Just reward for lifetime of work

Breda is a true local legend

BORD LÚTHCHLEAS NA HÉIREANN (B.L.E.) was founded on April 16, 1967, after the two athletic bodies in Ireland agreed to disband to form a new national governing body affiliated to the I.A.A.F.

On May 3, 1969, at a general meeting in Dublin, Bord Lúthchleas Ógánagh na hÉireann (B.L.O.E.) was established to promote athletics for boys and girls under 17 years of age.

It was around late 1968 that St Benedict’s A.C. was founded by Breda Synnott, Mick Quinn and Nancy Quinn.

Although there was a club in Arklow (St John Bosco A.C.), it did not cater for juveniles.

Parents had no sooner brought their children to the club to train than they were co-opted to help with organising, coaching, arranging and driving members to athletic events.

Within a few years of its foundation St Benedict’s A.C. became not only one of the strongest clubs in Co. Wicklow in the 1970’s, but indeed nationally with athletes like Elizabeth Hurley (javelin), Carmel Scallon (high jump) and Ann Byrne (800m).

In the 1990s St Benedicts could boast national champions such as Willie Tyrell (shot put), Deirdre Byrne (cross country, 1500m and 5,000m) and Alan O’Reilly (400m).

Gordon Dickenson, her son, found the club in the early 1980s and in a flash Breda was co-opted by the ever persuasive Breda Synnott.

Gordon would become National Junior 800m champion and went to the U.S.A. on an athletics scholarship.

As with any club, parents and committee members come and go – child joins, parent joins, child leaves, parent leaves. It is a phenomenon in many clubs, not just St Benedicts, but Breda has stayed the distance to keep the club going.

Some 38 years on Breda Dickenson is still the heart and the soul of St Benedict’s A.C.

She has seen the club through good times and lean times. At the worst times when St Benedicts came close to folding, Breda with Pat Kavanagh was determined to keep the club going to provide the children in Arklow with an athletics club, as well maintaining it as a lasting tribute to its founder Breda Synnott (R.I.P. 2016) who became President of B.L.O.E. and then Chair of the Juvenile Committee of Athletics Ireland in 2000 and a Hon

Life President of St Benedicts, Hon Life President of Athletics Wicklow and Hon Life Vice-President of Athletics Ireland.

So what has kept Breda Dickenson at it? – determination, resilience, and enthusiasm.

Breda would surely admit that being involved with a juvenile club gives one a youthful outlook and great pleasure and enjoyment in seeing young athletes develop, blossom, thrive and achieve.

Much of Breda’s work for St Benedict’s A.C. has gone unseen, but without a diligent secretary and treasurer no club would continue to exist.

She has most certainly been a background powerhouse and stalwart official. Pat Kavanagh has joked that his most often-used statement while awake is “Yes Breda”.

Breda Dickenson has devoted half of her lifetime to service with St Benedict’s.

It is most appropriate that Athletics Wicklow acknowledge her valued contribution to Wicklow athletics and the youth of Arklow over four decades.

Athletics Wicklow applauds your determination and your stalwart tireless efforts during your service to St Benedict’s A.C.