Knockskeagh School hosts Flame of Hope

SPECIAL Olympic Ireland’s Flame of Hope visited a West Cork primary school after they won a competition.

Ahead of the Special Olympics Ireland Games, which takes place in Tallaght Stadium this Thursday, Knockskeagh National School near Clonakilty hosted the Flame of Hope on Tuesday. 

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is an important awareness raising and fundraising programme for Special Olympics in which sees members of  An Garda Síochána, along with Games team athletes, leading the Flame of Hope on a tour across the country. 

Primary schools were invited to enter a competition to win a visit, and over 80 schools registered and fundraised. 

As their fundraiser, Knockskeagh held a ‘Cinema Day’ in the school, which in turn raised €277 for the cause and were extremely lucky to be chosen as one of seven schools in Munster to host the Flame. 

The school used this event to discuss inclusion and ability in the classrooms, while spreading the message of Special Olympics.  

Olympics Ireland competitors, members of An Garda Síochána, and representatives of Special Olympics, ran with the torch towards the school where they were met at the school gate by students Charlie O’Sullivan and Daire O’Neill. 

Every pupil in the school had made their own individual Flame of Hope. 

Knockskeagh used the Flame of Hope to light their own candle. Sixth class pupils’ large model of the torch was presented to Special Olympics Ireland representatives. The Flame of Hope torch was then carried away from the school, to the next venue.