How do you feel about being chosen as a hero of Clondalkin?

When asked this, Mick didn’t know what to say! He was surprised that he had been nominated and admitted he was “quite shy and scared” about being nominated. He felt as if it was unfair that only he was nominated when it is “all the teams who put in all the work and achieve the results they do and it’s a team sport, so it doesn’t feel right”

 

Why do you think you were picked as hero of Clondalkin?

“I’ve no idea” was his first response, but after thinking about it he thinks that maybe it is the fact that he has coached since he was only 15! And has now been “coaching basketball teams for 41 years!” And did you know that the club Mick co-runs, Dublin Lions, also has a basketball academy for kids? So cute!

 

A bit about Mick.

Well, Mick has been coaching basketball for 41 years and loves it! He is also classed as one of Irelands leading basketball coaches! He studied in University College Dublin. He began working as a business teacher in Colaiste Bride in 1988, and then moved to Clondalkin in 1989. In his spare time, he does tarot readings! And pretty accurate ones at that!

His two sons, Robert and Daniel, both are “hugely involved in basketball and in the lions club”.  Daniel currently helps run the whole club and he coaches the under 20’s team. And Robert received a basketball scholarship in the USA! Mick is a “very proud” father.

 

What work have you done in the local community?

At the moment, Mick coaches “27 basketball teams!” in the area. Ranging in age from young kids to adults. He also helps run the basketball academy for kids with the Dublin Lions club, which he co-runs with his son Daniel and other members.

 

What is your motto in life?

“Don’t say it, do it!”

 

Who is your Clondalkin hero?

“There’s a lady named Shauna Curran who runs the community games, she does lots for the community and I can’t believe that she wasn’t chosen as one of the Clondalkin hero’s. There’s actually a lot of people who I’m shocked weren’t voted, and some people I never knew about that do lots for Clondalkin!”