College GAA Academy a First for the North West

Back: Jimmy Darragh (Ulster GAA Council), Seamus Murphy, College Chief Executive & Principal, Gary Mallon (Ulster Council), Chris Collins (Derry County Board), Gerard Faulkner & Joan Gribben, lecturers. Front: Students & Academy applicants Leona Russell & Enda McDermott

North West Regional College has recently launched a unique Gaelic Games Academy, following a prestigious event held at its Strand Road Campus. Destined to develop the GAA stars of the future, North West Regional College GAA Academy has been heralded as a real first for the North West region after receiving full support and endorsement from the Derry GAA County Board and Ulster Council.

On hand to officially launch the Academy were prominent Ulster Council GAA coaches and officals including 4 time All-Star Tony Scullion, who, in the company of other well-known GAA personalities and dignitaries, learned about plans to develop and enhance the opportunities for potential elite performers in all Gaelic games across the College.

North West Regional College GAA Academy will combine full-time education with a practical skills training package, allowing College students to play the sport they love to a high standard, whilst gaining academic or vocational qualifications. It will be aimed at embracing the development of sporting, leadership, personal and social skills to prepare College students for a future in coaching or playing Gaelic sports. The programmes will include the development of young referees, coaching qualifications at foundation level, child protection, personal development courses for coaches such as planning for a season strength and conditioning defending workshop, goalkeeping and place-kicking, player development, performance analysis, first aid, and working toward Derry County Teams.

A spokesperson for the College added: “Our College has long been associated with the development Gaelic Games in this region, indeed some of our students and staff have played with or coached some of the most successful GAA sides in recent times. The launch of North West Regional College GAA Academy underpins our commitment to furthering the ambitions for our students and staff in Gaelic Games, so that they are given every opportunity to realise their full potential, whether that be on or off the field of play.”

All programmes included in the Academy will be monitored carefully, and training and playing will depend on student’s commitments to their academic studies. Backing the initiative, Gary Mallon, Third Level Education Development Officer from the Ulster GAA Council, explained the Academy was a much needed boost for games in the North West:

“North West Regional College GAA Academy is an exciting development for Gaelic Games in this region, and we believe it can act as a catalyst for GAA growth and prosperity for aspiring players, coaches and administrators in local counties Derry, Tyrone and Donegal. We firmly support this initiative by North West Regional College, and look forward to working in partnership with our Colleagues in the College through the Academy in the future.”

In order to be eligible to enter the academy, students must be at least 16 years of age and must be enrolled on a full time programme within the college. For further information on North West GAA Academy, visit call 028 7127 6000.