Since the beginning of November 2023, Monaghan GAA Coaching & Games delivered five After school Gaelic Football Programmes in the North, South, Mid and West. Also an Urban After Schools Programme was carried out in Monaghan Town in conjuction with Monaghan Harps. The After Schools Programme in the North, South and Mid Monaghan regions catered for 6th class boys, while the West also catered for 5th class boys and the Urban programme was delivered to 2nd and 3rd class boys.
St. Macartan’s College, Phoenix Centre Carrickmacross, Our Ladys Secondary School, Largy College Clones, and St. Marys Boys School Monaghan served as the program venues. Excellent facilities, including all-weather pitches, indoor halls, and grass fields, were offered by these schools and centers. Monaghan Coaching and Games would like to express a huge thank you to these venues for the use of their wonderful facilities.
There were 52 boys registered for the North Monaghan Programme which took place in St. Macartan’s College, 30 boys in South Monaghan in the Pheonix Centre Carrickmacross, 35 boys in West Monaghan in Largy College Clones, 45 boys in Mid Monaghan in Our Lady’s Secondary School and 38 boys in the Urban Programme in St. Mary’s Boys School Monaghan. Across the 5 regions, there was 34 primary schools represented. These were; (North) Urbleshanny NS, St. Dympnas Tydavnet, Corracrin NS, Knockconan NS, Scoil Mhuire Magherarney, Deravoy NS, Gaelscoil Ultan, Scoil Brid Tyholland, (South) , Scoil Phadraig Corduff, St. Joseph’s Boys NS Carrick, Scoil Naoimh Eanna Killanny, Scoil Rois Carrick, (West) St. Tiernach’s NS Clones, Corcreagh NS, Scoil Mhuire Magherarny, Killeevan Central NS, Gransha NS (Mid) Scoil Mhuire BNS Castleblayney, Lisdoonan NS, Scoil Mhuire Clontibret, Scoil Eanna Ballybay, Scoil Mhuire Latton, Annalitten NS, All Saints’ NS Doohamlet, Gael Scoil Lorgan, St. Michael’s N.S. Donaghmoyne, St. Patricks’ NS Broomfield, Annyalla NS, and St. Oliver Plunkett NS Loughmorne and (Urban) St. Mary’s Boys NS Monaghan.
In total there was 28 clubs represented which were (North) Scotstown, Truagh, Eire Og, Monaghan Harps, Emyvale, Tyholland, (South) Carrickmacross Emmets, Clones, Corduff, Eire Og, Killanny and Killeevan (West) Currin, Clones, Killeevan, Eire Og, Rockcorry (Mid) Castleblayney Faughs, Donaghmoyne, Clontibret, Ballybay, Blackhill, Doohamlet, Aughnamullen, Cremartin, Latton, and Drumhowan.
At the end of each block, each child was rewarded for their efforts and hard work by being selected to play at the half time game at Monaghan home national league games.
Many thanks to all of the kids who participated and helped make the After School Program a great success. It was wonderful to witness the children’s focus on improving their skills in Gaelic Football. We anticipate collaborating with them during the ensuing years. A special thank you goes out to the parents who registered their children for the program and brought and picked them up on time each week.
