Connacht GAA for ALL Committee and ISSSC Hold Event in University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome
The Connacht GAA for ALL Committee, in collaboration with the Irish Special Schools Sports Council (ISSSC), hosted a Coaching and Games Event on Tuesday 15th October 2024 from 11.00am to 1.00pm,.in the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome, at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan, Co. Mayo.
A total of 74 children attended from four special schools in the North West Region, namely; St Joseph’s, Ballinivvnan Sligo, St Angela’s Castlebar, St Dympna’s Ballina and St Bernadette’s Letterkenny.
The Chairperson of the Connacht GAA for All Committee Denis O’Boyle, formally welcomed all the children, their teachers and SNA’s, to the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome and told them that would all have a wonderful day of GAA Games, Coaching and Fun Activities which were especially planned for them. He thanked Dr Cathal Cregg, Connacht GAA Games Manager, Billy McNicholas, Co Mayo GAA Games Manager and Ray McNamara Co Mayo Sports Partnership for coordinating this event and for their ongoing support and for providing their full time coaches to help out on the day with the activities.
Connacht GAA President, Vincent Neary, also welcomed everyone and wished everyone a very enjoyable day’s activities. He thanked the Connacht GAA for All Committee and everyone involved in helping with the coaching and organising the events. He was delighted that Connacht Council in association with the Irish Special Schools Sports Council (ISSSC) was able to host this very important event.
This was indeed a most enjoyable occasion for the children, who took part in a range of activities and experienced the many GAA skills and coaching from the full time Connacht GAA Coaches in association with Mayo Sports Partnership staff.
The event was a tremendous success and the feedback afterwards from the children and their teachers and SNA’s was very positive. All of the children went home very happy with each receiving a GAA top and sports bag. They will remember for a long time to come, the day when they played in the Dome.
A special thanks goes to the President of Connacht GAA Council, Vincent Neary, John Prenty, Dr Cathal Cregg and Daniel Forde and the Connacht GAA Council for hosting this event in collaboration with Terence Shields and the Irish Special Schools Sports Council (ISSSC). Thremendous credit goes to Mayo Sports Partnership staff Ray McNamara and Kate Feehan, together with Billy McNicholas, Kieran Kilkenny, Eugene Lavin, Denise Fahy, from Mayo GAA, Denis Carr and Cian Breathnach, from Galway GAA and Liam Og Gormley, from Sligo GAA. All greatly contributed to make this a most enjoyable and successful event.
Finally it is important to acknowledge the members of the Connacht GAA for All Committee present for the event on the day included Vincent Neary, John Prenty, Dr Cathal Cregg, Mattie Kilroy, Tim Hynes, Ray McNamara and Denis O’Boyle.
The children from St Bernadette’s, Letterkenny also attended but missed the main photograph.
