Cranford AC star helps Ireland to World Cup qualification

The Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup on an emotional, historic night at Hampden Park after Amber Barrett rose from the bench to settle a nerve-jangling clash in Glasgow.

 

Barrett's winning goal continues a remarkable journey for the Donegal star which started in Cranford Athletic Club many moons ago.

 

RTE news item from 2019:

 

Amber Barrett -

 

"Every year we used to go up to run in a place called Stormont. I ran this particular day - two years out of my age group - and I finished 11th, which was really good. The distance was a lot longer than what I had been doing, so it was a really testing day for me."

 

But it wasn’t running that race that had a lasting impact on Amber - it was watching another one.

 

"I remember I stayed around to watch the senior women’s race, because I had a great interest in athletics at the time. There were three Ethiopian runners competing, and they were miles and miles ahead of the rest - and that, for me, was a moment that was just like 'WOW… this is how good you can be at a certain sport'.

 

"Looking at these women and how they had absolutely dominated the race, I remember being in awe of how good they were; how class they were as runners. They never looked tired, and I remember thinking I’d love to have that ability to do that race as quickly as them and not look in any way out of breath."

 

So enthralled was Amber with seeing these elite international athletes in full flight, that she made sure to meet them post-race, and have her photograph taken with them. She doesn’t recall their names - but she’ll never forget the indelible impact they had on her.

 

"That’s THE moment for me - the moment that made me have that desire to be as good at sport as those girls were, and have the perception that you can dominate a sport if you’re willing to work hard at it."

 

• Outdoor Long Jump U9 2004
• Outdoor 60mU10 2005
• Outdoor Long Jump U10 2005
• Cross XC U11 2006
• Indoors 60m U12 2007
• Outdoor Long Jump U13 2008
• Indoors Long Jump U14 2009

Athletics Ireland congratulate Amber and the Irish team on qualifying for the World Cup.

 

Full RTE News item HERE.