All About Cork: Rebel athlete Healy so proud to visit the Field of Dreams

As bright summer sunshine lit up the Down Syndrome Cork Field of Dreams on Friday morning, Olympian heroes compared war stories and mighty craic was had.

Cork’s Phil Healy, fresh from the World Athletics Relays in Nassau and qualifying for the Paris Olympics, was visiting the Field of Dreams as part of the Dare To Believe Schools Programme, and as she chatted with students, some of them Olympians themselves, it was very obvious that she was among friends.

Built in 2017 to meet the ongoing learning needs of adults with Down Syndrome from across Cork city and county, the Field of Dreams was developed by the Cork branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and it has thrived in the five years since.

The vision of Field of Dreams is to provide adults with Down Syndrome opportunities for ongoing learning and growth.

After her talk with the students, and back in the canteen as everyone tucked into slices of pizza, Ms Healy told The Echo her visit had been a very special morning for her and a great honour.

“It’s unbelievable to be able to be here and share my journey with everybody here in Field of Dreams. There’s an unbelievable group of people here, they’re all absolute characters in the group, we had an unbelievable laugh in the classroom, and super questions.

“It’s so important to me to be able to be part of the Dare To Believe programme and go around to the different schools. I’ve gone to mainstream schools and special schools, and to give back and share my journey, and to maybe inspire and help some of the students, it’s just really special,” she said.

“When I think back to when I was a child, you always remember who came to the school and you always remember who gave you time. So it’s so good to be able to give back in any way that you can, it is so, so rewarding.”

Ms Healy said she had been greeted at the gate by a guard of honour, something she had found extremely moving, and the Bandon athlete said she had been very impressed by what the Field of Dreams students have achieved across so many sporting codes.

“It’s a massive achievement and it’s a credit to them, to their coaches, their families and all of their support networks. For them to share their stories with me is such a privilege.”

Ms Healy has a busy few weeks ahead, with the European Championships this week, starting on Friday in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, wher she will compete in the 200m and the 4x400m relay.

“Obviously, the big one this year is the Paris Olympic Games, and we have already qualified in the relay. Individual qualification goes right up until the end of June, so that would be the main target, so hopefully, come Paris, I will be there in the 200m and the 4x400m relay.

“There has been a lot of travel so far this year, but I’m fit, I’m healthy, and that’s what I’m ready to do. It’ll be an exciting summer and I’m ready to take it on,” she said.

Ms Healy said it had been “such an honour” to visit the Field of Dreams, and she said it would be her pleasure to come back again.

Judging by the reactions of the students, she will get a hero’s welcome when she does return. Among the athletes Ms Healy met on Friday was Jennifer O’Halloran, who won medals at the Berlin Special Olympics in 2023. Hopefully, on her next visit, Ms Healy will have an Olympic medal or two of her own to show the Field of Dreams athletes.

Cork camogie star Amy O’Connor also paid a visit recently, where she helped launch their charity fundraising cycle.

You can join them on Sunday, June 9, at 9.30am for the 100km and 50km cycle, and at 10.30am for the 21km cycle for the Down Syndrome Cork - Field of Dreams Cycle event.

Get your bikes ready and let’s ride together to support individuals with Down Syndrome in Cork.

This event will be a fun-filled day of cycling, community, and raising awareness. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cyclist, there’s a route for everyone.

Refreshments at Ballinspittle and also at the Field of Dreams on completion. Register on eventbrite.ie

White Horse ‘Songsmiths’

The White Horse Rebel Frequencies has announced the latest edition of its series ‘Songsmiths’, which showcases up-and-coming songwriting talent in Ballincollig’s The White Horse. June’s show will be at 8.30pm on Saturday, June 22, and will feature Cork-based Maya Libbey, Cork-born Conor O’Leary, and Cork-born and Galway-based Aubrey Hennessy.

Raised in Luxembourg, Maya Libbey is a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Canada and Austria who currently studies at the Cork School of Music. 

She performs various styles and genres of music, ranging from classical singing, R&B and soul, to pop.

Conor O’Leary is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Cork. 

Playing guitar since the age of eight, he has performed his original music in established venues such as Cyprus Avenue and Coughlan’s. He plans to release his music to the world in the near future.

Cork-born and Galway-based, Aubrey Hennessy’s indie-folk music is composed of nostalgic lyrics and close harmonies with an unmistakable Irish flair. 

Taking inspiration from artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Laura Marling and Junior Brother, Aubrey’s music is shaped by its raw emotion and honest storytelling.

In 2020 Aubrey released her first single, Anseo as Gaeilge, followed by Plenty Days of Sun and Dive Back In.

For further information and to book tickets, see whitehorse.ie.

5km fun run

The Farran School Parents’ Association will hold a 5km Fun Run (or walk) at 7pm this Thursday, June 6, in Farran Forest Park. Registration will be from 6pm and pre-registration will be at the school again this year.

This will be the third annual fun run, with a new start and finish line, which will be near to the playground.

The event will be a timed run, with a shorter, 3km option for shorter legs and walkers, and medals for the first, second, and third male and female, over and under 13. 

There will be a medal presentation and refreshments after the race. Entry fee will be €20 per family, €10 per adult, and €5 per child.

Quiz night

This Thursday, June 6, will see a quiz night at 7.30pm, at Ballincollig GAA Club. A fundraiser to cover the cost of outdoor furniture for Scoil Eoin, the quiz is restricted to over-18s only, with an entry fee of €40 per table of four.

Tickets are available from the school office and will be on sale at the door, depending on availability, with sales cash only.

All enquiries to scoileoinpfa@hotmail.com.

GAA club lottery

The numbers drawn in the weekly Ballincollig GAA Club lottery last Thursday, May 30, were: 1, 9, 12 and 26. With a lottery jackpot of €20,000, the draw is now at the highest amount it can reach and must be won.

There was no jackpot winner drawn last week, and consolation prizes went to Ballincollig Camogie Club (€100), Jarlath McCarthy (€50), and Fergus Fitzgerald (€50).

Have Ballincollig news to share?

Contact donal.okeeffe@theecho.ie