In July 2025, I was deeply honoured to receive a personal letter of congratulations from the Office of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, acknowledging my achievements in powerlifting and the journey that brought me here.

The letter, dated 30 July 2025 and signed by Anna Williams, Secretary General to the President, reads in part:

“On behalf of President Higgins, may I extend his warmest congratulations to you on your extraordinary achievements in the world of powerlifting.

To hold six world records is in itself an exceptional and rare achievement, a true testament to your skill, talent and passion for the sport. However, what makes your story all the more remarkable is the journey that led you there, a journey that, although marked by profound difficulty, has been made with a quiet, determined courage that speaks to the very heart of the human spirit.

In facing adversity with such strength and bravery, you have become a source of inspiration not only to aspiring athletes, but to all those who have searched for light amidst such moments of darkness.”

Receiving recognition from President Michael D. Higgins is one of the greatest honours of my life. His words reflect not just the milestones achieved in sport, but the deeper journey of resilience, defiance, and belief that no challenge is final.

From being told at 18 that I might never walk again after being struck by a stolen car, to rebuilding my strength through powerlifting, the path has been long, painful, and ultimately transformative. To now hold six World Records — including a Guinness World Record for the Heaviest Conventional Deadlift without strongman aids — and to have that acknowledged by the President of Ireland is profoundly humbling.

This letter of recognition came before my later honours — the Mayoral Reception in Limerick and the Civic Reception in Dublin, hosted by Lord Mayor Ray McAdam at the Mansion House — making it the first official acknowledgement of my achievements at national level. Each of these moments has been a powerful reminder of how far determination and faith in oneself can go.

I am sincerely grateful to President Higgins for his kind words, encouragement, and for recognising not only the records themselves but the story behind them — one of endurance, self-belief, and the will to rise again.

As I continue my work in disability inclusion and motivational speaking, I carry his message as both an honour and an inspiration to keep using my journey to help others find strength in their own.

📖 Read my story in my upcoming memoir Unbroken – The Liam Beville Story
🏋️‍♂️ See my Guinness World Record feature here: Guinness World Records Article