It’s a warm Thursday afternoon in Kilkenny and I’m greeted in Loreto Secondary School by a bunch of highly enthusiastic teachers and students.
In front of them in the meeting room near reception is an array of trophies and accolades from a wide variety of Sports.
For years Loreto have been the best team in the land at Camogie with six All Ireland Senior titles over the past nine years, which is equal to what St Kieran’s College have done in the world of Hurling.
But the trophies on the round table are not just for Camogie.
You have Hockey, Athletics, Basketball and more.
A huge amount of work goes in by both the 960 students and the staff which is not far off the figure of 80, but they seem to have the balance spot on when it comes to crossover between Education, Sport and general well being.
I was joined in conversation by school principal Colm Keher, vice-principal Eamon Jackman, teacher and Hockey coach Aine Connery, and sporting students Steffi Fitzgerald, Annie O’Connor and Karen Delaney.
We discussed the success of the school, the future developments, and the importance of funding in which they will be collecting at the Kilkenny v Offaly game in Leinster,
One of the crucial messages which is conveyed is that it’s not women’s sport or men’s sport.
It’s simply just SPORT.
Full conversation available below.
