Dublin GAA football star Brian Fenton shared words of inspiration from teachers and mentors in his life at Maynooth University’s innovative ‘Turn to Teaching’ welcome day this week.
The four times All Ireland medal holder was helping to highlight Maynooth University’s ‘Rising Teachers, Rising Leaders’ programme, which supports the teaching aspirations of 40 post-primary students and provides 22 teachers from underrepresented groups with the opportunity to mentor the students.
Brian spoke of the role of teachers and mentors in his remarkable rise to the top of his sport, describing the ‘Rising Teachers, Rising Leaders’ programme as providing young students with “great opportunities to follow their dreams and become teachers”.
“I think the mentoring part of this programme is really important, and I know that without my mentors in the GAA I would not be where I am today. I am really lucky to have played football with a really diverse group of players and I hope that the ‘rising teachers’ can continue onto teacher training and ensure that we have diversity of our classrooms.”
Post-primary students from Kildare, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Ballyfermot and Clondalkin attended the event.
