Inspiring Active Lives Through Sport

I am delighted to provide this testimonial for Headstart Sports Coaching and its founder, Niall Fagan.

Niall is a highly qualified and dedicated professional in the areas of sports coaching and fitness. Over the past number of years, he has provided excellent in-school coaching to the children of Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar. His work has focused on developing fundamental movement skills while also introducing pupils to a wide and engaging range of sporting activities. Niall’s sessions are always well planned, inclusive, and delivered with great enthusiasm, ensuring that all children can participate, progress, and enjoy being active.

In addition to his work within the school, Niall organises a weekly afterschool club in Clonkill GAA Hall. This has proven to be a tremendous support to many families, offering high-quality afterschool care in a safe, structured, and enjoyable environment. He also arranges popular summer and Easter camps locally, which are consistently well run and greatly enjoyed by the children who attend.

I am also aware of Niall’s extensive work with Westmeath Sports Partnership, where he provides coaching for a wide range of groups, with particular emphasis on access-for-all sports programmes. This highlights his strong commitment to inclusion and his passion for ensuring that every child has the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity.

I wish Niall every continued success with Headstart Coaching, his clubs, and his camps in the future, and I would highly recommend his services to schools, parents, and organisations.

Niall Brennan

Principal

Scoil Mhuire, Loughegar

I’ve been working with Niall for a year now, and it has been such a positive experience. He’s not only professional, but also genuinely kind and caring with the students. The teenagers feel supported, motivated, and always have access to the materials and resources they need. What I appreciate most is the welcoming atmosphere he creates, the students feel comfortable, encouraged, and excited to learn.

Niall is a great sports coach who brings energy, enthusiasm, and a wide variety of engaging activities for all children. He has built a fantastic rapport with pupils and staff alike, adapting easily to the needs of the school. Reliable, flexible, and professional, Niall has greatly enhanced our PE curriculum and provided valuable enrichment to our sports provision.

St Brigid"s Special School have used Niall's services for a number of years now. From 8 week blocks to work with all class levels and abilities to sports day set up. Niall always ensures he caters to both the cognitive and physical mobility range within each class group. It is safe to all students love to see Niall setting up on the yard or in the hall as they know great fun is about to happen. Niall provides a very functional and curriculum driven programme whilst ensuring it is inclusive at every stage. Highly recommend Nialls service for any school sports programme, sports day support or fun day. Jo Jordan, Principal

Sacred Heart School Mullingar are delighted to have had Niall Fagan supporting our pupils in their physical education and wellbeing activities over the past three years. Our pupils have thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from Niall’s kindness, patience and expertise throughout this period. Our pupils have autism and designated abilities termed moderate and severe and profound general learning disabilities. In addition, many are wheelchair users and have physical disabilities. Niall effectively differentiates all activities to meet the needs of the cohort of pupils he is working with. All pupils are actively engaged throughout and lessons and lessons always end with a high five and a smile! Thank you Niall for everything you do to promote and support our pupils wellbeing! Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated by the Sacred Heart team!

Anne-Marie Connolly Principal Sacred Heart School Mullingar

Niall has been a coach in our school for the past two years. So far we have had a block of basketball and a block of gymnastics and we have all been blown away! Headstart Coaching offers a wide variety of different activities focusing on fundamental movement skills, games and gymnastics which is fantastic for schools engaging with the Active School Flag initiative.

The children thoroughly enjoy working with Niall and the development and progress they have made throughout the sessions is evident. Every child feels a sense of achievement in his lessons and always ask when he will be coming back. We as a staff have also benefitted greatly from observing Niall and his approach and have implemented many new ideas and strategies into our own practice as a result.

Niall's rapport with the children is exceptional and his professionalism when dealing with staff is second to none. I would highly recommend Niall as a coach to any school or community group. We as a school look forward to our next block of lessons with Niall in the new school year.

Gráinne Mc Phillips

Niall has played a key role in supporting Westmeath Sports Partnership through the delivery of sport and adapted physical activity programmes for children and adults with disabilities. Niall’s sessions are inclusive, well-structured, and impactful, ensuring participants of all abilities can engage meaningfully. We value Niall’s professionalism and the positive contribution Niall has made to a variety of cohorts in the community

Westmeath Sports Partnership - Niall worked with us on our Community Summer camp. All Niall’s sessions were all taught out to suit all abilities and tailored to suit the age group. He is very organised, knowledgeable and professional in his coaching delivery. Niall builds a great rapport with the children which encourages full participation. I would highly recommend Niall’s coaching services. I would have no hesitation in asking Niall to work with us again.

Niall has a wonderful rapport with our children. His professional and gentle manner can coax even the most unwilling or reluctant child into a meaningful engagement with the fundamental skills he coaches with such ease. He has introduced our children to a variety of sports they may not have the opportunity to experience and thus is fostering a curiosity and love for trying out new skills and sports in a fun and substantial manner. I would have no hesitation in recommending Niall and his enthusiastic dedication to making sport accessible to all children

Niall has been coaching in our school for the past 3 years. Children who don’t like P.E at all, never mind soccer, absolutely adore his classes! They are fun, very active and designed for all the children to participate in. I would recommend these sessions for anyone!

Niall is an enthusiastic and very professional coach, he has a wonderful rapport with the children and encourages full participation. There is always a sense of excitement in the school on coaching days. I would highly recommend Niall and Headstart Sports Coaching to any school

All the children, even the ‘non-sporty’ types, have thoroughly enjoyed their sessions with Niall at Headstart Sports Coaching. Niall teaches a variety of sports to which the children would not otherwise have access. I cannot recommend him highly enough

Our senior pupils took part in a fundamental movement skills programme through Soccer co-ordinated by Niall. The course was very well organised and pitched to cater for all abilities. Niall was able in his role and developed a great rapport with our students. Even those who wouldn’t pride themselves as sporty throughly enjoyed the experience

The children in St. Mary’s N.S., Rathowen thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They were actively engaged at all times and very eager to take part in each lesson. All ages and abilities were catered for. The blitz organised at the end of the six weeks added to the excitement

Niall had a very good manner with the children. He was very organised and connected very well with them. He got the best out of the children and they really enjoyed the sessions. I would have no hesitation in recommending Niall to another school

Niall has been coaching in our school for the past 2 years. What a pleasure it is to watch our children participate in and enjoy the range of P.E skills that Niall offers them. He is always greeted with smiles and cheers upon his arrival. The children have a great time and he has the ability, kindness and patience to get the best out of each and every one of them. I would highly recommend these sessions with Niall to everyone

Niall has worked with the pupils in our school over the past 2 years. He demonstrates his excellent coaching skills so adeptly from the young Junior Infant to the 6th Class pupil. All ages enjoy his well organised and stimulating coaching sessions. He introduces a variety of games to enhance skill improvement and of course enjoyment. The great rapport Niall builds with the pupils is reflected in the pupils’ great respect for him. Soccer training day is a day that is looked forwarded to in St. Fintans!!

We found Niall was very helpful and knowledgeable. Our youth group benefitted greatly from the excellent coaching skills taught by Niall. We could not have asked for a better service

During his time coaching in our school Niall had every child engaged and motivated during the sessions. He brought out the best in all the pupils and instilled in them a love for hockey. The pupils made great progress during the 9 week programme and we look forward to working with Niall again next year. His friendly nature and organisational skills made him a welcome visitor to our school. His punctuality was excellent and we all felt that it was great value for money and something that we would like to continue each year

Niall began working with us in a teaching capacity during the school year of 2015. Niall teaches physical education to the pupils of our school as an After School Extra Curricular Activity. He also manages the school’s Soccer team. Niall is punctual, organised and appropriately professional at all times. He work cooperatively and positively with the Principal, the class teachers, the children and, the parents. Niall is attentive to the needs of each child and has a good positive relationship with the pupils. Niall is kind, understanding and patient with all the children and attentive to pupils with special educational needs. Niall follows school policies, procedures and practises. I highly recommend Niall for any future position

We have had Niall come join the Airc crew to run activities for our families on numerous occasions. His inclusive but fun approach is fantastic. It can be hard for our families to find activities to suit. A lot of providers claim to be inclusive but they can mean it in a fairly limited capacity. We have kids with a huge range of support needs but Niall met every kid where they were at and made each one know they belonged. Couldn’t recommend him enough

We highly recommend Headstart Coaching. Nialls coaching style is very positive and child-centred. He is able to bring out the best in pupils by inspiring respect, team-work and enthusiasm!

As a school we would highly recommend Niall and his programme. every year the children look forward to their classes with Niall. He caters for every interest, age and abilities. We cannot recommend Niall enough.

I would highly recommend Niall and his school program. The children love his varied and wide programmes. Niall provides for all ages and abilities in his classes.

I would highly recommend Niall and his team. The children from our classes were shown great empathy and respect from Niall while he encouraged them through the various programmes we enlisted on (physical therapy, learning to cycle, GAA). The kids made great friendships and built their confidence enormously. Looking forward to our next sessions!

All the children, even the ‘non-sporty’ types, have thoroughly enjoyed their sessions with Niall at Headstart Sports Coaching. Niall teaches a variety of sports to which the children would not otherwise have access. I cannot recommend him highly enough

Our senior pupils took part in a fundamental movement skills programme through Soccer co-ordinated by Niall. The course was very well organised and pitched to cater for all abilities. Niall was able in his role and developed a great rapport with our students. Even those who wouldn’t pride themselves as sporty throughly enjoyed the experience

The children in St. Mary’s N.S., Rathowen thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They were actively engaged at all times and very eager to take part in each lesson. All ages and abilities were catered for. The blitz organised at the end of the six weeks added to the excitement

Niall had a very good manner with the children. He was very organised and connected very well with them. He got the best out of the children and they really enjoyed the sessions. I would have no hesitation in recommending Niall to another school

Niall has been coaching in our school for the past 2 years. What a pleasure it is to watch our children participate in and enjoy the range of P.E skills that Niall offers them. He is always greeted with smiles and cheers upon his arrival. The children have a great time and he has the ability, kindness and patience to get the best out of each and every one of them. I would highly recommend these sessions with Niall to everyone

Niall has worked with the pupils in our school over the past 2 years. He demonstrates his excellent coaching skills so adeptly from the young Junior Infant to the 6th Class pupil. All ages enjoy his well organised and stimulating coaching sessions. He introduces a variety of games to enhance skill improvement and of course enjoyment. The great rapport Niall builds with the pupils is reflected in the pupils’ great respect for him. Soccer training day is a day that is looked forwarded to in St. Fintans!!

We found Niall was very helpful and knowledgeable. Our youth group benefitted greatly from the excellent coaching skills taught by Niall. We could not have asked for a better service

During his time coaching in our school Niall had every child engaged and motivated during the sessions. He brought out the best in all the pupils and instilled in them a love for hockey. The pupils made great progress during the 9 week programme and we look forward to working with Niall again next year. His friendly nature and organisational skills made him a welcome visitor to our school. His punctuality was excellent and we all felt that it was great value for money and something that we would like to continue each year

Niall began working with us in a teaching capacity during the school year of 2015. Niall teaches physical education to the pupils of our school as an After School Extra Curricular Activity. He also manages the school’s Soccer team. Niall is punctual, organised and appropriately professional at all times. He work cooperatively and positively with the Principal, the class teachers, the children and, the parents. Niall is attentive to the needs of each child and has a good positive relationship with the pupils. Niall is kind, understanding and patient with all the children and attentive to pupils with special educational needs. Niall follows school policies, procedures and practises. I highly recommend Niall for any future position