GALLERY: Heroes welcome for Special Olympians
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Special Olympian Jack Egan pictured with Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy. PHOTOS: DAVY MULLEN. David MullenImage 2 of 14
Jack Egan pictured with Mary Wall, Niamh Cooke and his mum, Rita Egan. David MullenImage 3 of 14
Cllr Eddie Fennessy pictured with Fionnuala Russell, Fiona Farrell (Assistant Table Tennis coach at Special Olympics) & Cadhla Corrigan-Farrell. David MullenImage 4 of 14
John Blake and Lisa Purcell pictured at the event. David MullenImage 5 of 14
Cllr Eddie Fennessy presents a Certificate of Participation to Jack Egan. David MullenImage 6 of 14
Mayor Fennessy presents a Certificate of Participation to Fiona Brady. David MullenImage 7 of 14
Philomena O’Hare receiving her Certificate of Participation from Cllr Fennessy. David MullenImage 8 of 14
Cllr Eddie Fennessy presents a Certificate of Participation to Emma Costello. David MullenImage 9 of 14
Special Olympians (from left), Fiona Brady, Philomena O’Hare, Emma Costello & Jack Egan with Cllr Eddie Fennessy. David MullenImage 10 of 14
Jack Egan pictured with Clar Muhammad and Brigid Farrell. David MullenImage 11 of 14
Cllr Eddie Fennessy presents a Certificate of Achievement for participation in the Nature Wellbeing Programme to Nuala Burns. David MullenImage 12 of 14
Mayor Eddie Fennessy and Tom Maher (Navan Arch Club volunteer) present a Certificate of Achievement for participation in the Nature Wellbeing Programme to Paul Alford. David MullenImage 13 of 14
Cllr Eddie Fennessy and Tom Maher (Navan Arch Club volunteer) present a Certificate of Achievement for participation in the Nature Wellbeing Programme to John Butler. David MullenImage 14 of 14
David MullenNavan's Special Olympians received a heroes welcome when they arrived home from the World Games in Berlin earlier this month.
Athletes, Fiona Brady, Jack Egan and Emma Costello and basketball official, Philomena O'Hare, arrived together to a function in the Balreask Arms where they received a rapturous welcome.
They were welcomed by chair of Navan Arch Club, Karen Kinihan, who congratulated all four on their achievements. The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy presented them each achievement awards and said it was an honour and a privilege to attend the Arch Club homecoming.
"Local members Fiona, Jack, Emma and Philomena are an inspiration to us all.
They are great ambassadors for Ireland. Meath is very proud of them and we wish them every success in the future," he said.
The event was also attended by local TD, Deputy Damien English.
Emma Costello won gold in the 400metres and silver in the long jump in Berlin. A member of the Navan Special Olympics Club, she will be displaying her medals at Croke Park on Saturday when the Meath ladies compete in the Tailteann Cup.
Fiona Brady represented Ireland in Table Tennis and won two silver medals in the ladies singles and mixed doubles.
Jack Egan produced a personal best to take fifth and sixth in his swimming events. Jack and Fiona compete for the Navan Arch Club.
Philomena O'Hare is a former basketballer who has retired from competing and was a table official for basketball at the World Games.