This March, Lucy Dollard (25) from Kilkenny city will travel to Abu Dhabi to compete in Athletics at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Part of a 91-strong Team Ireland squad, Lucy will represent her country at highest level of sporting competition for Special Olympics athletes.
The road to Abu Dhabi started four years ago; this week, the final preparations began in earnest for Special Olympics athletes across the country, with the official launch of Team Ireland for the 2019 World Games.
Taking place between 14-21 March 2019, Abu Dhabi 2019 will be the largest sporting and humanitarian event in the world this year. Supported by a volunteer management team of 39, Team Ireland will join 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 countries at the Games.
Supporters and sponsors caught up with the athletes for the official launch of the squad on Friday night in Dublin, ahead of their last residential Team Ireland training session this weekend.
The 91 athletes travelled to Dublin to train together and ensure that they are ready to take on their biggest sporting challenge yet.