Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Seminar To Celebrate Ennis Links With Muhammad Ali

Ennis will celebrate its links with ‘The Greatest’ when it holds the second annual “Be The Best That You Can Be Seminar” at Glór next Wednesday (19 September 2012).

Muhammad Ali, the three-time World Heavyweight Champion was named the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis in September 2009 in recognition of his career achievements and his ancestral links with the Clare County Capital.  Over 15,000 people watched ‘The Greatest’ receive a Civic Reception before embarking on a drive through the streets of Ennis and a personal visit to the ancestral home of his great grandfather Abe Grady.

Next Wednesday, 500 secondary school students will attend a seminar featuring motivational talks and workshops concentrating on music, sport, relaxation and drug awareness. Speakers will include TV presenter and Clinical Psychologist David Coleman and Ian Taylor, the youngest Irishman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The event is being hosted by Ennis Town Council and Clare Youth Service.

According to Mayor of Ennis Councillor, Peter Considine: “On September 2, 2009 Muhammad Ali visited Ennis, an occasion that will go forever go down as a landmark moment in the history of the town. The event attracted thousands of people from all over Ireland and beyond while the international media put Ennis in the spotlight for the day. It is important that County Clare celebrates its connection with one of the greatest sporting icons of all time and what better way to do so than hosting an event around Muhammad Ali’s own conviction of being the best that you can be.”

“Muhammad Ali is the most recognisable man on earth and remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world. We are honoured that he accepted the Council’s offer of becoming the town’s first Honorary Freeman which we deemed to be thoroughly deserved in light of his unrivalled sporting achievements on the world stage, and his contribution to educational and charitable causes through his global fundraising foundation, the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund,” added Mayor Considine.

Speaking about the seminar, Ennis Town Clerk Leonard Cleary stated: “The audience will be 500 second year students from the town’s second level schools. Muhammad Ali founded the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, whose mission is to promote respect, hope and understanding and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be. This is the second year of the seminar and its main aim is to instil the confidence and self belief that will inspire each person to be the best that they can and want to be.”