‘Dare to Believe’ stars charm ETNS Mullingar
Image 1 of 14
Deric Ó h’Artagáin of Ireland AM interviewing Dare to Believe ambassadors, two-time Olympic Champion Fintan McCarthy and Olympic boxer Gráinne Walsh when they visited Mullingar Educate Together National School. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 14
Dare to Believe ambassadors, Two-time Olympic Champion Fintan McCarthy and Olympic boxer Gráinne Walsh created huge excitement when they visited Mullingar Educate Together National School recently. Photos by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 3 of 14
The students from Mullingar Educate Together National School gave Fintan and Grainne a very warm welcome. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 4 of 14
Fintan McCarthy and Olympic boxer Gráinne Walsh with Eimear O'Neill. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 5 of 14
Two-time Olympic Champion Fintan McCarthy with Ameen Mohd, age 10, centre. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 6 of 14
Olympic boxer Gráinne Walsh leading a work out at Educate Together. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 7 of 14
Gráinne Walsh with a piece of art given to her during her visit. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 8 of 14
Fintan McCarthy and Gráinne Walsh with teachers at Mullingar Educate Together National School. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 9 of 14
Fintan McCarthy and Gráinne Walsh with Principal Róisín Nic Tighearnáin. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 10 of 14
Fintan McCarthy with Christy Joyce, age 12. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 11 of 14
Fintan McCarthy and Gráinne Walsh with Anthony Donoghue. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 12 of 14
April Hoang and Nicola Jegorova examine one of Fintan McCarthy’s gold medals. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 13 of 14
Fintan McCarthy Gráinne Walsh with Joud Fegas. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEImage 14 of 14
Fintan McCarthy got a hero's welcome as he entered Educate Together. David Fitzgerald / SPORTSFILEThe students and staff from Educate Together NS, Mullingar got a break from their usual activities recently when Olympians Fintan McCarthy and Grainne Walsh paid a visit to the school as part of the Dare to Believe Schools Programme.
If the excitement of having two Olympians in the school wasn’t enough, Deric Ó h’Artagáin was also there reporting for Ireland AM.
The Dare to Believe programme’s 44 ambassadors share their stories with school children around Ireland.
The programme centres on the Olympic values, and since its launch in 2019, students have enjoyed, not only athlete visits, but the wider activations of the programme, such as the Road to Paris, Olympic Movement Breaks and the hugely popular Olympian Live! events.
Grainne Walsh has been a Dare to Believe ambassador since 2019. Speaking during her visit to Mullingar Educate Together, she said that the programme is rewarding for both students and ambassadors.
“I’ve been a Dare to Believe ambassador since day one, and my journey has grown so much since then.
“ I love visiting the schools to inspire kids because I know how much I would have valued this at their age.
“It’s all about paving the way for the next generation, passing the baton, and showing them that anything is possible with belief and hard work. Honestly, I get as much from these visits as the kids do.
“ I leave every school feeling fully of positivity and ready to smash my next challenge, so it works both ways.
“I try to share with the students that setbacks happen, I’ve had my fair share of them, but you have to find a way of getting over them, and believing in yourself.
“ When you do that, success is all the sweeter.”