Naomh Columba and Ryan Doherty helping get the 'As I am' message out there

Naomh Columba have added the ‘As I Am’ logo as their secondary sponsor in a bid to help promote inclusion and acceptance when it comes to autism in the community. 

Senior football team boss Brendan Doherty’s young son Ryan is autistic and will begin secondary school at Coláiste na Carraige in the coming days. 

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And as he makes that transition, both Brendan and Naomh Columba hope that by acknowledging the milestone - and the transition that comes with it - other sporting bodies might follow suit, down the line, with the ‘As I Am’ logo. 

“Putting the logo on the back of the Naomh Columba senior kit, it’s just a really good platform for myself, as a parent of a child who is autistic, to raise awareness,” Doherty said.  

“Starting secondary school is a big thing and it’s one we all look forward to. There always is that wee bit of trepidation too as it’s a big step in all those children’s lives this week, who are in that exact same boat. 

“Making that same step with autism is the challenge Ryan faces. But he’s faced so many already and taken each one by putting one foot firmly in front of the other. We couldn’t be any prouder of him. 

“This is probably the most significant step yet for Ryan and it just got me thinking, there are probably so many other parents in the exact same position this week as myself and my wife, Marley. 

“Ryan comes along to training here at Naomh Columba, he’s a big supporter of the lads. They, along with all the backroom staff, are delighted to come on board with this. 

“And I just thought that tying the two things together, his love for the team and the ‘As I Am’ autism charity, was the best and most obvious way to promote awareness around this next big step in Ryan and other autistic children’s lives - starting secondary school I mean. 

“And for us, that awareness centres on being mindful, helpful and just being kind along the way, really. That, above everything else, really is the most important thing”. 

Doherty - who leads his club into Intermediate Football Championship action at the weekend with a home clash against Na Rossa - says that the hope now is that other sports teams might follow suit with the ‘As I Am’ logo. 

“I’d like to thank Michael Byrne from 3D Personnel for allowing us to do this and get the ‘As I Am’ logo on the backs of the jerseys.

“And if other sports clubs GAA, soccer, rugby or whatever, did come on board down the line, that would be brilliant as getting the logo out there just highlights the thing even more. 

“We’ve come such a long way in terms of autism awareness in the community. But there is always more you can do. 

“The aim really is to remove that stigma and the more awareness we raise, the easier it hopefully then becomes for both children with autism and even parents, like ourselves, who have children with autism”.