Nineteen-year-old Clare native to represent Ireland on global sport stage
A NINETEEN-year-old deaf girl from Clare has been chosen to represent Ireland in an international soccer tournament.
Ali O’Connor, a student at the Mid-West School for the Deaf, has been selected to participate in the first-ever Cerebral Palsy women’s soccer team at the Nations Cup in Denmark.
A Kilkee native, Ali has been described as a “talented young athlete” as per her principal, Maria Allen, who said her journey was nothing short of ‘awe-inspiring’.
“Ali has overcome numerous obstacles to reach this pinnacle in her soccer career,” said Maria.
“Her dedication, resilience, and unwavering spirit serve as a testament to the power of determination and the human spirit.”
The Mid-West School for the Deaf will be hosting a celebration on Wednesday, October 18 to honour Ali’s achievements and to offer their best wishes for Ali at the Nations Cup.
“Any dream can become a reality,” said Ali’s teacher Michelle Creed, “Ali’s success reminds us of this and we are immensely proud of Ali and her accomplishments.”
Echoing that of their teacher, students and Ali’s classmates, Cillian Daly and Bella Sexton agreed, “Ali is a role model, and she’s shown us that no dream is too big to chase.”