GAA
The promotion of our national games has a proud tradition in our school. As part of the PE curriculum children from Junior Infants to 6th Class experience and actively engage in gaelic football, hurling and camogie. On a competitive level, boys and girls participate in the Sciath Na Scol football, hurling and camogie competitions every year.
We retain very close relationships with our local GAA clubs – Enniskeane Camogie along with St. Mary’s and Diarmuid O’Mathunas (and their combined or amalgamated underage team Ahan Gaels). We’re particularly grateful to St. Mary’s who very kindly organise coaching for all our classes throughout the school year with fantastic coaches Tadg Sheehan and Daniel Cronin visiting regularly.
Cycling
Ulick O’Beirne of Training Wheels (www.training-wheels.org) completes cycle skills training courses with our pupils each year; Balance Bike courses (for children aged 4 to 7) and Sprocket Rocket courses (focused on children aged 7 to 12).
Balance Bike is focused more on building confidence and balance skills on the bike, and having a fun and positive early experience on bikes.
Sprocket Rocket is Cycling Ireland’s fun skills cycling programme aimed at 7 to 11 year olds. The Sprocket Rocket Programme presents young riders with the opportunity to learn fundamental cycling skills that cater for their size, physical development and interest.
The programme is aimed at:
- Teaching children the four FUNdamental cycling skills of Balance, Pedalling, Braking and Cornering.
- Providing a strong cycling skill foundation for young riders.
- Skill development, including general cycling skills which will lay the foundation for more advanced learning of specific cycling skills in the future.
- Fostering enjoyment and “want” of participation.
- Teaching rider’s fair-play and rules at their level, rather than promoting a win at all cost attitude.
All courses are delivered by Cycling Ireland certified and Garda Vetted instructors.
Athletics
Pupils at St. Mary’s Central School have competed with distinction for many years in athletics and they continue to do so at the Cork Primary School Sports which are held annually at CIT Sports Ground in Cork. Past pupils of St. Mary’s and national sprint champions, sisters Joan and Phil Healy regularly starred at this event during their primary school years.
Soccer
St. Mary’s Central School also takes part in the FAI National SPAR 5’s each year. This is a 5-a-side soccer competition which is open to boys and girls from 4th, 5th and 6th class, and puts emphasis on fun and inclusivity. The blitz day format is coordinated at local level with the assistance of a network of FAI Development Officers and local primary school teachers. These personnel coordinate events at County level with qualifying schools progressing to Regional, Provincial and National Finals.
Local and national soccer legend John Caulfield (current manager of Galway United) has undertaken several coaching sessions with our pupils in the past. We also retain close connections with Riverside Athletic FC, the local soccer club in the area.
Swimming
As part of the Aquatics strand in PE, children from 1st class through to 6th class each receive six week blocks of swimming lessons at Dunmanway Swimming Pool. By the time the children reach their final year at St. Mary’s Central School, they are generally very competent swimmers.