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Alexander the Great was reputed to have cried when he realised his army had no more worlds to conquer. By the time of his death at the age of 32, the Macedonian king was head of the largest empire the world had seen.
The Dublin footballers are unlikely to have shed the same tears September before last when they broke through the barrier to claim the GAA s first All-Ireland inter-county senior men s five-in-a-row, masters of all they surveyed at that point. Because for some, on a personal level, there are still other worlds to conquer.
On Saturday, seven Dublin players will bid to write themselves into the record book as joint-holders of the most All-Ireland senior football medals.
Clare teacher Denis Bates has been given an award for his volunteering work that dates back to 1984 with Ireland’s largest aid agency Concern Worldwide.
Denis, from Shannon, received a silver medal for his involvement with the charity’s national school debating competition, Concern Debates.
Hundreds of schools take part in the nationwide contest each year with students going head-to-head in debates about world and development issues – with volunteer judges like Denis deciding who wins each one.
Denis was also a mentor for student teams at CBS Sexton Street in Limerick city when he worked there over many years. He also adjudicated at many debating contests involving Clare schools like St. Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon and Coláiste Muire in Ennis.