Latest news with #Laoise
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Kerry principal reflects on 40 year career – ‘I loved teaching, I loved the children and the fun'
And over those years she had guided the school expertly to ensure that the small community school was more than just a place of learning but a community hub focused on an all around education for the pupils that passed through the door. In fact, it appears the school has more than its fair share of talent particularly on the music field as almost every student plays a musical instrument – a feat that Laoise is rightly proud of. Over the years she says there has been plenty of stand-out moments but those that mean the most to her include the official recognition of the school as a Gaelscoil. This was hugely important as part of the revitalization of the Irish language in South Kerry and ensuring that the next generations have a proud love of their native language. Another proud moment for the school was when the pupils built and launched two traditional, life-size currachs, 'Báidín na Óg' and 'An Báidín Greanta' under expert guidance of currach maker Holger Lonze. The currachs were launched by local poet Paddy Bushe from Reen Pier, in what was a memorable day for the whole community. "It was an amazing project,' said Laoise and it was a project that won the school an Ocean Heroes award and was also the subject of a Radio Kerry documentary. And the final big moment for Laoise came at the end of the school year when the entire community including the wonderful staff of the three teacher 48 pupil school came together to celebrate her retirement. It was also a day of celebration for the vice-principal Síle Ní Chonaill who also had a long career over 25 years at the school and both her and Laoise worked side by side during that time to ensure the school ran smoothly. Laoise says there has been a lot of changes in teaching over the past 40 years, many gradual so you don't even notice them. "When I look back on the 40 years teaching is now unrecognisable especially with technology,' she says. ADVERTISEMENT However, she says despite such technological advances paperwork has increased no end and and she believes this is off-putting to the new generations particularly for such posts like her one as a teaching principal. 'People just aren't applying for those posts anymore, they [Department of Education] expect a lot but we are poorly funded,' she says. Thankfully Scoil Mhichíl Naofa in Ballinskelligs has no such problems replaced Laoise and Sheila with Cristíona Uí Loingsigh taking over as principal and Louise Moriarty as the vice-principal role and although they have big shoes to fill they will do so expertly. Laoise is originally from Sneem and aside from two years subbing in Kerry and Cork her career has been dedicated to the South Kerry school. Teaching is in her blood she says as her mother taught in nearby Scoil Cillian Liath and her daughter Muireann has also followed in her footsteps. Laoise says it is now time for the next chapter of her life which she is truly looking forward to and will she hopes involve plenty of travel not least the Camino in Spain this September. "It is exciting to be moving on which I still have the health to do so... I am looking forward to the next chapter.' Laoise has just celebrated her 60th birthday so she is hopeful of a long retirement ahead. But of course she will miss the children. "I will miss the kids and the fun we had. It is a privilege to have worked with the children, they are so upbeat.'
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘They just thrive with it' – Dublin family's joyful Special Olympics journey
Mark Beddis's daughter Aoibh (8) is currently involved in the organisation's young athlete programme and his other daughter Laoise (13) has graduated from it. Mark (50) from Malahide, north Dublin, said: 'We've had nothing but wonderful experiences with the Special Olympics.' The programme is designed for children with intellectual disabilities from the ages of four to 12 to engage with play-based physical activities that build fundamental movement skills such as running, catching, throwing, and balance. We were trying to find activities for the girls to do, and this was one thing they could do It sets them up for lifelong participation in sport, building confidence and fine motor skills, something that the Beddis family have experienced firsthand. The family got involved in the programme in 2020, which was challenging, but the Saturday mornings online broke up the week for the family. Mark said: 'We were trying to find activities for the girls to do, and this was one thing they could do. We still have the yoga mats, bouncing balls and all kinds of stuff in the house.' Once normality returned, the two girls joined in person, along with getting involved in basketball in Donabate. Laoise then eventually graduated from the programme and joined their local athletics club. 'They just thrive with it. It really has made them stronger, fitter, healthier and more confident and brought so many more friends into their lives. We often visit the Down Syndrome Centre in Swords. But from bringing the girls to the programme in Donabate, it has opened up another huge amount of friends for them. Aoibh is a bit shorter, but she plays amongst much bigger kids, and she runs like a lunatic and steals and bounces the ball 'It's also taken the girls to the next level to help them find their sport. They are both amazing at basketball, and very different as well. ADVERTISEMENT 'With Laoise everything's exactly the same all the time; she likes routine. She'll stand there in front of the basketball hoop at the free throw line and just put them all in, nine times out of 10. She had an incredible skill level. 'Then Aoibh is a bit shorter, but she plays amongst much bigger kids, and she runs like a lunatic and steals and bounces the ball. 'We went to a Special Olympics tournament in Cork, which was lovely to spend time with all the families. And then, of course, we weren't sure whether Aoibh would be able to do it, because she's so small. 'She's only half my size. But she ran around with six foot four guys, robbing the ball of them - no bother on her at all.' The girls have learnt skills that they can rely on for the rest of their lives, from throwing a ball to doing star jumps. Their balance has also improved, which can be a major challenge for some children with intellectual disabilities. Not only have Aoibh and Laoise benefited from the initiative, but so has their sister Róisín (11). 'Róisín does not have a disability, but she comes along and helps sometimes. She might show off a bit that she can do something and then help them do it, holding their hands on the balance beams, or setting the hurdles up, or whatever is needed. She's always made to feel welcome.' Laoise also helps out sometimes, after graduating from the programme herself, a testament to its success. Being involved in the Special Olympics has also enhanced Mark and his wife Ruth's (45) lives. 'I meet up with the dads' group for pints about twice a year. I'm hoping in the future we'll get out more together, but we also have a WhatsApp group going as well.' 'You know there's always someone there going through the same battles that you are. Sometimes you do get worried and stressed about things, but you will find someone else has probably actually been through the same problem you've had and gotten out the other end of it. 'My wife also goes out with some of the mums, even on trips away.' But the Special Olympics has been a part of the couple's lives, long before they had children. Ruth was a volunteer at the 2003 Games when it was held in Dublin and Mark, a pharmacist, was part of a temporary pharmacy set up in the Olympic village, also in Dublin in 2010. 'I remember the CEO [of Special Olympics Ireland] Matt English showing me around the village. I never thought this would be a personal thing, but my God, it stuck with me how wonderful it was, and the skill levels, which were astonishing. A recent report on the young athletes programme, it was found that before getting involved, just over 50pc of children mastered any fundamental movement skills. After an eight-week targeted intervention, there was a significant improvement in movement and object manipulation skills.
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
When Meath call came, Bryan Menton could not resist retirement U-turn
When Bryan Menton got a call from Meath coach Conor Gillespie last autumn, he presumed it was a fact-finding mission. "I genuinely thought he was ringing me to ask about young players in Ashbourne, about who were the up and coming lads on the scene," recalled Menton. "I thought they were happy for me to be retired on my armchair." Menton hadn't played for Meath since the Andy McEntee era ended in 2022, missing Colm O'Rourke's two seasons as manager, but new boss Robbie Brennan figured he was still the best midfielder in Meath. Menton, for his part, didn't take much convincing, reasoning that it was probably the last time he'd get such a call. He has been a key figure throughout Brennan's reign so far, starting all nine of their league and Championship games and, crucially, helping them to claim a landmark win over Dublin last weekend. Menton was part of the panel in 2010, when Meath previously beat Dublin, but didn't play so this was his first experience of actually defeating the auld enemy. "It was definitely burnout," said Menton, explaining why he retired in the first place. "It was an intense kind of six years with Andy there and I kind of saw a clean break opportunity. "I was genuinely retired until I got the call back and at 33, turning 34, that call isn't going to come again. It was very tempting because I liked the setup, I liked the youth that was coming through, so I was absolutely willing to give what I had." Menton recalled that call from Gillespie, a former Meath colleague. "He said he was interested in me coming back and deep down I was really happy with the set up for Meath so it didn't take too much convincing," said Menton. "In fairness to Laoise, the other half at home, she said, 'You're going back, this is the last time you'll be asked'. She could tell by me that I was itching to go back and to give it another go." Asked if it was a regret that he'd never beaten Dublin when he initially 'retired', Menton shook his head. "It wasn't a regret when Dublin were that strong," he reasoned. "I wouldn't say it was a regret, it was more disappointing at the time that we weren't able to beat them. "But Dublin were not only very strong in Leinster - they were maybe the best team in the history of the GAA. It was an unfortunate era to be playing them." Menton said he was confident when he looked around the dressing-room ahead of last weekend's provincial semi-final. "There is a lot of talent in Meath, an awful lot, and you can see it in the young lads coming through," said Menton. "They have really good attitudes too. "They are willing and able to step up straight away, the likes of Eoghan Frayne being captain so young. Himself and Ciaran Caulfield, they were 21, 22 years of age and they are in the captaincy, vice-captaincy roles. "So there is massive talent coming through. I won't be able to play with a lot of them probably but I'll take it one game at a time."
