Aim to be the best

“I AM The Greatest,” was World Heavyweight Boxing champion Muhammad Ali’s famous catchphrase at a time when he danced his way around opponents at the height of his career.

In something of acknowledgement of the powerful impact of this mantra, “Be the Best That You Can Be” was the key message promoted at a seminar hosted by Ennis Town Council and Clare Youth Service to commemorate the town’s links with the former World Heavyweight Boxing champion.

 

More than 500 secondary-school pupils from Colaiste Mhuire, Rice College, St Flannan’s College, Gaelcholáiste an Chláir and Ennis Community College attended the second annual event at Glór, which featured motivational talks by clinical psychologist David Coleman and Ian Taylor, who in 2008, became the youngest Irishman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

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 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.
At the seminar in Glór this week, David Coleman spoke about the skills and attributes required for anyone wishing to fulfill lifetime goals and ambitions.

“Among the skills required for young people to be the best that they can be is the ability to challenge negative thinking, accepting who you are and not to imitate others, the ability to do things you believe are right and allowing yourself to make and learn from mistakes,” he said.

The subject of identifying and realising personal goals in life was also discussed by Ian Taylor. At the age of 29, he became the youngest ever Irish person to climb Mount Everest in 2008.

The Kildare native, who now lives in Lahinch with his wife, scaled the world’s highest mountain despite having been advised by professional mountaineers with experiences of Everest that he would be unable to complete the feat.

“I faced numerous challenges before and during my time on Everest but a massive amount of physical training, plenty of climbing experience and an overwhelming desire to succeed helped me to brave the extreme conditions and achieve my goal,” he said.