Teacher Óisín’s marathon fundraiser

Loughmore NS Junior and Senior Infant teacher Óisín Ryan has been diligently training for a personally mapped marathon in aid of two wonderful causes, which he has chosen because of their strong connections to his chosen profession – that of primary school teaching. Óisín, who hurls with Kiladangan, is an enthusiastic and very dedicated teacher, with a specialism in Physical Education and a grá for promoting inclusion, participation, health and wellbeing among young people.

Leading by example, Óisín, from Blackfort, Puckane, is taking to the road and will run from Nenagh to Loughmore NS, which works out at 42km, setting off this Friday. He aspires to raising €5,000 which will be split 50/50 between two organisations.

Óisín is a member of the Kiladangan GAA club and has won many honours with the club. He continues to hurl and is also involved in management and was a member of the selection team with the successful North Tipperary U13 hurlers that won the Peadar Cummins title at the end of 2022.

The first cause Óisín decided to choose is the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund. Ashling was a wonderful friend to all from the class of 2021, and a classmate of Óisín’s in Mary Immaculate College. Ashling was attacked and killed while jogging near her home in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund organisation was set up in memory of Ashling, who inspired so many people during her life. It aims to support the many individuals, groups and other organisations that Ashling was so strongly involved with and who continue the strong legacy she has left behind.

The second cause that Óisín has chosen to support is raising seed money for the establishment of a social club for children and young teens on the Autistic Spectrum, which will be known as Club Awesome. This club will be based monthly in Loughmore NS’s new Olympic Hall, and will be open to children of Loughmore and those from the wider hinterland of Thurles, Templemore etc. The club aims to assist children in their acquisition and navigation of social and communication skills, while interacting with their peers in play they are interested in and motivated by. This will also be a supportive place for parents to network and support their children and each other.

HOW TO SUPPORT FUNDRAISER

The link for donations to this cause is: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/OisinRyanCharityMarathon

All support is very gratefully received.

Óisín’s colleagues, pupils and the entire school community in Loughmore are fully supportive of the challenge he has set himself and look forward to accompanying Óisín at various points in his run, until he strides back into Loughmore village itself, accompanied by Loughmore NS pupils for the final 1km. This final stretch will see Óisín run with the late John Kelly’s Olympic Torch, just in time for the opening of Loughmore NS new Olympic Hall that weekend - Sunday, May 21, at 1pm.

Loughmore NS will also hold their Annual John Kelly Memorial Race (7.5km) at 11am on Sunday, May 21. Registration begins at 10am and can also be accessed via www.eventmaster.ie.

All at Loughmore NS wish Óisín every success in his marathon and míle buíochas for all his hard work and generosity.