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Drung woman to carry Olympic torch
28.03.12
by Linda McGrory
AN Inishowen mother-of-four is celebrating the "huge
honour" of being chosen to carry the Olympic torch.
Helen Quinn, who works as a careers adviser in Co
Tyrone, was nominated by a work colleague for her
contribution to her community including her work in
youth development.
Helen (42) is originally from Drung, Quigley's
Point, on the Inishowen peninsula. She has lived in
Omagh, Co Tyrone, for the past nine years with
husband Gerard and their four children. She
previously worked as a teacher in Zimbabwe, Africa
and Glasgow, Scotland. |
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Mother-of-four Helen Quinn, from
Drung, Quigley's Point, who has been chosen to carry
the Olympic torch in Portadown, Co Armagh, on June
5. |
She works in Omagh as a
careers advisor with the Department of Education and
Learning and is heavily involved in her local GAA
club, youth club and the parents’ groups of local
primary and secondary schools. She ran the Belfast
Marathon for Transplant UK in May.
Helen has been allocated a slot to carry the torch
in Portadown, Co Armagh, on June 5 along with four
others.
"I am very excited. It is a huge honour to be picked
and my family, friends and work colleagues are very
pleased for me," she said. She added that her
children, Josephine (13), Matthew (11), Julieanne
(8) and Brendan (6) are thrilled for her.
Helen was nominated by fellow careers adviser, Mary
McDermott, who said she deserved to be an Olympic
torchbearer as someone who usually lets "others
shine".
"Helen is not the person you see in the paper
receiving a trophy, but is the person that makes
sure the cogs in the wheel are oiled so that others
can shine. No task is too big or too small. I would
love to see Helen carry the torch and give her an
opportunity to shine,” she said in her nomination. |
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