Council Chair hosts a reception for Mount Lourdes Minor Girls Cross Country Team

Recently the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry, hosted a reception for the Mount Lourdes Grammar School Minor Girls Cross Country Team in recognition of winning the 2024 All Ireland Schools Cross County Champions title.

The following is a copy of the speech made by the Chair at the reception:

Good morning Councillors and ladies

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all here to The Townhall, Enniskillen for this reception in honour of Mount Lourdes Minor Girls Cross Country Team, All Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Champions.

I understand your journey in the Schools’ Cross Country Championships began on 30 January 2024 when you achieved impressive results as individuals and a team at the E-District Championships.  This earned you a place at the Ulster Schools Championships which were held in Mallusk on 09 February 2024 and, with another successful day on the course, you earned a place in the All Ireland Championships.

On 09 March 2024, all roads led to Tyman Park, South Dublin for the All Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

Each of you ran a fantastic race and at the end of the event, your combined results meant you were 11 points clear of your nearest opponents, Ennis.  As a result, you deservedly won the title of All Ireland Champions.

This was a tremendous achievement and it will be a day that each of you will remember forever.  I hope you enjoyed the experience while you were competing so that you have special memories of the day.  It was also a historic day for the School as it is the first ever national cross country title for the School.

I believe competing in cross country requires great strength, stamina and determination and good tactical thinking and planning to set your pace.  You have all displayed these qualities at a high level and you have reaped the rewards with this outstanding success.

All this would not be possible without commitment to regular training and I commend you for this as you also have your school, running club and personal commitments as well.

I would like to commend your PE Teacher, Miss Owens, for training you and providing guidance.  I also want to thank your Principal, Mrs Cullen, for giving you the opportunity to participate in competitions such as this so you can enjoy these special moments of success.  I also thank you coaches in your respective Running Clubs, Enniskillen and Clones I understand, for the training and guidance they also provide to you.

I understand that many of you are inspired by athletes from the Island of Ireland including Ciara Mageean and her success at the European Athletics Championships.  I have no doubt that each of you have the talent and commitment to progress to higher levels and, perhaps one day, compete for your country.

I am confident that you will be an inspiration to other young athletes in your school and in your running clubs because you have demonstrated that success at this high level is possible.

On behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate each and every member of the Team on your All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championship success.  You have done yourselves, your family and friends, your school, your county and your District proud.  I also want to wish you every success in the future in both your academic and sporting pursuits.

Thank you.