In October 2023, Professor Mary O’Sullivan was awarded with the prestigious Michael Darmody Award at the Physical Education Association of Ireland Conference in Carlow. She collected the award surrounded by her former PESS physical education colleagues and in front of the admiring eyes of all those present, who were gripped by her inspiring speech.
I only needed to spend a couple of hours near her to understand how important has been the legacy of Mary O’Sullivan for PESS, Ireland, and the whole PE world. So, I have decided to dedicate my first PESS post in her honor.
In one of the lines of her brilliant speech she said… ‘now physical educators, academics and researchers around the world look at Ireland to improve the field’… and so I am, a Spanish academic recently moved to Limerick intending to learn, grow and contribute to the improvement of physical education. Using Antonio Calderon’s structure in the award presentation: I blame Mary and all her good work for being so far from home.
Mary left us open-mouthed listening to the evolution of physical education in Ireland and how she had experienced it first-hand. Specifically, she pointed out one key thing for me. Ireland has a big advantage over the rest of the world, it is a familiar country where if everyone is pulling in the same direction great things can be done. And I saw how everyone is pushing for better physical education in this country! I saw how physical education teachers, physical education teacher educators, inspectors, related associations, researchers… gathered in Carlow during the PEAI conference and I felt the great responsibility and the honor I have to belong to this system. Although I know there is much work to do, as far as I understood on 6th October in Carlow, this sense of community is in large part thanks to your legacy, Mary.
However, not only your good work is your legacy, I would also want to point out one major thing in my view. I loved Mary’s speech, but I loved more that she seemed to me like a giant in the guise of a common person. Mary has more than 316 papers and has been cited more than 15499 times, contributing to the field of physical education in general and physical education teacher education in particular. It is one of these surnames that you find once and again in the literature when you are starting, and you could never imagine that will have the opportunity to chat with her face to face. And what is more important, that she would take the time to talk with everybody around with the same interest and care. Being surrounded by outstanding academics is important, but if they are also hard-working, humble, and good people, the mark they leave on others is indelible.
In definitely, I am sure that not only your impressive work made it possible to be awarded with such a special award for you, but also the unique way you relate to the world.
To end with, I would like to leave three messages.
The first one is for my colleagues, I couldn’t be happier to be part of such a great team with a huge compromise with physical education. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my colleague Dr. Brendan O’Keeffe who was elected President of the PEAI at this conference and who I am sure will do a great job.
The second one is for my current and future students in Ireland, I couldn’t be surer that you will become superb physical educators and I promise that I will do everything in my power to make it happen.
The last one is for you, of course, Mary. Huge congratulations. I assure you that your legacy will be treated with the respect you deserve, and that the future is in good hands. Thank you for the commitment and effort you put in for so many years to improve physical education. You are a great example for future generations, and in particular for all the women who work in this, sometimes, difficult field.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir!
Dr. Carmen Barquero Ruiz is currently working as Assistant Professor in Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, University of Limerick.
Contact: Carmen.BarqueroRuiz@ul.ie @cbarquero93 Research profiles: LinkedIn ORCID
PESS News & Information 