In Derry ​we have so much to celebrate: we should have much more self-belief

It’s not my team, but I’m happy to say he’s playing great. A young man with talent, working under a positive coach who believes in his ability to play for one of the biggest sporting teams in the world.

Huge congratulations to the young man. We should all celebrate our homegrown who were brave enough to pack up everything, move somewhere new and make an impact internationally.

It comes at a time when we learn that another local man, Declan Breslin, has been appointed as Managing Director of Client Delivery for the financial tech firm FinTrU.

After a glittering career in international banking, Declan Breslin and his family are returning home from the Big Apple.

He told the Irish News this week: “My mum and dad had a grocery business, selling potatoes, vegetables, and eggs and that allowed me to meet people and socialise. It taught me a lot of the things that make Northern Ireland people likeable; like getting on with people we work with, and our work ethic.”

“Growing up in Derry, having a background like mine in the family business will always keep me grounded. Being married to a Derry woman always ensures that too!”

leadership

There’s no doubt about the talent of Derry people, that’s enjoyed in leadership roles across the globe, but talent can be found anywhere.

What does make us different is our empathy, our grit, and our charm.

We do, perhaps, lack a confidence though.

Maybe it’s because we didn’t get much as a city and as a people. We’re grateful, sometimes to the point of embarrassment, when others tell us how good we are.

I can remember some years ago bringing together young people from schools across the UK for a debating competition.

Quizzing them before the final, the English private school kids, starting their careers which would inevitably lead them to the House of Lords, spoke with the confidence of those whose futures were already assured thanks to their family connections but with a depth to their argument equivalent to a swimming pool with two shallow ends.

Up next were two young people from Derry schools.

Both, as an automatic reflex, started their contributions with “I don’t know, but…” followed by a clarity of thought, comprehension, and wisdom which at such a young age would put the world’s finest thinkers to shame.

belief

“I don’t know, but…”. What does that say about the belief we instil in our young people, all our people? More importantly, what must we do to change it?

Why do we watch people leave to cleanse themselves from this self-doubt when it’s obvious that we have bags full of ability and a charm barely visible in other communities?

Going away, seeing the world, developing new abilities is enriching and, of course, we don’t want to suddenly see scenes of people needlessly high fiving each other on finding one of the new parking spaces in the Diamond.

But it would be good to maybe start celebrating and supporting each other, giving us all and our city a wee boost so we can be more confident. It would transform this place.

Anyway, well done Conor and welcome home Declan and your family. Hopefully there will be many others making that return journey in 2024 and infecting us all with a bit more belief.

It’s obvious that we have bags full of ability and a charm barely visible in other communities...

It would be good to maybe start celebrating and supporting each other