Absolutely brilliant! I’m so delighted, so proud, says Tipperary Special Olympic bronze medallist
It is not very often that a Special Olympics bronze medal comes to Tipperary Town, and when it does it should be well celebrated. During the past week celebrations have been taking place at the Tipperary Special Olympics Club, at the Moorehaven Centre, and at Knockanrawley Resource Centre to recognise the achievements of Frank O’Dwyer, who won a bronze medal with the Team Ireland Floorball Team in the World Winter Games in Turin.
30-year-old Frank from Ballylanders, has been active in Special Olympics with Tipperary Special Olympics Club, Munster for 12 years. In that time, he has won 10 medals representing both Team Munster and Team Ireland, across a dizzying array of sports including basketball, swimming, athletics, football, and floorball.
His sporting interests include Manchester United, Limerick hurling and Munster rugby, while in his free time he loves the cinema and socialising with friends.
Frank’s word of advice to fellow athletes is to “be a good team leader, support each other and respect your coaches and volunteers, because without them we wouldn’t be here”.
Team Ireland’s floorball bronze medal came after playing 13 matches over four days, with six wins and seven losses.
The crunch game for Team Ireland was their final games against Switzerland. A convincing 3-0 victory over Switzerland secured Team Ireland a well-deserved bronze medal, making the full tally across floorball and alpine skiing an impressive 10 medals.
“Absolutely brilliant! I’m so delighted, so proud. I’m so happy that I’m here for my country. Come on Ireland! The supporters are brilliant – they’ve been here for all of it. They’ve been supporting us every day since we came here, since the first day. I’m so delighted to take home a medal” concluded Frank.
Frank’s participation in these games has been made possible because of his involvement with the Tipperary Special Olympics Club. Frank O’Dwyer is the pride of the club and indeed of the local community in Tipperary.
“Frank was the only Tipperary athlete on the Floorball team, and along with eight other players from Mallow and Waterford, made up the Team Ireland side. There were many hard weeks and months of training for Frank before he was successful in being chosen to go to World Games. He spent every week of the last four years training in the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre with his fellow athletes and coaches, Mike Ryan, Eddie Kennedy and Lily Carter of the Tipperary Special Olympics Club.
“In 2023 they travelled to Waterford for the Regional Competition with his team and winning gold allowed the team to travel to the All-Ireland Floorball Games in Armagh in 2024. Against opposition from Leinster, Ulster, Eastern and Connacht, they succeeded and got through to the final. In a nail biting game and with the score level at full and extra time, it came down to the Golden Goal which Frank scored for the team, and this took them to the World Games in Turin and subsequently resulted in Frank and Team Ireland bringing home the bronze medal.
“Tipperary Special Olympics Club, wish to thank all those who have supported the club over the last 33 years. Without this local support our athletes wouldn’t get to be this successful” concluded Catriona.
We join with Catriona in thanking and congratulating all those who have been involved in the club and those who continue that work everyday.
Our special congratulations go to Frank O’Dwyer on his wonderful achievement in winning a Bronze Medal at the World Winter Games.
We are all very proud of you Frank!