The Garden County’s Trip to Nowlan Park

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On Thursday the 16th June, following a generous invitation from Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Kilkenny, Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Wicklow travelled to Nowlan Park Kilkenny for an Exhibition Day of hurling and camogie. Our hurlers and camogie players were selected from schools all over the Garden County and over 20 schools from Wicklow were represented on the day. We boarded the bus in Rathdrum with an additional pick up point in the Glenview Hotel and started our journey. We were warmly welcomed by Jim Fennelly, Cathaoirleach Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Kilkenny. He introduced us to a “special guest” who has resided in Kilkenny this year and has returned to Kilkenny on 36 occasions. That special guest was the Liam Mc Carthy cup! Children got the opportunity to handle the cup and take pictures. Jim spoke at length that anything is possible in sport- he spoke of Westmeath’s stunning victory over the Kilkenny Under 21’s and urged our young hurlers and camogie players to reach for the stars in the future and who knows Liam might some day make his way to Wicklow! Jim and Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Kilkenny also very kindly donated a number of helmets, sliotars and Jack Carey Hurls which were raffled off between our Wicklow representatives. The children then took part in a training session provided by the Kilkenny GDA’s. The coaching workshops were lively and faced paced. Midway through the session our children were greeted by 4 members of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team- Paul Murphy, Richie Reid, Colm Fennelly and Conor Fogarty. The team members spoke about their training regime, their diet and how they constantly have a hurley in their hands. The boys spoke of the rivalry at club level but the comradery they share at a county level. They encouraged our young hurlers and camogie players to keep practising and to use every opportunity they have to develop their hurling skills. The team members kindly posed for pictures and autographs and the odd selfie! The children concluded the days with a mini blitz to demonstrate the skills they had learned on the day. Lunch was provided in McDonalds and our raffle prizes were distributed. It was a fantastic day for all involved.

Míle buíochas to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Kilkenny in particular Jim Fennelly, the Kilkenny GDAs and the Kilkenny hurlers for the great day in Nolan Park. A huge thank you to the parents and teachers for their support, patience and cooperation in organising the trip. Many thanks to Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Wicklow for helping to facilitate the day and giving our future stars the opportunity to play in Nowlan Park. A final well done to the 32 children who are the future of hurling and camogie in Wicklow- they showed fantastic skill and sportsmanship on the day. We look forward to more Wicklow teams taking on the Cats in the coming years! Maith sibh!

Photos

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