Irish athletes pick up six golds at Special Olympics

Ireland picked up six gold medals out of a possible 19 at the Special Olympics today.

Four of them came in Trailriding at the Equestrian centre in Kill.

The other golds came in Ten Pin Bowling and Bocce.

Meanwhile, a number of celebrities gave their full support to the athletes:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver visited the National Aquatic Centre - 10am.

President Mary McAleese visited Athletics at Morton Stadium - 11.30am.

Naim Suleymanoglu, Turkey's world-famous triple Olympic gold medalist visited Powerlifting at the RDS.

The delegation from Chinese Taipei arrived in Ireland after SARS quarantine.

Laurie McMenemy, former Northern Irish football manager, held a clinic at Football in AUL.

Dylan McDermott, from TV's The Practice, presented awards for Powerlifting at the RDS.

This evening, from 6-10pm, athletes and their families will be brought together for a night of shopping in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.