It wasn't just Croke park where magic and history were being made. 46 Special Olympics Athletes got a heroes welcome at Dublin Airport returning from the 2014 European Games in Belgium. Team Ireland won 12 Gold, 21 Silver and 24 bronze. But it's not about winning, it's about taking part.
Dublin Airport terminal 2 was packed with well wishers who travelled from across Ireland to be there at the homecoming. The Irish men's 7 aside football team beat Israel and took gold, they also won the fair play award too. I met Jackie O'Connor whose son Ross was on the team, she met him at the airport.
It's true, there is a feeling, I got it in Athens in 2011 at the opening ceremony when Keith Wood sneaked me into the parade in front of thousands of people. I got this rush of happiness, it's a real amazing feeling, when all these athletes come together something truly out of this world happens. It's like a good bag of chips.
Behind the scenes of winning medals there are so many exciting things going on in grass roots level up and down the country.
Special Olympics Ireland are now planning for The World Games in LA next summer and Barack and Michelle Obama are rumoured to be getting involved which sounds very exciting. Special Olympics Ireland changes lives through sport, athletes develop both physically and emotionally, make new friends, realise their dreams and know they can fit in.
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