TEAM IRELAND TOUCHED down in Dublin Airport on tonight with a bit more baggage than when they left.
The group of 14 athletes and a management team of eight, returned to the capital with an impressive 12 medals – three gold, six silver and three bronze, as well as six Place Ribbons — after their efforts in Alpine Skiing and Floorball at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea.
Family members, friends and supporters were there to welcome them back after a job well done.
Team Ireland come throuh the arrivals gate
Stuart Brierton, Rosalind Connolly and Gary Burton who won gold medals in Alpine Skiing
Katherine Daly, from Dalkey, Co. Dublin, who won silver in the novice super giant slalom, silver in the novice slalom and a 4th place ribbon in the novice giant slalom, is greeted by her sister
Cork athletes Joseph McCarthy and Sean Murphy
Roy Saville, from Mayfield in Cork, with his family
Floorball star Sean Murphy is welcomed home
Ryan Hill, from Richhill, Co. Armagh with his haul
William McGrath, Joseph McCarthy, George Fitzgerald, Aidan Cross and Sean Murphy who all won bronze medals
George Fitzgerald, William McGrath, Brendan O'Sullivan
Team Ireland
All pictures: Sportsfile
“Representing your country on the World sporting stage is a huge honour for any athlete but doing so well and returning with medals is an incredible achievement,” said Matt English, Special Olympics Ireland chief executive. “I would like to pay tribute to every member of Team Ireland for representing us all so well at these prestigious Games and for being such wonderful sporting ambassadors for Ireland.”
