Thursday, May 14 – Dublin: Hockey Ireland is delighted to announce the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Special Olympics Ireland, marking a significant milestone in the continued development of inclusive hockey opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability across the island of Ireland.
The agreement formalises a collaborative partnership developed over the past four years and will see Hockey Ireland lead the delivery of field hockey as an official sporting opportunity for athletes with an intellectual disability through its nationwide club network.
As part of the partnership, athletes with an intellectual disability will have the opportunity to join and play hockey through local Hockey Ireland affiliated clubs, accessing existing coaching structures, facilities and competition pathways already established across the country. Hockey Ireland has developed a strong network of Hockey4All teams within clubs nationwide in recent years, alongside a well-established competition pathway, with Irish Hockey4All teams proudly representing Ireland at two Special Olympics competitions in the Netherlands during this period.
The partnership aligns closely with Special Olympics Ireland’s Inclusive Club Framework, introduced in 2019, which supports athletes becoming members of mainstream sports clubs while continuing to access Special Olympics competition opportunities. Under the agreement, hockey will be delivered fully through Hockey Ireland and its affiliated clubs, while Special Olympics Ireland will promote these opportunities to its members and support athlete participation pathways.
Over the past four years, Hockey Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland have worked closely together to ensure that Special Olympics ethics, rules and processes are fully embedded within Hockey Ireland’s delivery model. This collaboration has included the development of competition structures and delivery models, the creation of a grading system for field hockey, divisioning training for Hockey Ireland staff and volunteers, and access to Special Olympics Ireland Intellectual Disability learning modules for Hockey Ireland staff and volunteers.
The partnership also creates exciting future international opportunities for Hockey4All athletes in Ireland. On 24 June 2023, Special Olympics International and International Hockey Federation signed an inaugural agreement recognising hockey within the Special Olympics movement internationally. Following the continued development of Hockey4All in Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland will be eligible to apply for athlete quota places at the Special Olympics World Summer Games Santiago 2027.
Speaking on the announcement, Hockey Ireland CEO Richard Fahey said:
“This partnership represents an exciting step forward for hockey in Ireland. We are proud to work alongside Special Olympics Ireland to create meaningful opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability to participate, compete and thrive within hockey clubs across the country.
“Over the past number of years, we have seen tremendous growth in Hockey4All and this agreement provides a strong platform to continue building inclusive pathways locally, nationally and internationally.”
Special Olympics Ireland CEO, Karen Coventry said:
“The Memorandum of Understanding with Hockey Ireland is an exciting first step in a partnership focused on sport, inclusion and community. Together, we will create more pathways for athletes with an intellectual disability to play and compete in hockey. Thank you to the CEO, Richard Fahey Board, and team at Hockey Ireland for their shared commitment to the power of sport to change lives.”
To support clubs, coaches, volunteers and families in understanding the new partnership and the opportunities available, Hockey Ireland and Special Olympics Ireland will host an online information webinar on Tuesday, 27 May from 19:00–20:00. The webinar is open to parents, coaches, volunteers and club members and will explore how Hockey4All clubs can become affiliated as Special Olympics Ireland clubs, the benefits of affiliation for both clubs and athletes, and how the partnership will support greater participation and inclusion within the sport.
Attendees will also hear more about the upcoming Hockey Ireland National Competition, which will take place on 6 September 2026. The webinar will conclude with an open Q&A session, giving clubs, coaches, volunteers and families the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how to get involved.
Participation in the Hockey Ireland National Competition will require Hockey4All clubs to become affiliated with Special Olympics Ireland. The webinar on 27 May will outline the affiliation process in detail, with additional supporting information to be circulated to Hockey4All clubs following the session.
Photo Caption – From left to right: Hockey Ireland marketing manager Cian Funge, Hockey ID Athlete Matthew Burke, Hockey Ireland chief executive Richard Fahey, Hockey ID Athlete Ciara O’Brien, Hockey ID Athlete Ruthanne Gallagher, Special Olympics Ireland Chief Executive Karen Coventry, Special Olympics Ireland Director of Sport Oisin Jordan and Hockey Ireland Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator Katie Ryan. Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
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