DGS ag Rith ar Son na Gaeilge

  • 2010 03 Rith 2010a

    Michael McKillop at Beijing 2008

  • 2010 03 Rith 2000

    On his way to victory in the 800m!

Paralympic Council of Ireland and Dundalk Simon Community benefit from DGS students fund raising effort.

The streets of Dundalk came alive on Wednesday 10th March when Rith 2010 passed through the town. Over 160 students from DGS joined by Beijing 2008 Paralympic Gold Medallist Michael McKillop and teachers from the school ran the DGS leg of the All-Ireland relay from the school to the Louth Hospital.
Rith 2010 is a new Seachtain na Gaeilge initiative involving schools and community groups, carrying a baton with a special message in celebration of the Irish language, which will be read out in Galway on St. Patrick’s Day.

DGS embraced the event wholeheartedly with a series of activities to mark the event. The school traditional group entertained the crowds while the students awaited the arrival of the baton. The students also carried out a special Haka Gaelach before the baton arrived. The whole school embraced the project with significant contributions from the Irish, Music and Art departments in the school. Spirits were high and students and teachers chanting “aon áit a théann muid” to the tune of “everywhere we go…” as they ran greatly added to the atmosphere. The Junior School were pleasantly surprised when “Coinín na Cásca” (Easter Bunny) made a surprise visit whilst awaiting the arrival of the baton.

Ireland’s Beijing 2008 Paralympic Gold medalist, Michael McKillop ran with the students and then addressed the students about his athletic achievements in the school gymnasium. He also urged all the students to stay involved or get involved in physical activity asking them to give up endless hours in front of the television or a computer. Following his presentation which included photographs and video footage of his Beijing exploits, he mingled with the students, answered questions, shared his gold medal with them and had photographs taken.

The event concluded with some traditional music and cheque presentations from the school to the two benefitting charities, the Paralympic Council of Ireland and the Dundalk Simon Community. Both charities received in excess of eight hundred euro, a testament to the enthusiasm and great spirit the students embraced this project with.


Photographs: Courtesy of the Paralympic Council of Ireland

(More photos in Gallery)