It takes a lot to compete in alpine skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.
But if you want an added challenge, try competing for a country where there are no snowy slopes in the first place.
It would be normal to assume this would be somewhat of hindrance when pitting yourself against countries like Austria and Canada, where ski resorts are aplenty.
But in Ireland, athletes are finding a different way.
Head of Team Ireland’s delegation Sinead Costello said the facilities on hand for athletes ensures they are primed for action at the Winter Games, even without the snow at home.
Ireland has six athletes who will be vying for a grand total of 18 medals over the course of this week in alpine skiing.
The skiers will compete in three different disciplines: slalom, giant slalom and super-G.
Team Ireland members Donal Brennan, Lorraine Whelan, Caolan McConville, Clive Healy, Máire Connelly and Lucy Best at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Speaking to the Irish Independent in Sestriere, the ski resort in Italy’s western Alps, Ms Costello said the team had done their homework ahead of the Games.
“We actually have two ski slopes, they’re dry slopes in Ireland. We’ve one in Kilternan in Dublin and one up in Craigavon in the North. These are the slopes where our athletes train on a weekly basis during the ski season,” she said.
“Our athletes are all skiers as well, so they ski with their families, and then preparing for the Games, we actually came to Sestriere for a week and we skied on these exact slopes, so that’s what we did to prepare.”
So Ireland isn’t at a disadvantage to the more traditional winter sport nations?
“We’re definitely able to do enough to adapt, they train weekly with their clubs and they’re training all year round. Some of these athletes have been training since they were teenagers,” Ms Costello said.
“They’re all life-long skiers, and they do take regular ski holidays on the snow – but the artificial slopes are great, they’re able to learn how to run the slalom and all that.”
The six skiers representing Team Ireland hail from five different counties.
One of whom is Caolan McConville (21) from Aghagallon, Co Antrim – only a short journey to the dry slopes in Craigavon.
Mr McConville is competing at his second Special Olympics World Winter Games. His first Games was as a 13-year-old in Austria in 2017, where he took home a silver and bronze medal.
This is the first World Winter Games since then, due to the disruption caused by Covid.
Now, Mr McConville is back on the world stage and making history for Ireland.
“We actually entered him at intermediate and yesterday [Monday], he was upgraded to advanced. He’s a really skilled skier and we’re really delighted, so proud of him, the first ever advanced skier coming out of Ireland,” Ms Costello said.
Caolan McConville of Team Ireland. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Moments after Mr McConville weaved down the Alpine slopes he was already talking about the difference eight years make in readying himself for what he hopes will be even more glory.
“It [the divisioning] went well, probably one of the best ones I’ve ever had in fairness. Adrenaline is still pumping through me,” he said.
He described his first Games in 2017 as “daunting” but said it prepared him for what to expect in Sestriere.
“Now I’m more ready, I’ve raced a lot more. But back then you’re only a kid, I just went with the flow. I’m a lot more ready this time around,” he said.
His father, Peadar said the “level of coaches we have on our slope were able to bring the best out of him” when he took up skiing as a child.
He said Team Ireland would bring confidence to compete with the big nations.
“You look at the Austrians, you look at the Canadians, you look at the Americans, the Swiss. We’re only Ireland, we don’t have snow, but I’ll tell you what we do have, we have the luck of the Irish and it’s coming up to Paddy’s Day and we’ll use that,” he said.
He added proudly that his son would be “dancing with the big guys” but he was hopeful for even more success.
Donal Brennan of Team Ireland at the Turin 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Sestriere, Italy. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Other competitors for Ireland on the slopes include Clive Healy from Waterford, Donal Brennan from Dublin, Lucy Best from Antrim, Máire Connolly from Galway and Wicklow’s Lorraine Whelan who will be competing in a phenomenal fifth Winter Games.
The real racing begins today – and Team Ireland is going downhill fast, but in this sport, that’s a very good thing.