AGM Report
The Wicklow Cumann na mBunscol AGM took place on Thursday the 3rd October in Lynhams Hotel, Laragh. The meeting began with a welcome from the Chairman, Jim O’Riordán to all attending – including Peter Keogh, Hugh Kenny and Michael Murphy from the County Board. Apologies were sent by Gareth Doyle, Paul Garrigan and Sean Stakelum.
Chair then invited Peter Keogh to say a few words. Peter thanked the teachers for all their work and congratulated Wicklow Cumann na mBunscol for their achievements in promoting the GAA in the schools. Teachers and the GAA have always had a close and fruitful association and long may it continue. There is a new initiative in the county to drive football forward – despite the best efforts of teachers and coaches led by Hugh Kenny, results at inter county level have not been good. Hopefully this new initiative will address this.
Chairman’s address:
Special thanks to teachers for their continued hard work. Emer Fahy in camogie, Claire Frawley and Paraic Corbett in girls’ football, Micheál Ó’Murchú in hurling, Dave Barry and Jim O’Riordan in football and Tommy Brennan for all his hard work in West Wicklow. Over the past year Cumann na mBunscol in Wicklow has further expanded and is now active in all parts of the county. Finance, time constraints on teachers and competition from other codes still remain as challenges, however.
Chair acknowledged the great help we get from the clubs especially Bray Emmetts, Kilcoole and Roundwood for the use of their grounds. Most competitions are now in blitz format, and this helps get more schools involved and gets them more games than the traditional league format. Help from the county coaches is essential and the chair thanked Hugh Kenny and his team of coaches for the excellent standard of coaching provided by them in the schools.
Skills competition has now replaced the mini 7’s – this is the way most counties now pick the players to represent them in Croke Park on All Ireland semi final and final days. By 2016, all counties will be using this type of competition. At the recent national AGM, Wicklow brought up the issue of age restrictions in the competition but all other counties are happy to keep this restriction. It is believed that it gives smaller schools a better chance of getting players picked to go to Croke Park.
Finals Day in Aughrim has been a great success. Two issues – could the date be brought forward and more importantly why can’t there be a finals day for the girls? These questions to be addressed straight away by the Hugh Kenny and the county coaches.
Tráth na gCeist – numbers attending going down but everyone agrees it is a good night and it will continue for now.
There is a great annoyance among Cumann na mBunscol organisations nationally that Croke Park are investigating Cumann na mBunscol. Recommendations have been brought forward by Croke Park about the running of Cumann na mBunscol – most of which are being done already. Certain autonomy issues are involved.
Treasurer’s Report:
Dave Barry issued the meeting with a detailed review of the finances of Cumann na mBunscol Wicklow. Income and expenses were looked at and approved. Biggest outlay was the setting up of the new website and the database for the sports day. All agreed that these were well worth the expense and helped greatly with the running of the cumann.
PRO’s Report:
Pamela McDermott thanked the local newspapers The Bray/Wicklow People and The Wicklow Times for their continued coverage of the competitions run by the cumann. Also to Michael Sargent and Jim O’Riordán for radio coverage. Thanks to the County Board for giving space in the yearbook. Pamela reminded people of the website address and the Twitter account name for tweeters. A big thanks to those schools who send in reports from pupils and teachers about the games they take part in. These are essential to the running of the cumann. Pamela finished by reminding people of the National Awards in Croke Park on Nov. 16th. Closing date for nominations Oct. 17th.
Chairman acknowledged the huge amount of work done in the past year by Pamela. Database for sports day and website are both very helpful and make the running of the organisation much easier.
Chair then invited Hugh Kenny and Michael Murphy to address the meeting.
Hugh Kenny thanked the teachers for all their help over the past year. There is no obligation on any teacher to give their free time coaching, yet they still do it. The club school link is vital but more needs to be done by the clubs to help the schools. Indoor hurling starting in late October. Garden County flag initiative very successful. 50 schools received flags for their work promoting GAA.
Michael Murphy echoed the other speakers’ thanks to the teachers for their hard work. Clubs need to do more to help schools with their work.
A.O.B.
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Will the football league be 9 or 11 a side?
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Clarification on gumshields.
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Girls’ football – there seems to be an imbalance between boys and girls football. Referees are always available for boys blitzes yet not for the girls. This needs to be addressed. Why is there a finals day in Aughrim for boys football yet not for girls?
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County finals day – could Hugh Kenny and the county coaches have a booklet/memento made for the schools taking part? Hugh said this wouldn’t be a problem if the schools sent him names beforehand.
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Rounders – as this is a GAA sport, could there be a competition set up? Rules would need to be clear.
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Having matches after school – National audit showed that about half the counties ran their matches during school time. Rest ran them half in and half out of school. Only one county had their Cumann na mBunscol matches outside of school time.
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Camogie blitz rescheduled for 23rd Oct. in Bray Emmets (note change of venue)
Elections:
All officers re-elected.
Chairman – Jim O’Riordan
Secretary - Ciarán O’Neill
PRO - Pamela McDermott
Treasurer - Dave Barry
Boys Football - Jim O’Riordán/Dave Barry/Eoin O’Suilleabhán
Girls Football - Claire Frawley/Paraic Corbett
Hurling - Micheál Ó’Murchú/Ronan Keddy
Camogie - Emer Fahy/Sinead Ní Chréan Loinsigh
Tráth na gCeist - Sean Stakelum
