KILDARE: Local homecoming for gold medalist at Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin

Rathangan's Eoin Daly will receive a homecoming in the local Community Centre on Monday to celebrate his success at the Special Olympics Games in Berlin.

Talented Eoin, who was joined at the Berlin games with fellow Rathangan athlete Grace Kavanagh, won gold medal in Singles in the Bocce event. 

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin said: "A huge congratulations to all our five Kildare Olympic athletes, Eoin Daly and Grace Kavanagh from Rathangan, David Hackett from Carbury, Samuel McCabe from Athy and Anita Forde from Leixlip.

"I also want to mention the 10 host towns in Kildare-all of whom did an amazing job.

"Newbridge (Japan) won best host town as judged by sponsor Bank of Ireland, but all other towns were equally as good-Rathangan (Isle of Man), Monasterevin (Bulgaria), Kilcullen (Kenya), Athy (Chile) , Naas (New Zealand), Maynooth, Kilcullen, Leixlip, Celbridge (Ireland).

"I was luck enough to attend and to cheer on team Ireland. 

"20 years ago the people of Ireland opened their homes and their hearts to Special Olympic athletes, coaches and family members all over the world. I was privileged to work with volunteers in host towns all over the island of Ireland - and met so many wonderful people making a huge difference in their own communities."