Big leaps and bigger dreams for Carrowholly gymnast

The Reek stands regally in the background and the waves of the Atlantic lap gently off the west-Mayo shoreline as Alesha Murray flies through the air. The 12-year-old from Carrowholly, in Kilmeena, is on a rest-day from her gymnastics sessions and she can be found bounding around the place as the sun shines out of the heavens. The youngster is quickly forging a reputation in the sport and her progress has been eye-catching.

“When she was six or seven she was watching Sofie Dossi, a young gymnast on America's Got Talent and loved it. The next minute she was doing the splits and climbing ropes and showing all kinds of flexibility and strength,” Alesha's dad, Finbarr tells The Mayo News.

That obvious talent led the Murrays to Fantastic Gymnastics, in Castlebar when she was seven and like other children, Alesha was excited about the moves and the fun and the friendship, but she was also hugely interested in proper technique, form and getting better every day.

The Covid pandemic then halted Alesha's gymnastic progress, but her desire to learn, develop and be better only increased. When normality returned, Alesha was back chasing gymnastics glory. She joined Nadia Gymnastics Club in Ballina where Teresa and Eileen Murphy helped her develop and improve, and in March 2023 competed in her first National Series competition at the National Sports Centre in Blanchardstown. That evening Alesha came back to Clew Bay with a gold medal around her neck after winning the General Level 2 competition.

“That was a huge achievement and a massive boost for her confidence. Our work/life circumstances changed at home around that time too, which meant she joined Renmore Gymnastic Club (RGC) in Galway and following a high performance trial she was offered a place on their high performance programme,” Finbarr continued.

COMMITMENT

Little did the Murrays realise it at the time, but Alesha was in esteemed company in RGC. Head coach Sally Batley is Irish Women's Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) team coach and there were also four of the senior Irish women's gymnasts in the club, Emma Slevin, Kate Molloy, Blathnaid Higgins and Jane Heffernan. Progress was being made and the commitment levels required had gone through the roof.

Training comprised of four-hour sessions in Renmore, four days a week. That meant the 11-year-old being picked up from school in Scoil Phadraig in Westport at 2.30pm and returning home to Carrowholly just after 10pm.

“It was, and is, a big commitment, but she loves it, she's very determined and (my wife) Mary and myself re trying our best to give her every chance. We're a very close family and we all support each other the best we can. Her sister Layla (15) and Reuben (6) are very proud of her and she's very proud of their achievements in life too. They enjoy doing things they love and Mary and myself are blessed,” the man who forged a reputation as a talented, tigerish defender with Kilmeena in the 1990s explained.

As the 2023 season progressed Alesha caught the eye of David Roy Wood, Head High Performance Coach with Team Ireland, when he selected the Carrowholly girl as gymnast of the week at a camp and presented her with an official Irish team leotard.. This was another sign that the hard work was paying off, and Alesha was determined to make up for lost time.

“Compared to other gymnasts, she started her journey late and is still catching up, but RGC devised a plan and last November she competed in a National competition in Dublin at General Level 4 and finished fourth out of 63 entrants, winning silver on the floor and bronze on the beam.

PLUS PATHWAY

In her most recent competition in May, the young star from Clew Bay saw her make a huge leap in levels to compete in the Plus Level Pathway and at level Plus 4. The Plus Pathway is for athletes showing promise and it is mandatory for consideration and selection onto a national squad. The competition was fierce against gymnasts who were seasoned competitors and the girl from Carrowholly was excellent, attaining first place in her physical preparation routine, silver on bars and silver on beam.

She had only been on working on the various apparatuses for little over a year, but that didn't hold her back.

“She's loving every second of it. She has big dreams and she's very determined,” Finbarr explained. “It's a big commitment travelling to Galway four times a week, but we're determined to support her and give her every chance. Gymnastics is a very fast-growing sport and I'm sure there's a lot of untapped talent around us, just waiting for an opportunity,” he concluded.

Alesha would like to thank all who are doing so much to help her – RGC Team Manager Aoife Lusted; Head Coach, Sam and coaches Caoimhe M, Caoimhe G and Deborah.