Gallery: Donegal Community Coaches receive awards from Keith Andrews

THE CULMINATION OF the first ever Sport Ireland Community Coaching programme held in Donegal resulted in coaches receiving their awards last week.

They were as guests at the recent Republic of Ireland v Switzerland soccer friendly held in the Aviva Stadium on Good Friday and were presented with their awards by former Irish international Keith Andrews.

The 14-week programme was initiated by Sport Ireland through Donegal Sports Partnership and is established to provide coaching opportunities, job readiness training, physical activity training and job placement experience for persons registered as unemployed.

In what was a first in Donegal, the Local Sports Partnership teamed up with the Finn Harps FC Schools Programme to provide a comprehensive capacity programme, which resulted in the new coaches participating in training programmes in Sports Leadership, Athletics Leader, FAI Kickstart, Information Technology, Safeguarding 1, Sports First Aid as well as modules in personal development and job readiness.

Former Republic of Ireland International soccer player and now coach with MK Dons Keith Andrews was on hand along with Myles Sweeney from Donegal Sports Partnership and John Campbell from the Finn Harps Schools programme to present the awards to the group.

“To have partnered with Donegal Sports Partnership and have our schools coaches trained to the highest level in coaching badges, trained in nutrition, first aid, presentation skills, fitness, disability allows us to deliver coaching to schools throughout Donegal,” said John Campbell, who was speaking on Behalf of the Finn Harps Schools Programme.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Myles Sweeney and Therese Laverty from Donegal Sports Partnership, Keith Andrews for presenting the coaches with their coaching certificates, John Delaney and the FAI for having us as their guests on the night and for hosting a reception, to our committee members – chairman Paddy Harte, Finn Harps player Packie Mailey; Ann Marie Meehan,  the Principal of St Baithins NS; Grace Ann McGarvey, PR & Marketing, our main sponsor Brendan Kelly from Kelly’s Toyota, Letterkenny and Mountcharles and last but not least to our coaches who do a fantastic and professional job for the Finn Harps Schools Programme.”

Click on the first photo below to open the photo gallery …