Kerr and Carruth on hand in Crumlin to encourage kids to get into sport

The sound of leather bouncing off tarmac and children’s giggles echo around the yard as Olympic gold medallist, Michael Carruth shouts out encouraging instructions.

“On your toes! That’s it, keep going,” he says.

Carruth, and other sporting stars are here at Coláiste Eoin in Crumlin to inspire children that require extra supports to get into sport and stay active.

A group of about 40 pupils are doing exercises such as jumping jacks, running on the spot, and shuffles.

“The hardest thing is to get up, get off the couch and go for a run,” says Carruth to the children.

“But once you do, you’ll feel better for it and start to love it – in whatever sport you pick.”

Carruth tells Southside People that he’s “delighted to be here.”

“I try and work with schools when I can and especially in the Dublin 12 area where I’m from,” he says.

“Kids have had a tough time adopting over the past year or so we’re just trying to get them away from the Playstation and off their bums.”

Carruth says that it’s important for children to find a sport that they and enjoy, be it a team sport or individual.

“When I was younger, I played four sports and when I hit 12 or 13, I decided to focus on boxing,” he says.

“But I think it’s healthy for kids to find something that they enjoy, that they can find competitive.

“Every kid has a different target and ability but we just try and get them into something accessible and enjoyable.”

Carruth, who won the welterweight gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, is currently the head coach at Drimnagh Boxing Club.

There, he works with Paul Griffin, a former European featherweight gold medallist, who is also helping out today.

“I think it’s fantastic to the smile the kids’s smiles,” says Griffin.

“It’s been very hard for the kids and parents.

“They’ve essentially lost a year of their lives and the longer it goes on, the worse it gets – for their socialising, and participating in sport.

“I just hope that when club sport does get back up and running, the numbers haven’t gone down and kids still want to play sport,” he says.

Griffin won his European gold medal in 1991 in Gothenburg, Sweden and a bronze medal in the 1993 championships in Bursa, Turkey.

“I’ve gotten so much from the sport, that I want to give back something to kids,” he says.

After the exercises, the children play games of volleyball and football in the yard outside the school with former Ireland manager and current TV pundit, Brian Kerr giving some tips on ball control and passing.

Kerr, who grew up in Kimmage and played football for Crumlin United FC, says that “Dublin 12 has done pretty well in sport through the years so I thought I would come down and help out with the kids.”

Kerr says that he thinks there has been more done recently to help children who need additional supports feel more included in sports.

“Clubs have been brilliant to help kids get more involved.

“I think they’re more aware of some issues now and are trying to pull them in,” he says.

“Sport is a vehicle for society, it is something that gives so much joy to people.

“Any programme that helps further these sorts of initiatives deserves all the funding it gets.”

Kerr says that sport helps instil values into young people as well such as discipline, timekeeping, and developing camaraderie with your peers.

“Who knows the damage that has been done to children’s development over the past year or so.

“Kids want to get out, parents want to get out with them. I hope the interest will not drop off when we reopen.”

 

One of the organisers of the event, Mick Kelly is a coach at Esker Boxing Club and got in touch with Carruth and Griffin to lend a hand.

“I asked Michael and Paul to get involved as I know them through the boxing,” says Kelly, who also drives the school bus for the Coláiste Eoin pupils.

“Michael then got in touch with Brian to come down too.”

Leitrim hurler and All-Star Zak Moradi is also on hand to show the children some techniques.

“I think it’s important that kids get active and stay active ever since team sports were cancelled,” says Kelly.

“Kids’ mental and physical wellbeing is so important – sport is for people of all genders and abilities, and I hope we can continue with this next year.”

As the rain and hail begin to lash down, the children retreat back in doors, while PE teacher Richie Doran, the lynchpin in the whole event, continues to get involved in all aspects.

“We really try and energise the kids three times a week,” he says.

“We try and get them to get active outside of school and engage with their family.

“This is Active School Week where we really try and drive home the importance of social interaction and linking kids with local clubs.

“We usually play games and matches against other schools but obviously that hasn’t happened this year,” he says.

“Thankfully, we have some great friends of the school who have really helped us out.”