There were emotional scenes at Dublin Airport last night as 91 athletes from across Ireland jetted off to Abu Dhabi for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Hundreds of family members and supporters came out to cheer on Team Ireland before they got on their Etihad flight to the United Arab Emirates.
The athletes have flown out a week in advance of the opening ceremony to acclimatise to the 30 degree heat.
Henry McKean met them at Dublin airport.