22 April 2013
The annual Ulster GAA Cúchulainn Cup takes place in the Mid Ulster Sports Arena, Cookstown on Wednesday 24th April (10.30am – 2.30pm). All media welcome.
In its sixth year the Cúchulainn Cup continues to be Ulster GAA’s flagship cross-community programme. It brings together young men from non-GAA backgrounds through the medium of Gaelic Games. The project aims to promote good community relations while also promoting Gaelic Games to those who normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to participate in the sport.
In preparation for the annual Cúchulainn Cup teams have been preparing with their Ulster GAA and County Board coaches learning the basic skills of Hurling and Gaelic football. Engaging with schools from the integrated, controlled and maintained sectors, the Cúchulainn Cup also encourages good inter-relations between schools in an area.
This year there are eight teams taking part; representing the areas of Armagh, Belfast, Cavan, Coleraine, Enniskillen, Foyle, Omagh, and Roe Valley. Teams will compete in hurling and Gaelic Football with a feast of sport guaranteed for all present. Many schools taking part have accepted an invite to avail of a “Getting to know the GAA” talk. This is a new feature of the programme this year, whereby it was felt that while engaging new people in our Games, it would be beneficial to extend their knowledge of what the GAA is about.
As an extension to the programme each year one Cúchulainn Team is selected to represent Ulster GAA in a youth competition in abroad. In the past lucky teams have travelled to Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, Boston, and London. This year’s Team will travel to compete in the All British Championships in London in late July. Ulster GAA continues to place great emphasis on their outreach work, so much so that this four year programme has now extended to its sixth year.