More than 50 local athletes head to Limerick this morning for the Special Olympic Games.
The opening ceremony takes place later as 15 hundred athletes from around the country gather to compete for national honours and the hopes of progressing to the next World games in Los Angeles in 2015.
There are 35 from Carlow representing BEAM, Delta Centre, St Lazarians and Carlow Special Olympics clubs.
And there are 21 athletes from Kilkenny representing SOS, Kilkenny Cats and the Kilkenny Special Olympics club.
The local athletes will compete in a range of sports including Bocce, Basketball, Bowling & Swimming.