Name: Eve McMahon
Age: 16
Year: 5th Year
Subjects: 8 Higher Level Leaving Cert Subjects
Sport: Olympic Development Laser Radial Sailor
Achievements: Under 17 Laser Radial World Champion 2019(Canada), Bronze Medalist World Championships 2019 (Canada), Irish representative Youth Olympic Games 2019 (Poland), Irish Youth Sailor of The Year 2019, Irish National Female Youth Champion 2019 (Cork), Sail Melbourne Under 17 Champion 2020 (Australia), achieved Gold Fleet Senior Europeans 2020 (Poland)
Goals: Represent Ireland at 2024 Olympic Games (Paris), Represent Ireland at the Youth Olympic Games 2021 (Netherlands), Under 18 World and European Champion, Under 21 World and European podium position, Irish Youth National Champion 2021, Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship UCD 2022.
In order to compete internationally, I have had to continue my education virtually via The Institute of Education’s online platform. I travelled to Gdansk, Poland in October to compete at the Senior European 2020 Laser Radial Championship.
I was able to keep up with all my subjects during both pre-event training and the actual event, by availing of either the real time classes or the recorded class options. This was an invaluable resource to me, allowing me to switch my focus between my sporting and academic demands accordingly. I also had to complete a 14-day quarantine period on my return from Poland, again utilising the Institute’s online class facility.
In addition to the online classes, the support given to me from The Institute around any issues that arose whilst I was off campus was a huge comfort to me. I never felt disadvantaged by not being on campus, as communication between my year head, teachers, etc. was constant and very effective.
The Institute has provided the perfect environment (whether I am on-site or competing abroad), support (both in school and online) and an excellent standard of education so far. This has enabled me to continue striving towards being the best version of myself, both in sport and academics. To have the option of the online virtual format of classes has given me the perfect balance I require to succeed in both!
