Chair hosts reception for Molly Curran

Máirín, A Aíonna oinigh, a chomhcomhairleoirí,

Mar Chathaoirleach na Comhairle Cheantair Fhear Manach agus na hÓmaí, ba mhaith liom fáilte a thabhairt romhaibh chun oifigí Comhairle anocht.

Molly, fellow Councillors, ladies and gentleman

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to the Council Offices here in Omagh this evening.  I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to Molly Curran, in whose honour this evening’s reception is being held. Molly, you are most welcome.

I am particularly pleased to have been afforded the opportunity to publicly honour your achievements. 2019 has certainly been a tremendous year for you and your hard work and dedication to your sport has been richly rewarded.

The highlight of the year was obviously your gold medal in the Heptathlon at the Irish Youth Championships.  However, your roll of honour in 2019 is truly spectacular. Gold medals in the NI and Ulster 100m hurdles and the Ulster Schools Pentathlon together with silver medals in the NI and Ulster High Jump and shot putt and a bronze in the Irish Schools pentathlon championships has marked you out as an exceptional athlete. It is incredibly difficult to excel in one sport, but to excel in several individual sports and in multi-sport disciplines is truly remarkable.

We have in recent years witnessed the rise in popularity of the heptathlon, thanks to athletes like the UK’s Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnston Thompson, Carolina Kluft (Caroleena Klooft) of Sweden and Belgiums Nafi Thiam (Naffy Tee-am). I am sure that these wonderful multi event athletes have provided you with the inspiration to drive you on to the level which you have already achieved and will continue to inspire you to set new goals and records in the heptathlon.

It is hard to believe that you are only 15 years old and have achieved so much. I understand that you have already gained representative honours, representing Ulster at the Manchester Combined events international in August of this year.

I am conscious of the fact that you are off to Glasgow in the morning to represent Irish schools in the schools multi-event international. On behalf of myself and my colleagues, can I wish you every success for this event.

Molly you are a wonderful example to young people in any sport. You have shown that through dedication and hard work, combined with natural talent and ability, you can reach the pinnacle of your sport. You are a wonderful ambassador, not only for your school, your club and yourself but also for the Fermanagh and Omagh District and we are very proud of you.

Can I take this opportunity on behalf of my Council colleagues to congratulate you on your success this far and to wish you every success in the future. I hope that come the summer Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, you will be participating in the heptathlon.