20 May 2011
St. Brigid’s P.S. Ballymena, Co. Antrim Win Ulster GAA School Of The year
THE IRISH NEWS unveiled the winners recently of their highly contested Irish News Club & Volunteer Awards. The Awards initiative recognizes and rewards GAA Clubs, Schools & Volunteers throughout Ulster for their commitment to gaelic games and their community irrespective of their playing ability.
St. Brigid’s PS, Ballymena came top of the class in the primary section and were praised by the judges for the inclusive nature of their promotion of Gaelic games, their central role in promoting the games throughout the South West Antrim area on behalf of Cumman Na mBunscol and the very strong links that the school has with the local Ballymena club, All Saint’s GAC.
School principal Mr. Jim Brady commented,
“We are delighted to win this award. We work hard at promoting all sports in St. Brigid’s and see our work in Gaelic games promotion as central to that. The children are very enthusiastic about their involvement in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie and the numbers participating in our after-schools coaching programme and on school teams is testament to that. The school also maintains very strong links with the local club, All Saints GAC and many of the children participating in school programmes play with the club each week. It is probably no coincidence that the success of the school mirrors the success the club has had in recent years at juvenile level. In fact each one compliments the other.”
Mr. John Brolly, Irish News in announcing St. Brigid’s success at the awards ceremony was fulsome in his praise of the school. He revealed that ,
“central to the decision making process was the fact that St Brigid’s made GAA participation an inclusive activity across the school, supported the development of both their own coaches and others from other schools through their coach education programme and clearly took a “Big Picture” approach to their gaelic games involvement.”
Mr. Colm Cunningham, gaelic games co-ordinator at the school also commented on the schools approach to involving all pupils.
“We have worked hard at building up our games programme since the school opened in 2007. We currently provide coaching opportunities during both the school day as part of our PE programme and after school through the provision of quality after schools clubs. We work closely with our partner schools in South West Antrim Cumann Na mBunscol and organise and participate in a wide range of GAA activity including sporting and cultural events. Winning the award will support the promotion of our involvement in Gaelic sports long after the memory of the awards ceremony has faded.”
Attending the awards at the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast was Down football manager James McCartan who offered words of advice and support to the clubs, schools and volunteers attending.
