Olympian Thomas Barr inspires younger generation with Limerick school visit

STUDENTS from Villiers School in Limerick received a lesson in reaching your highest potential during a visit from Irish Olympic track athlete Thomas Barr.

Barr, who is the national record holder in the 400m hurdles, is a two-time Olympian who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He will be hoping to continue his Olympic run and qualify for Paris in 2024.

Part of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Dare to Believe schools programme, which is proudly supported by Team Ireland title sponsor Permanent TSB, the visit gave students an insight into what it takes to achieve their most ambitious goals.

Ahead of this week's visit, resource packs covering the Olympic values of Respect and Equality, Healthy Mind and Body, Joy of Effort and Striving for Excellence were provided to help students prepare for a workshop with Barr.

This workshop was designed to help them connect to the values and understand the life skills, as well as the biological, psychological and social benefits achieved through sport. Its purpose was to encourage students to set goals and develop healthy lifestyles by becoming more active.

Permanent TSB Territory Sales Manager for Limerick, Rory O’Farrell, said the visits are an exciting part of the Bank’s title sponsorship of the Irish Olympic Team and Irish Paralympic Team for Paris 2024.

“We are really proud to be title sponsor of Team Ireland and the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Dare To Believe schools programme. Our community ethos is a key differentiator for Permanent TSB and like us, Dare to Believe is grounded in communities across the country. 

“We all have role models that we look up to, but there is no substitute for having the chance to meet them in person. Our hope is that these fantastic students will be inspired by their interactions with Dare To Believe athletes like Thomas, feel encouraged to believe in themselves and strive even harder to achieve their potential.”

Barr also spoke on the opportunity to visit the secondary school students in Limerick.

“It was incredible having the opportunity to share my story with students in Villiers School, and to show to them what you can achieve when you dare to believe in yourself. 

“As an athlete, we can take for granted sometimes the skills that we have developed in resilience, mental strength, and goal setting, all attributes that are not unique to sport. It was fun talking through some of the key parts of my own journey to Tokyo 2020 as an Olympic athlete and chatting with the students too.”

Permanent TSB is the proud title sponsor of the Irish Olympic Team and Irish Paralympic Team, as well as title sponsor of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Dare To Believe Schools Programme. The Bank is the first-ever title sponsor to partner with both the Irish Olympic Team and the Irish Paralympic Team during an Olympic and Paralympic cycle. The partnership also marked the first time that Paralympics Ireland has had a title sponsor.