Team Ireland kick off in Croke Park
She’s the only Connacht woman of the 438 athletes who bid for honours from June 21 to 29.
Except Ann won’t be competing on terra firma, as, in the swim of things she’s a stalwart of the aquatics team.
“I train two times a week,” said the woman who has already represented Ireland in the European Games.
“Ann is doing fantastic in her training,” said Trevor Devlin, a coach with the Special Olympics for the past four years.
He confided: “Ann is actually the reason I got into the Special Olympics. I was introduced to Ann five and a half years ago and we began training soon after that.”
Trevor, a full-time swimming coach running his own business from Westport, teaches children and adults with special needs and as a result provides services for$ most of Co Mayo.
Grant Wilson, another aquatics team member, from Glengormley, Co Antrim, took silver for Ireland at the last World Games in North Carolina. “Swimming is my thing,” joked the man who trains four times a week.
On the immaculate green sward of Croke Park they gathered yesterday for the official launch of Team Ireland in Croke Park, with TV celebrity Marty Whelan warmly welcoming the heroes and their families.
“You will do this country proud,” said Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Never a man to miss a Croker gig, the Taoiseach was rewarded for his appearance with affection and a presentation kit- and he promised to be back for the opening.
Mr Ahern made an oblique reference to the SARS virus which has resulted in some affected Asian countries being banned from travelling here. “Even though we’ve had a few hiccups in the last while, hopefully we’ll get over that too,” he said.
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