STUDENTS who took part in Ireland’s only football and fitness course for transition year students graduated at a recent ceremony at Fingal County Council Civic Offices in Blanchardstown.
The course participants received certificates in front of an audience of parents and teachers during the ceremony that marked completion of the course established by the FAI and Fingal County Council with support from Empower, Blanchardstown.
The course provided the young students with an opportunity to study while developing a whole range of football skills. They also gained a full ITEC Fitness Instructor’s qualification from Litton Lane Training.
The football centred education initiative was run in Corduff Sports Centre over the course of the 2017-18 academic year with all students getting permission from their respective schools to attend.
Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Mary McCamley, Fingal County Council Chief Executive, Paul Reid, Donal Conway, FAI Vice President and Ireland, U21 Team Manager Noel King, attended the graduation event along with representatives from Empower, and elected members of Fingal County Council.
Reid congratulated the 25 students who attended the course.
“Within Fingal County Council we have a ‘can do’ attitude and this is another excellent initiative by our Sports Office,” he added.
“We are aware that young people within our community have sporting ambitions and this programme gave the students an excellent opportunity to develop and enhance their sporting skills while staying within the education system.
“They also give something back to their local communities through the work experience module of the course. It ticks a lot of boxes for us as an organisation that is focused on the development of communities within Fingal.”
The course was extremely well attended and recorded an impressive average attendance rate of 93 percent throughout the school year.
Ireland U21 manager, Noel King, was also at the graduation and he spoke to the students about the unique opportunity that they had been given.
He encouraged them to follow their dreams and said that the skills they had gained would stand to them in all walks of life including whatever sport or sporting role they may decide to pursue in the future.
Denis Hyland, an FAI-Fingal County Council Football Development Officer and Course Coordinator, also spoke about the course.
“The course allows TY students to live in a proper sporting environment for a year while also meeting their educational needs,” he said.
“They are at an age when some young players head abroad to join professional clubs and this programme allows them to reap the same footballing benefits and a lot more while remaining at home with their families and putting something back into their local communities.”
Prior to presenting them with their certificates The Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Mary McCamley congratulated them on completing this year’s course.
“I hope that the experience gained in undertaking this course was a positive one and helps the participants achieve their goals, be it in fitness, sport or any area in their life,” she said.