Kilkea NS pupils welcome Olympian Noel Hendrick
A very special guard of honour for Olympian Noel Hendrick from the children of Kilkea National School Photos: Aisling Hyland
Kilkea National School recently had the incredible opportunity to bring the Olympic spirit into their classrooms through the Dare to Believe programme, an initiative designed to inspire young students by promoting the values of the Olympic Games.
As part of this exciting programme, Kilkea NS welcomed Team Ireland canoeist Noel Hendrick to share his journey as an Olympian.
The Kildare native captivated students with stories of his path to the Olympics, recounting the many sports he tried before discovering his passion for canoeing and kayaking.
His message of perseverance and dedication resonated deeply with the children, encouraging them to chase their dreams, embrace challenges, and learn from setbacks.
Noel’s visit reinforced an important lesson for the pupils — that not every sport may be the right fit at first, but with persistence and an open mind, they can find their own passion.
The students thoroughly enjoyed listening to his experiences, learning about his rigorous training, and hearing firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level.
In the lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kilkea NS students have been immersing themselves in Olympic-themed activities.
They created role-play sports interviews featuring Irish athletes using Chromebooks, designed digital presentations on Book Creator, and even published their very own Olympic book, complete with reports and illustrations about different Olympic sports.
The highlight of the day was meeting Noel in person, asking him questions, and receiving his autograph. His visit left a lasting impression on the young students, inspiring them to dream big, work hard, and never give up.
Kilkea National School extends its gratitude to Noel Hendrick and the Dare to Believe programme for making this experience possible.
