Looking Back: Kilcullen hosted Kenya in Special Olympics World Games

When the Special Olympics World Games were held in Ireland in 2003, Kilcullen played host to participants from Kenya during the event, writes Brian Byrne. 

Held in the last week in June of that year, the theme of the Games was Share the Feeling, and included 7,000 athletes who came from around the world with 28,000 family members. Some 30,000 volunteers were involved in running the event.

Thanks to the ever-present camera of PJ Lydon, we have the images here of a local parade to celebrate the Kenyan contingent in Kilcullen. It culminated in a big reception at Kilcullen Community Centre. You can also scroll through 600 photos taken locally by Joseph Robinson during of the event, uploaded here. 

In addition to training and competing, those hosted in Kilcullen had visits to local places of interest such as the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud, and when all was over they were treated to a farewell meal and party at O'Sullivan's Guesthouse in Gormanstown.

The Kilcullen Special Olympics Committee was more than 30 strong, chaired by Phil Griffin, with Fiona Sloan acting as secretary. Needing to raise €12,000 to cover costs, one of the initiatives in the summer of 2002 was a revival of the 'toll' at Kilcullen — the village was an important place on the country's first toll road in the 18th century — where travellers coming through were asked for a voluntary donation of a euro for the privilege. In a Leinster Leader article under the byline of James Healy, committee member PJ Lydon was quoted as hoping the 'Mock Toll' would raise €1,500 to start the fund off. "When the Kenyans get here, we want to give them the time of their lives," he told the paper.

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