Colm O'Connell » Brother Colm O'Connell talks to junior Irish athletes at Athletics Ireland squad day

Uploaded by runassist | on Flotrack Ireland | October 20, 2012

Mr Frank Greally, Editor Irish Runner Magazine, introduces Brother Colm O'Connell to a squad day for Junior Irish athletes organised by Teresa McDaid Coach and Athletics Ireland National Endurance Co-ordinator. Brother O'Connell, who was Honoured by DCU at an award ceremony the previous day, talks to the athletes about important mental qualities shown by athletes he has coached and by other top level sports performers.
"Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate Brother Colm O'Connell, Irish missionary and coach of five Kenyan Olympic Gold medallists, on his conferring this morning with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy at Dublin City University. On hand to witness the event was David Rudisha, world record-holder, winner of the London 2012 800m Gold medal and alumnus of Brother Colm's world-renowned athletics coaching programme in Kenya's Rift Valley.

Accepting his honorary degree, Brother Colm O'Connell said,

"It is a very humbling experience for me to stand here today to receive such an honour. When looking down through the list of honorary graduates who have gone before me in being honoured by this distinguished university, I feel, indeed, very happy. Also, for somebody to be selected from a remote little village in the highlands of Western Kenya and to be recognised in such a manner is beyond my wildest dreams and imaginings......."
........Other guests in attendance at the honorary graduation ceremony included Linda Byrne, 2012 Irish Olympian and marathon runner; Senator Eamonn Coghlan; Mr John Foley, Chief Executive of the Athletic Association of Ireland; HE Ms Catherine Muigai Mwangi, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya; and Mr John Treacy, Irish Sports Council." .......read full article at: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=28366