Indoor Primary School Hurling Blitz @ Meadowbank

On Thursday 3^rd March, the County Derry indoor hurling blitz was held in the Meadowbank arena in Magherafelt. 7 schools took part:

St.Canices Dungiven,

St.Eoghans Moneyneena,

St.Columbs Straw,

St.Johns Swatragh,

St.Brigids Tirkane,

St.Brigids Mayogall

St.Patricks Glen.

The schools took part in a series of Go Games matches throughout the day. The standard of hurling was very high with some exceptional individual talent on show. This is a credit to the work going on in the local clubs and within the schools themselves. We look forward to the outdoor blitzes in the spring to see how the lads are developing. Many thanks to the teachers who reluctantly took a day away from the classroom to help out at blitz and to the schools for their continued support in the development of hurling in Derry.

St. Canice Dungiven After School Football

St Canice Dungiven PS After School coaching in Dungiven Sports Pavilion, some very good players to watch out for in the years to come, too many to name individually but they all have a good sound foundation in the GAA.

See photo with Development Officer Richard Ferris

Nazareth House Christmas Go Games League

Attached are photos from the final day of Nazareth House's Christmas League. Each class was split into five teams and competed against each other for four weeks to have a winning team coming out of each class to be their representatives. The two winning teams came together on final day to compete for the title of best class. Mrs McDaid's Class came out on top against Mr McDoal's.
Great skill was on show on the day and hihglighted what the children have learned over the previous term.

Hollybush Primary School Hurling Christmas League

Hollybush Primary School held their Christmas League over the past month. The children spent weeks competing against each other to represent their class in the schools hurling final. On final day both classes were very well represented and the support they got from their classmates pushed them on. The winning class was Mr Mc Garrigles class who were clear winners in the end. The winning team were presented with a trophy made by Caitlin Gallagher.

St. Patrick's Pennyburn Christmas GAA League

Over 120 pupils from P5 in St Patricks, Pennyburn took part in their schools Christmas Legaue. For the past few weeks each team in a class has been competing against each other to represent their class in the Finals Day. When finals day arrived they all gathered in the one hall to cheer on their own class. In the end after a few extra times Mrs C Doherty's Class came out on top and it was well deserved. They played as a team and showed great skill throughout the league. Included is all the pupils, the winning team and the winning class! Thanks to Derry GPO Shauna McCallion for organising the event in cooperation with Doire Colmcille.

Winter Fun Day at Lavey GAC

On Tuesday past, the Ulster GAA DENI Coaches from County Derry (Ben McGuckin, Ruairi Convery, Clare Leahy, Colum Tracey and Grainne McGale), along with Derry GPO's Diarmuid Scullion and Emmett Stewart ran a Christmas Sports Fun Day at Lavey GAC's Indoor Complex. The coaches invited children from the Schools in the local area; these included St Brigid's PS Mayogall, St Mary's PS Bellaghy, St Mary's PS Glenview and St Patrick's PS Glen. The day was a huge success, with all 150 Children and Teachers enjoying themselves despite the chilly conditions inside the hall. Many thanks to all the Schools that participated.

Physical Literacy Games for Teachers of Roe Valley

Over 50 Primary school teachers across the Roe Valley enjoyed an inservice Physical Literacy Games programme presented by Richard Ferris & Clare Leahy at Roe Valley Leisure Centre. For 2 hours they were given tuition in the introduction of game, associated skills and care and development of abilities for their pupils. Not only was the activity enjoyment emphasised but also highlighted the need to be aware of possible physiotherapy precautions.Thanks to Paul Simpson and Roisin Ferris for helping out, and to all the teachers for coming along and taken full part.

Mini National Hurling League

Primary 5 children from St.Canices Primary school Dungiven participated in a mini National Hurling league competition over the past few weeks. The P.5 classes were divided up into 8 teams and played 3 games every week for 5 weeks. A league table was updated each week and put up on the school notice board. At the end of the mini league the top 2 teams played off in the final. This was an excellent programme for a large school as it maximised number participation and gave all the children a taste of hurling/camogie. Hopefully the children will now have got a taste for the games and will join with their local clubs over the next few weeks when the indoor programmes begin. The eventual winners of the competition were Cork, led by captain Darragh McGilligan, who defeated Derry in the final. Well done to everyone who took part

North Derry Primary School Indoor Football

On Tuesday 19^th October approximately 220 children took part in a Key Stage 2 Gaelic Football blitz organised by Limavady Games Promotion Officer Richard Ferris. The blitz was split between Roe Valley Leisure Centre where 20 teams took part in a total of 64 games and Dungiven Sports Pavilion which had 8 teams competing in 28 games. The event was a huge success with all the children really enjoying a day of football in a fun environment.
Many thanks to the students from St Mary’s Limavady and St. Patrick’s Dungiven who referred the games very well, namely Declan Louge, Conor Mc Closkey, Oran Fleming, Luke Kelly and Sean Hasson and finally to Limavady Borough Council for the use of their excellent indoor facilities.

Moneymore Rec host Primary 5 Gaelic Football Blitz

On Friday Colm Dillon and Dairmuid Scullion organised a Primary 5 Gaelic Football blitz for the primary schools in and around the moneymore area, competing team were st Patricks Loup, St Patricks Moneymoe, Lissan PS and St. Malachy's Drummullan. Everyone who took part had a very enjoyable day.

Primary 5 Gaelic Football Blitz at Swatragh

Attached photos from today's Primary school blitz in Swatragh. Competing schools were St Johns Swatragh, St Marys Glenview, St Patricks Glen and St Brigids Tirkane. A big thanks to Sean McWilliams for for use of the GAA hall at such short notice due to the rain.

Primary 5 Gaelic Football @ Meadowbank

Attached photos from Wednesday's p5 blitz in Meadowbamk. Competing schools were Holy Family Magherafelt, New Row, St Treas Ballymaguigan and Derrychrin. Thanks to Meadowbank for use of such an impressive facility and to Brian Smith and Diarmuid Scullion for coordinating.

Primary 5 Gaelic Football

Attached photos from Tuesday's P5 blitz in the Backrow hall, Draperstown. Competing schools were St Marys Draperstown, St Columbs Straw, St Eoghans Moneyneena, Altayeskey, and also st Columbs Cullion. Thanks to Diarmuid Scullion for organising the event, Colm Dillon for helping with the refereeing and to Ciaran Meenagh for the use of the hall.

Primary 5 Indoor Go Games Football

Today was the first of this weeks P5 indoor boys blitzes. Anahorish, St John Bosco Ballynease and St Marys Bellaghy took part and had a very enjoyable mornings football. Thanks to Bellaghy GAA club for the use of their hall.

Doire Colmcille Day @ St. Patrick's Pennyburn

On Wednesday 23rd June approx 500 pupils took part in Doire Colmcille Day in St Patricks, Pennyburn.

Pupils from Primary 3,5,6 and 7 were given great coaching by the coaches from Doire Colmcille. It was an all day event with each year group coming to be coached at different intervals and take part in Go Games blitzs within the school grounds. The coaches were assisted by the school teachers and classroom assistants and all help was greatly appreciated by the coaches.

The teachers felt they learnt a great deal from the day and the pupils throughougly enjoyed their day. All pupils were encouraged to wear a GAA jersey and highlight the strong link the school has with GAA. It is hoped that this will be an annual event linking Doire Colmcille with St Patricks, Pennyburn.

Many thanks to Matthew Maguire, Ronan McDaid and Kevin Brady as well as GPO Stephen Mc Callion who facilitated the day.