AMY O'DONOGHUE
Amy O'Donoghue is well known for her outstanding running abilities. She is mentioned at nearly every school assembly for her achievements. We only ever hear about what she has won so I sat down with Amy and talked to her about her goals and where she hopes to be in the future. But the most important question was, where did it all begin?
Amy first got interested in running when she won the first year mile in Villiers. After that she joined Emerald Running Club. She has run eleven times for Ireland and won first place twice in the past few years! Hard work and dedication really pays off. She trains five days a week for an hour and a half each session out at University of Limerick. She runs 800 metres and 1500 metres with the All Ireland Clubs. She also went to running camps over the summer.
This Summer Amy won the 800 metre and the 1500 metre in the All Ireland Schools competition. She broke the twenty year old 800 metre record of 2.11 when she ran 2.10.8. In Glasgow at the Schools International she ran 800 metres and came in second place. At the Celtic Games International in August in Athlone Amy ran in the 1500 metres for under eighteens and won it. She won second place in the AAA's English National Championships.
In June she went to the Youth Olympic training camp in Romania for a week. And that was just summer 2010! If Amy keeps winning like this then she's going to have an amazing and successful future!
Amy hopes to run in the Youth Olympics in Turkey. After school she wants to go to college in America on a full scholarship for running. She hopes to enter the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 and run 800 metres and 1500 metres.
Amy O'Donoghue is well known for her outstanding running abilities. She is mentioned at nearly every school assembly for her achievements. We only ever hear about what she has won so I sat down with Amy and talked to her about her goals and where she hopes to be in the future. But the most important question was, where did it all begin?
Amy first got interested in running when she won the first year mile in Villiers. After that she joined Emerald Running Club. She has run eleven times for Ireland and won first place twice in the past few years! Hard work and dedication really pays off. She trains five days a week for an hour and a half each session out at University of Limerick. She runs 800 metres and 1500 metres with the All Ireland Clubs. She also went to running camps over the summer.
This Summer Amy won the 800 metre and the 1500 metre in the All Ireland Schools competition. She broke the twenty year old 800 metre record of 2.11 when she ran 2.10.8. In Glasgow at the Schools International she ran 800 metres and came in second place. At the Celtic Games International in August in Athlone Amy ran in the 1500 metres for under eighteens and won it. She won second place in the AAA's English National Championships.
In June she went to the Youth Olympic training camp in Romania for a week. And that was just summer 2010! If Amy keeps winning like this then she's going to have an amazing and successful future!
Amy hopes to run in the Youth Olympics in Turkey. After school she wants to go to college in America on a full scholarship for running. She hopes to enter the Olympics in Brazil in 2016 and run 800 metres and 1500 metres.
BRANDON NESTOR - SWIMMING
Brandon Nestor learnt to swim at the early age of three months, in mother and toddler classes. It wasn't until Brandon hit the age of eleven, did he realize his passion for swimming and thus began taking it competitively. Later that year, Brandon entered the Irish Age Group Championships, and won four silvers and two bronze medals.
In the year 2007, Brandon represented Florida in the USA, Southern zones championships, in Houston Texas. As 2007 progressed, Brandon participated in the Junior Olympics in Florida and won gold, four silvers, a bronze and was also placed fourth.
In 2008, he swam in the Irish Age Group Championships, and won an additional four gold medals. In the Irish Schools Championships, he won two intermediate golds in two events and he was a year out of his age in one of these events.
In 2009, he broke two Irish Schools National Records which were 200 metres individual medal. He was fifteen years old, breaking it by five seconds and the 100 metre butterfly. He won the Connaught Sportstar of the month Award. He swam in the Junior Olympics again in Florida in the Gulf Coast.
This year Brandon moved to Limerick to be by the University of Limerick for its Olympic sized swimming pool. He joined the Limerick swim club and trains ten sessions a week, before and after school. He is hoping to join High Performance. He has represented Ireland abroad four times in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He swam in America this summer in the Florida Senior Championships. He represented Ireland in the UK National Schools Games in 2010 and he placed seventh and eight in all of the UK and he was a year younger than most of his fellow competitors. He has won nine National Championships since 2007. He was also placed third and sixth at Senior Irish Championships in November last year.
Brandon Nestor learnt to swim at the early age of three months, in mother and toddler classes. It wasn't until Brandon hit the age of eleven, did he realize his passion for swimming and thus began taking it competitively. Later that year, Brandon entered the Irish Age Group Championships, and won four silvers and two bronze medals.
In the year 2007, Brandon represented Florida in the USA, Southern zones championships, in Houston Texas. As 2007 progressed, Brandon participated in the Junior Olympics in Florida and won gold, four silvers, a bronze and was also placed fourth.
In 2008, he swam in the Irish Age Group Championships, and won an additional four gold medals. In the Irish Schools Championships, he won two intermediate golds in two events and he was a year out of his age in one of these events.
In 2009, he broke two Irish Schools National Records which were 200 metres individual medal. He was fifteen years old, breaking it by five seconds and the 100 metre butterfly. He won the Connaught Sportstar of the month Award. He swam in the Junior Olympics again in Florida in the Gulf Coast.
This year Brandon moved to Limerick to be by the University of Limerick for its Olympic sized swimming pool. He joined the Limerick swim club and trains ten sessions a week, before and after school. He is hoping to join High Performance. He has represented Ireland abroad four times in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He swam in America this summer in the Florida Senior Championships. He represented Ireland in the UK National Schools Games in 2010 and he placed seventh and eight in all of the UK and he was a year younger than most of his fellow competitors. He has won nine National Championships since 2007. He was also placed third and sixth at Senior Irish Championships in November last year.
JOEL COUSTRAIN - SOCCER
Unlike most sports-men, Joel didn't begin start playing soccer with immense skill. His Step-Father used to bring him into the garden to play soccer, and there, he developed a liking for the sport. He continued playing and began building his skill and foot-work, while playing for the Corbally Team. He was spotted for the Limerick Trials at the age of eleven, where he displayed great skill and was put onto the Limerick Team.
Then, at thirteen, Joel played in the Kennedy cup, where they placed fourth in Ireland. From here, Joel went onto play the Hibernian Cup, at 15, against Linfield. In this match, he scored two goals single-handedly, contributing to the overall score of 5-0.
He played against Liverpool, where he scored the winning goal, with the results of 1-0. Late last year, Joel was picked for the Irish squad and traveled to Qatar, playing against Aspire Academy and winning with a score of 2-1. Here,. he earned his first cap.
Joel then was picked for trails for Leister City.
Joel is a very dedicated player. He trains every Monday with Munster; Corbally on Wednesday and the Limerick Team every Sunday. Joel aspires to go to Dublin to again, play for Ireland, but against Belguim. He is also going to Blackburn in February and Nottingham Forest, in April. We wish Joel the best of luck in the future.
Unlike most sports-men, Joel didn't begin start playing soccer with immense skill. His Step-Father used to bring him into the garden to play soccer, and there, he developed a liking for the sport. He continued playing and began building his skill and foot-work, while playing for the Corbally Team. He was spotted for the Limerick Trials at the age of eleven, where he displayed great skill and was put onto the Limerick Team.
Then, at thirteen, Joel played in the Kennedy cup, where they placed fourth in Ireland. From here, Joel went onto play the Hibernian Cup, at 15, against Linfield. In this match, he scored two goals single-handedly, contributing to the overall score of 5-0.
He played against Liverpool, where he scored the winning goal, with the results of 1-0. Late last year, Joel was picked for the Irish squad and traveled to Qatar, playing against Aspire Academy and winning with a score of 2-1. Here,. he earned his first cap.
Joel then was picked for trails for Leister City.
Joel is a very dedicated player. He trains every Monday with Munster; Corbally on Wednesday and the Limerick Team every Sunday. Joel aspires to go to Dublin to again, play for Ireland, but against Belguim. He is also going to Blackburn in February and Nottingham Forest, in April. We wish Joel the best of luck in the future.
TARA WHELAN - GOLF
Although she has only begun golfing two years ago, Tara Whelan has taking the Irish Women's golfing circuit by storm. She began with a 24 handicap and decreased it down to 11. She has already represented Munster at the Irish Inter-provincials in Roscommon from the 17th- 19th of August this Summer. .
She began golfing at East Clare Golf club where her father owns a shop. Her father plays off scratch. She established her drive as her best shot. Soon after she won several senior women's competitions in the club. And the next year she won Golfer of the Year in East Clare Golf Club. She set the new course record in East Clare by shooting a gross 72 and a 62 net which is remarkable for her age.
She looks up to the likes of Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy and wants to follow in their footsteps by competing abroad in Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) tour. It looks like a very promising future for Tara and we all wish her the best of luck.
Although she has only begun golfing two years ago, Tara Whelan has taking the Irish Women's golfing circuit by storm. She began with a 24 handicap and decreased it down to 11. She has already represented Munster at the Irish Inter-provincials in Roscommon from the 17th- 19th of August this Summer. .
She began golfing at East Clare Golf club where her father owns a shop. Her father plays off scratch. She established her drive as her best shot. Soon after she won several senior women's competitions in the club. And the next year she won Golfer of the Year in East Clare Golf Club. She set the new course record in East Clare by shooting a gross 72 and a 62 net which is remarkable for her age.
She looks up to the likes of Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy and wants to follow in their footsteps by competing abroad in Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) tour. It looks like a very promising future for Tara and we all wish her the best of luck.
