A real all rounder...

If she’s not playing football with her club Mullahoran or with Cavan, or rugby with Virginia RFC and rounders with Erne Eagles, 18 year old Fainche Higgins spends her time passing on her wealth of sporting knowledge to the next generation of players.

She trains almost every evening during the week, plays matches at weekends, and is involved with coaching underage players as well.

A fifth year student in Cnoc Mhuire Granard, Fainche also plays music with Mullahoran CCÉ and participates in the local choir. She once played the céili drums but now plays the tin whistle, the flute and has recently picked up the bouzouki. She also tutors the younger musicians at weekly classes in her local Comhaltas group.

Fainche believes it’s great “seeing your students progress” and “seeing them learn new tunes”.

Fainche, who would like to go down the healthcare or physiotherapy route after school, enjoys volunteering because she can help people and teach them new skills. Her many years of being involved in sport have encouraged her to work in the field in future. Over the upcoming June bank holiday weekend, Fainche will be helping out on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which she recently raised money for through a table quiz organised by her school.

Fainche has been nominated as a finalist for Young Volunteer of the Year, and she is delighted to be recognised for her voluntary efforts.

“It feels good to be nominated,” she says.

“It’s good that people realise what you’re doing.”