News & Events

September 2026

Tralee Little Dolphins at Kerry SportsAbility Day in MTU

Tralee Little Dolphins were delighted to attend Kerry SportsAbility Day at MTU Kerry last Sunday, joining a fantastic range of organisations, clubs, families and supporters who are helping to make sport more inclusive and accessible across Kerry.

It was a brilliant opportunity for us to showcase what Tralee Little Dolphins is all about — creating inclusive swimming opportunities for children with autism, additional needs and physical disabilities, while building confidence, enjoyment and a genuine sense of belonging.

Throughout the morning, we had the chance to meet families, speak with other organisations and share more about our programmes, our Halliwick-inspired approach and the work being carried out by our coaches and volunteers every week.

Events like this are incredibly important because they give families the chance to see the range of inclusive sporting opportunities available locally and allow organisations like ours to connect, learn and build stronger relationships within the community.

We were especially proud to represent Tralee Little Dolphins at MTU and to speak about how much the club has grown in such a short space of time. From our swimming sessions and family support to our events, partnerships and plans for the future, it was wonderful to share our story with so many people.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising the day and to all of the families and organisations who stopped by our stand to chat with us.

We came away from the event even more motivated to continue developing inclusive opportunities for children and young people across Kerry.

For Tralee Little Dolphins, inclusion is not an extra — it is at the heart of everything we do.

🐬Swim•Play•Grow•Belong

September 2026

Kayla – The Heartbeat of Tralee Little Dolphins

There are some people who simply become part of the identity of a club, and for Tralee Little Dolphins, Kayla is one of those people.

We were incredibly proud to see Kayla recognised at the Kerry Garda Youth Awards, where she received the overall award — an achievement that reflects the kindness, commitment and generosity she shows to others every single week.

For us, however, Kayla is much more than an award winner.

She is the heartbeat of Tralee Little Dolphins.

From the moment families arrive at the pool, Kayla brings warmth, enthusiasm and reassurance. She has an incredible ability to connect with our Little Dolphins, helping children feel safe, included and confident while making sure that fun is always at the centre of what we do.

Working with children with autism, additional needs and physical disabilities is about far more than teaching swimming skills. It is about patience, trust, understanding, encouragement and celebrating every small achievement.

Kayla represents all of those values.

Whether she is supporting a child in the water, encouraging a parent, helping another coach or simply making someone smile, she gives everything she does her full attention and heart.

She has been part of the journey as Tralee Little Dolphins has grown, and her influence can be seen throughout the club. She represents exactly what we want Tralee Little Dolphins to stand for — inclusion, kindness, opportunity, friendship and belonging.

Kayla is also becoming a wonderful role model for the next generation. As younger volunteers and coaches become involved with the club, she is someone they can look to for guidance and an example of how to support children and families with compassion and respect.

Seeing Kayla receive the overall Kerry Garda Youth Award was therefore an incredibly proud moment for everyone connected with Tralee Little Dolphins.

Awards recognise special achievements, but those of us who see Kayla every week already know how special she is.

We are extremely fortunate to have her as part of our team, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for her.

Congratulations, Kayla. You are thoroughly deserving of this recognition, and we are so proud to call you one of our own.

The heartbeat of Tralee Little Dolphins. 🐬💙

Swim•Play•Grow•Belong

September 2026

🐬 A proud day for Tralee Little Dolphins! 🇮🇪

Our amazing coach Luke O’Donoghue swam in his first Senior European Final last Saturday, at his very first Senior European Championships! 🏊‍♂️

An unbelievable achievement and something we’re all incredibly proud of. Everyone at Tralee Little Dolphins is behind you, Luke! 💙

Go Luke! 🐬🇮🇪

August 2026

New 14-Week Block Starts 5 & 6 September

Our biggest block yet kicks off on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September at the Tralee Regional Sports Complex, with sessions in the Main Pool and Small Pool each weekend. New families can join the waiting list and we will be in touch to confirm a place.

Join the Waiting List

August 2026

Tralee Little Dolphins & Bon Secours Hospital Tralee

A very special thank you to Bon Secours Hospital Tralee for their wonderful support of Tralee Little Dolphins and for sponsoring our recent family trip to Sandy Feet Farm.

Pictured are Shane Lee and Brian Casey, Co-Founders of Tralee Little Dolphins, meeting Owen McCarthy of Bon Secours Hospital Tralee to thank him personally for the hospital’s generous support.

Our trip to Sandy Feet Farm gave our Little Dolphins and their families the opportunity to spend time together outside the swimming pool, have fun, make memories and continue building the fantastic community that has grown around the club.

Support like this means so much to us. Tralee Little Dolphins is about far more than swimming. It’s about inclusion, friendship, confidence, family and belonging. Having local organisations such as Bon Secours Hospital Tralee believe in what we are trying to achieve helps us create experiences for our children and families that go beyond their weekly lessons.

A huge thank you to Owen and everyone at Bon Secours Hospital Tralee for supporting our Dolphins and helping make our Sandy Feet Farm trip such a memorable day.

We are extremely grateful to have you as part of our journey.

Swim•Play•Grow•Belong

Let’s Go Dolphins!

August 2026

Little Dolphins Make a Splash in the Papers

Kerry's Eye featured our Open Day under the headline "Little Dolphins make splash in Tralee", capturing the families, the fun and what the club is all about. Click the clipping to read it, or see all our press coverage in the gallery.

See All Press Coverage

July 2026

Tralee Little Dolphins Meet Minister Foley

A very special moment for Tralee Little Dolphins as we had the opportunity to meet Minister Norma Foley and share the story behind our Little Dolphins community.

Pictured with Minister Foley are Brian Casey, Chairperson and Co-Founder of Tralee Little Dolphins, and Jodie Casey, Parent Relations Officer and, most importantly, Sophia’s mom.

Tralee Little Dolphins was inspired by our own family’s journey with Sophia and the determination to ensure that children with additional needs have access to swimming in an environment where they are understood, supported and included.

It was wonderful to speak with Minister Foley about the work being done by our coaches and families, the importance of inclusive opportunities for children with additional needs, and our hopes for the future of Tralee Little Dolphins.

For Brian and Jodie, this is deeply personal. What began with trying to find the right swimming opportunities for their own daughter has grown into a community dedicated to helping many more children experience the confidence, independence, friendship and joy that being in the water can bring.

A sincere thank you to Minister Foley for taking the time to meet with us, listen to our story and show her support for our Little Dolphins.

Swim•Play•Grow•Belong

Let’s Go Dolphins!

July 2026

Summer Party at Sandy Feet Farm

To celebrate the end of our first 12-week block, the Little Dolphins families came together for a summer party at Sandy Feet Farm: animals, face painting, medals and a great day out beyond the pool. See all the photos from the day in the gallery.

View the Album

February 2026

"I Saw a Need for It": Where It All Started

Back in February, The Kerryman introduced Tralee Little Dolphins to local families and told the story of why the club was founded. Click the clipping to read it, and find photos from the original South Tipperary Dolphin Swimming Club in Clonmel in the gallery.

Where It All Began