Newsletter Newsletter 4/2006 Irish Prime Minister receives Honorary Black Belt

Sunday, December 3rd marked another auspicious day for the INTA, NA for the ITF in Ireland. In order to celebrate 25 years of the Taekwon-Do Centre, Headquarters for the INTA, it was arranged to present the Irish Prime Minister (An Taoiseach), Bertie Ahern TD with an honorary 3rd Degree Black Belt. The Taoiseach (the Irish word for Prime Minister) is the Head of the Government and the most senior political figure in Ireland. The presentation also coincided with the INTA Black Belt grading, also held in the Taekwon-Do Centre in central Dublin.

Since the Taoiseach agreed to accept the honour a number of weeks ago, much effort had gone in to ensuring that the event ran as smoothly as possible. Yesterday, all of the effort paid off handsomely. From early morning, the 21 candidates for promotion gathered in the Centre to acquaint themselves with the surroundings and warm up. As well as presenting for promotion, they were also going to meet with the most senior political figure in the country. Along with the candidates, their family and friends a large group of the senior Instructors from the INTA had gathered. Added to this group were a large group of journalists including television cameras from RTE, TG4 and TV3 as well as reporters from the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, Daily Star, Newstalk 106 and Independent News Media.

At 11.30 the Taoiseach arrived to be greeted by the three Senior Examiners from the INTA, Master Brendan O’Toole, Master Val Douglas and Mr Gerry Martin who then escorted the Taoiseach to the dojang where he was greeted by universal applause. As the students bowed and recited the International Taekwon-Do Federation oath, Mr Ahern stood to accept the greeting. Then with everyone seated, Master O’Toole stepped forward to make the presentation to Mr Ahern. Stressing the successes the INTA has enjoyed both nationally and internationally over the last 15 years, Master O’Toole drew parallels with the Taoiseach’s own career as the pre-eminent political leader of his generation. Presenting him with the ITF pin, Master O’Toole noted that the pin represented the shape of a turtle which symbolises longevity. As the second longest serving Taoiseach in our history, the turtle is most appropriate for Mister Ahern.

   

Then Mister Ahern stood forward to make a short speech. In his speech, the Taoiseach paid tribute to the INTA for its network of 40 clubs and 3000 members nationwide. Commenting on the tenets of Taekwon-Do, he believed that they represented a value system that could be applied to life as well as to sport. Commenting on the success of the INTA internationally over the last 25 years, the Taoiseach congratulated the successes its members had enjoyed starting with Master O’Toole and Mister Martin in Argentina in 1981 and continuing on with subsequent successes in Glasgow, Malaysia, Warsaw, Riccione and Dortmund concluding with the most recent success of Lucia McCarthy at the ITF World Cup. He also paid tribute to both Master O’Toole and Mister Martin for their vision in establishing the Taekwon-Do Centre 25 years ago and for their work and efforts over those 25 years.

   

   

Following the speeches, the Taoiseach was treated to a short demonstration from grading candidates Kathy Lisa Connellan, Sarah Barry, David Dent and Tom Connor as well as current World Sparring Champion Ciaran Ryan. Following the short demonstration, Mr Ahern spent some time chatting to the Instructors and students of the INTA and posing for photographs. Once done, the Taoiseach departed for the next visit of his busy schedule and the candidates, Instructors and Examiners prepared themselves for the grading to follow.

Today, December 4th as we write this piece, the presentation has received coverage in 7 National Newspapers as well as two radio stations and two National Television news items. This represents the most significant coverage of ITF Taekwon-Do in Ireland and cements the INTA’s reputation as the centre of excellence for ITF Taekwon-Do in Ireland. All of the students and Instructors of the INTA would like to thank the Taoiseach for taking the time out of his schedule to visit and for accepting the honour of becoming the first