrive into Dublin airport with a terrific total of 107 medals from the Athens games.

It was another action packed day for Team Ireland at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens with competition in 11 different sports.

Team Ireland’s winning streak at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens continued today, scooping ten medals.

Gardaí and PSNI officers will today continue a Special Olympics torch run spanning the island of Ireland.

A €16m fund-raising drive will be launched today to train 16,000 disabled athletes for the next Special Olympics.

Gardaí were still searching today for six athletes and coaches who failed to catch their flights home from the Special Olympic Games.

Gardaí have issued traffic advice for motorists in Dublin to facilitate the Special Olympics closing ceremony, which takes place tonight at Croke Park.

The final stage of the Special Olympics World Summer Games gets underway in Dublin later today.

Team Ireland has won twelve medals in the kayaking events at the Special Olympics.

Irish athletes have won 32 more medals in gymnastics events at the Special Olympics.

It was a great day for Team Ireland's Gynasts as they took 10 Gold, 13 Silver and 9 Bronze.

The daughter of the founder of the Special Olympics World Games has launched a new childrens book aimed at educating young people about disabilities.

Irish athletes have brought their Special Olympics medals tally to 100 after a haul of 32 in the rhythmic gymnastics events.

Team Ireland has won two gold medals in the Special Olympic swimming events at the National Aquatic Centre.

Ireland has won seven medals today at the Special Olympics.

GAA president Sean Kelly has hailed the Special Olympics opening a huge success following Saturday night's Croke Park spectacular.