Cian McBride - A testimonial

An open letter to the Dublin City University Faculty,

It is with great hurt and disgust that I write this email. I am writing with regard to the news that both myself, and the DCU Athletics Academy as a whole have received regarding the termination of Enda Fitzpatrick’s secondment in the role as Director of the DCU Academy.

When considering my University options as a second-level student in school, athletics was always in the back of my mind because of the effect it has on me, not just for competing but, for my mental health also. Having competed internationally for Ireland at youth and juvenile level in both Track and Cross-Country events, I wanted to ensure that the University which I were to attend, had a professional set-up in place to develop me as an athlete. There are not many options which meet this criterion in Ireland.

I first met Enda personally in Morton Stadium in the Summer of 2015 after I had completed the leaving certificate for the first time. After competing that day, Enda asked me after if he could have a chat regarding my plans for the following year. I expressed my disappointment to him, explaining that I believed one of my exams had not went to plan and I had a feeling I would fall just short of the points to gain entry to Athletic Training and Therapy in DCU. From that day, Enda was on my case regarding performances on the track and academic results. The following year, after repeating my leaving cert, I met the CAO criteria required to gain entry to my again desired first choice – Athletic Training and Therapy. It is since this instance, I realised the guidance and support which Enda provides to not just athletes who compete for DCU but to athletes all throughout the Country.

From the day I attended the DCU Athletics AGM in first year, I gained an understanding of not just the club, but the family which I have been brought into. Enda, along with the President of the club Michael Whelan and the then chairperson, Adam Foley made it clear to us as first years what we had now become a part of. They stressed to us that the reputation which DCU holds for success in Athletics has not been achieved by accident. They highlighted to us the strategic plans they had in place for us regarding the year ahead and how we were to proceed to retaining the titles which we held.

Enda’s role goes far beyond the title of ‘Director of the Athletics Academy’. Enda treats every single one of us with the same attention to detail and care. An example of this was demonstrated when I had an on-going injury which required surgery in Sweden in the summer of 2017. Upon arrival back in Dublin, the first person to contact me was Enda. He asked me to come straight to the DCU campus to talk to him. Not only was this a difficult part of my life due to the fact that I was unable to compete that summer, but I also feared if I would ever return to the sport. Enda was a rock in my recovery, constantly keeping in contact with me, arranging meetings with athletes who had previously gone through tough times and checking in weekly with a phone call to track my progression and keep me motivated. I have since returned to compete for DCU on four occasions.

With athletics you make great friends. Long before I came to DCU I had been lucky enough to become friends with Joanna Duignan. Joanna was an international team-mate and training partner. At the end of my first year in DCU, we experienced the biggest low the Athletics Academy has had in my three years here. Joanna tragically passed away on the 1st of May 2017. This incident put a hole in the hearts of many involved with the DCU athletics family. In these damning circumstances Enda went above and beyond his paid role here as “Director of Athletics Academy” to hold us together as a family in this time of grief.

Since arrival here in DCU, firstly as a coach and more recently, as Director of the Athletics Academy, Enda has built what I would consider to be the Empire of Irish University Athletics. Without Enda, we will lose the attraction and reputation of the best Universities Athletic club that Ireland has to offer. If anyone from the DCU hierarchy were to have attended any of the IUAA athletics events this year, then you may have realized the impact which Enda has on the National level of competition for University Athletics. This is not a sport where people are encouraged through emails and tweets from someone who sits back in their office chair looking at a computer screen. This sport requires hard working, dedicated personnel who are willing to go beyond their call of duty.

I urge those in charge to take my concerns along with all others which you have received regarding Enda’s secondment into consideration. By losing Enda, we not only lose ‘a coach’, we lose one of a kind. There is only one Enda Fitzpatrick. He is irreplaceable as a coach, mentor and friend.

Regards,

Cian McBride

Chairperson of DCU Athletics Academy

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